Two and a half stars. Having enjoyed all the novels by Geraldine Brooks I have read, and adored some of them, I was desperate to read this one and so excited to receive a copy from The Reading Room and Hachette Australia to read and review. I couldn’t wait to dive into it and started immediately it arrived. Maybe part of the problem was that I had such high expectations, but in the end I was disappointed in this book. The writing is beautiful in some places as you would expect from Geraldine Bro...

I didn't remember much about the biblical story of David except that he was a young man who outwitted a giant and killed him with a stone and a sling shot and that he became King of Israel . I also remembered an illicit love affair with Bathsheba. Because I didn't know a lot more than that , I was very surprised and taken by the story that Geraldine Brooks has created where I learned about his multiple wives , and other relationships, his children , the wars, and what a complex man he was . The...

Epic biblical fan-fiction with Pulitzer-worthy prose. A triumph both in terms of research and imagination. Fleshing out the scarcely-mentioned prophet Nathan works surprisingly well as a narrative structure. David's erotic relationships with Jonathan and Bathsheba are spot on.One of those novels where you don't realize how much you love it until it's over and there aren't any more pages to devour. Admittedly slow in spots, but more engaging than March. Both are great, though. You can't go wrong

As a boy Natan was a shepherd, caring for his family’s flock. He lived a happy life with his mother and father, and younger sister in a small village. The day he was approached by the leader of a group of rebels was to be the turning point in his young life; his future was destined. David had also been a shepherd, but his upbringing was different to Natan’s – cast aside by his father, David was only six years old when he was thrust into the role of shepherd. He had to learn how to look after him...

The Secret Chord is the story of King David, as told through the eyes of his prophet and counselor, Natan. David desires a written record of his life and tasks Natan with interviewing those who knew David as a young man. As Natan digs into David's past, he gives account of his own experiences with the King, such that David's past and present converge to depict a man both ruthless and kind, sacred and yet flawed. Because of me, he will live in death as he did in life: a man who dwelt in the seari...

This is one of those books that improves the further you get into it. Halfway through I still considered dumping it. The names used for biblical characters are in Hebrew, and although they sound similar to the more familiar English names, this adds an element of confusion. Dates are rarely told. Places are often unrecognizable because they too are in Hebrew or ancient and no longer exist. The tribal names are difficult to keep track of. There are many tribes. We are told King David's life story

Fascinating Account of King David's Life, Through the Eyes of the Prophet NathanA Period of History about which I've Read LittleThis novel gave me a look at an historical period about which I've read little (outside of my weekend Hebrew school lessons as a child). So I was fascinated by this look at the life of the legendary Old Testament ruler of Israel, King David.Nathan the Prophet and NarratorThe narrator of this tale is the King's faithful servant, the Prophet Nathan (a.k.a. Nathaniel). Nat...

This book was exactly what I expected...."NOT MY CUP OF TEA"!I had no intention on requesting this book from Netgalley 'last' year...but worried my Jewish Book club might choose it for 'this' year. I LOVED "People of The Book", by Geraldine Brooks, but I was pretty sure if the blurb for "The Secret Chord", didnt sound great to me, why kid myself. But...since last year...I read other reviews -- positives and negatives. So, I recently downloaded this book from the library - thinking maybe the audi...

You don't have to believe that God exists, or that the bible is the true "Word," to thoroughly enjoy Brooks' latest novel, this story reaching back in history to Old Testament times. I am a secular Jew, and think of the bible as the original written allegory and metaphor of humanity's struggles. I gambled that Brooks' storytelling skills and her finesse in stitching the drama of history to contemporary times would be sufficient to carry me along. It met my expectations in most ways: in its simpl...

A retelling of the life of King David from the perspective of the prophet Nathan. The naming takes some getting used to, but the stories – from gory massacres to moments of triumph – are recognizable from the Old Testament. What makes Brooks’s take unique is the different points of view it shows and the ways it subtly introduces doubt about David’s carefully cultivated image. It’s sensual historical fiction, full of rich descriptive language. Strangely unmemorable for me, perhaps because the sto...

5★ + 5 ✡What a wonderful piece of work. Geraldine Brooks has captured the spirit and mood of this ancient, difficult time, with distinctive portrayals of Old Testament characters, some we may recognise and some we may never have heard of. Doesn’t matter – they were scary times whoever they were!David was an awe-inspiring, terrifying, handsome devil. He was a charismatic ladies’ man and probably bi-sexual. Have a look here at Michelangelo’s famous David. http://www.accademia.org/explore-muse... B...

2 1/2 stars My expectations were very high, maybe too high, because in all honesty I was a bit disappointed. THE SECRET CHORD was certainly richly detailed and beautifully written, descriptive without being wordy. However, overall it just didn’t enthral me – I didn’t LOVE it. At times the story was slow moving, certainly in the beginning, and the chronological order chopped and changed as Natan related the story and for some reason decided to do this when he pleased rather than starting at the b...

Decided to put this aside for now without rating it. I have read over half the book and there are many things bugging me. Modern language mixed with the old. Going back and forth, past, present, to future. Plus I am just not enjoying it. Will I pick it up again? Not sure right now.