Helpful Score: 2
This book is about a family drama centered around astronomy professor Camilla Dickinson. In smoothly blended present and flashback story lines, we learn all about the skeletons in the family closet. When 18-year-old granddaughter Raffi asks Camilla why her father?Camilla's son Taxi, a soap opera star?claims she's not really her grandmother, the complicated true story starts to spill out. Camilla's young, pretty mother, Rose, cheated on her husband. Camilla's husband, Macarios Wanthakos, an Episcopal priest and son of a bishop, had his own dark family stories.
A wonderful story about family, forgiveness, and how childhood damage can span a lifetime.
One of the things I enjoy about Madeleine L'Engle's books is her habit of reusing characters. It makes them seem even more like real people, to run into the same character in another book at another point in their life. Her interconnected webs of characters are like real life.
I also enjoy how she can write about religion intelligently without being preachy or moralistic. Her characters (and by extension, her) come across as intelligent and thoughtful.
One of the things I enjoy about Madeleine L'Engle's books is her habit of reusing characters. It makes them seem even more like real people, to run into the same character in another book at another point in their life. Her interconnected webs of characters are like real life.
I also enjoy how she can write about religion intelligently without being preachy or moralistic. Her characters (and by extension, her) come across as intelligent and thoughtful.
One of my favorite authors (wrote the Wrinkle in Time for children). Her adult novels also please and always leave you thinking.
A fascinating book about the many complications a family goes through as a child is taken in, lost, and taken back. Seen from many years later, as the child's daughter tries to make sense of her father's past and why his behavior has changed. A tale of mercy, loss, and forgiveness, excellently crafted by Ms. L'Engle.
