The Secret Chord: A Novel
"A page turner. . .Brooks is a master at bringing the past alive. . .in her skillful hands the issues of the past echo our own deepest concerns: love and loss, drama and tragedy, chaos and brutality." - Alice Hoffman, The Washington Post A rich and utterly absorbing novel about the life of King David, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of People of the Book and March. With more than two million copies of her novels sold, New York Times bestselling author Geraldine Brooks has achieved both popular and critical acclaim. Now, Brooks takes on one of literature's richest and most enigmatic figures: a man who shimmers between history and legend. Peeling away the myth to bring David to life in Second Iron Age Israel, Brooks traces the arc of his journey from obscurity to fame, from shepherd to soldier, from hero to traitor, from beloved king to murderous despot and into his remorseful and diminished dotage. The Secret Chord provides new context for some of the best-known episodes of David's life while also focusing on others, even more remarkable and emotionally intense, that have been neglected. We see David through the eyes of those who love him or fear him--from the prophet Natan, voice of his conscience, to his wives Mikhal, Avigail, and Batsheva, and finally to Solomon, the late-born son who redeems his Lear-like old age. Brooks has an uncanny ability to hear and transform characters from history, and this beautifully written, unvarnished saga of faith, desire, family, ambition, betrayal, and power will enthrall her many fans.
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Community Reviews
This is the second Brooks novel that I read and it is with reticence that I commenced it. Why would the story of King David be relevant to this life and times?
King David, the lamb of God, who slayed Goliath turned out to be a bastard. His treatment of women and turning a blind eye to the terrible rape of his daughter by his older son is a big big black mark. His slaughter of neighbouring tribes justified by some end excuse of that is what God would've wanted. Not a nice guy.
At the end though the story of King David is still relevant today. Countries like the US are very good at calling down God as justifying their attack on other peoples, countries and beliefs. There is still a terrible level of domestic violence in Australia - largely by men of women. And family ties are always complicated particularly in blended families - increasingly the most common type of household in Australia. The love and hopes of a parent for their children, and parental favouritism is still evident today. And finally polyamorous and polygamous relationships continues. We are all still living in a King David-like world.
Brooks has a nice writing style and I liked the way she weaves in fact with fiction. I would not normally read a story like this one, but ended up being satisfied I did so. I look forward to reading more from her.
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