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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
I found this a very well-told story, one that really helps understand the many key players in the life of King David. And while Brooks tries to be "fair" to King David, showing his poetic and -- in her view -- occasional expressions of compassion, overall a reader comes away with the impression of a Kind David that is grossly unfair, one that ignores the most well established Jewish sages' understanding of this complex, incredible character.
For example, Brooks' shows him has being brutal and bloodthirsty warrior, and while he did have to wage battles, and therefore kill other people, it is sacriligious to portray him has doing so with the mindset that he seems to have in this novel. Additionally, she does a terrible disservice to David in failing to show his deep emotional connection to God, something that remains an inspiration to Jews and Christians to this very day. Instead, when she writes of him composing Psalms, it seems more of an expression of his need for poetic expression rather than a heartfelt outpouring of love for and need of God's help and salvation. She also gives rather short shrift to the extent to which David himself was under siege by both King Saul and other enemies.
It is similarly indefensible to write that David's relationship with Jonathan was sexual, something no respected Jewish sage would agree with. Is it impossible for secular writers to write of a strong, loving friendship between two men without an overlay of homosexuality being added to the mix?
Brooks denies David his rightful place in Jewish history as having had one of the most significant, profound, and inspiring relationships with God that we can imagine. This is far more fiction than true history.
For example, Brooks' shows him has being brutal and bloodthirsty warrior, and while he did have to wage battles, and therefore kill other people, it is sacriligious to portray him has doing so with the mindset that he seems to have in this novel. Additionally, she does a terrible disservice to David in failing to show his deep emotional connection to God, something that remains an inspiration to Jews and Christians to this very day. Instead, when she writes of him composing Psalms, it seems more of an expression of his need for poetic expression rather than a heartfelt outpouring of love for and need of God's help and salvation. She also gives rather short shrift to the extent to which David himself was under siege by both King Saul and other enemies.
It is similarly indefensible to write that David's relationship with Jonathan was sexual, something no respected Jewish sage would agree with. Is it impossible for secular writers to write of a strong, loving friendship between two men without an overlay of homosexuality being added to the mix?
Brooks denies David his rightful place in Jewish history as having had one of the most significant, profound, and inspiring relationships with God that we can imagine. This is far more fiction than true history.
I have to be honest: I didn't love this book. The timelines were all over the place. I would've liked it better in order of David's life.
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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