Audio Book Review ‘The Secret Chord’ by Geraldine Brooks
Written by a
Pulitzer Prize Winning Author!
The Hebrew
Bible claims; God loved King David most. Whether you view The Bible as a
religious guide, history book, or a timeless work of literature, you likely
find this idea perplexing enough to have a few questions pass through your
mind’s eye. After all, King David was a warrior, a military leader that was
responsible for many deaths, albeit to claim an earthly kingdom for God, many
shed blood.
Obviously
addicted to power, for many, what makes this celestial favoritism even more
compelling is David’s narcissism that often manifested as philandering with the
wives of other men, and ultimately claiming them as his own.
Of course,
David did not escape punishment for his sins, despite his effort to please the
Almighty, he would never see the Temple built that pleasure would be for his
peace loving heir, King Shlomo (Solomon.)
I don’t wish
to seem cynical as I truly love to study Hebrew Biblical history and King David
is a favorite. I appreciate his flaws, and understand that for many of us, his
bibliography provides hope and belief in forgiveness. In contrast to his faults,
there is passion and love, the literature tells us that King David, also
propagated love, the kind of love that fills the soul with overwhelming warmth,
Divine love.
Biblical
literature and movies are rising in popularity especially when the audience
views the speculative fiction as a fair representation of the original meaning.
Fortunately,
you do not need to be a biblical scholar to appreciate, Pulitzer prize winning
author Geraldine Brooks’ intellectual and empathetic fictionalized narrative
focusing on the highlights and turning-point in the life of the King that
perpetuated the change that even today influences the lives of nearly everyone
on Earth.
Told by
Natan (Nathan), whose father lost his life to the youngster that ultimately
became King, despite the tragedy, his visions of the future led him to serve as
David’s lifelong prophet and confidant. Perhaps, the only man who could
reprimand the King, his intimate relationship with David, and those closest to
the King, allows the story from Natan’s perspective to reach depths that would
not otherwise be possible.
Conclusively,
The Secret Chord crosses nearly all
genres’ as the King’s life exemplified the experiences of being human; he just
had all of them. The author’s story
comes across as if we found in a cave somewhere original well-written texts.
Love, hate, murder, and jealously, the delivery makes it all feel real.
The Secret Chord published by Penguin Random House
categorizes the novel as literary fiction, spiritual fiction, and historical
fiction. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audio at Amazon and other
book retailers.
Review by Sammy Sutton |
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