After a host of light fiction, women's fiction and romance, this was just right. A book which was like an autobiography of one of the greatest historical figures ever - David of Israel.
I myself did not know of David's ancestry or his rise to fame and fortune and greatness. From being a shepherd boy herding his father's sheep in obscurity, to be propelled to greatness had to have a hand of fate. It just had to be!
The story charts his rise from a simple boy then someone who becomes a soldier much loved guardian of the King, then thrust into kinghood, just and kind, mighty and good, then murderous and machiavellian, cunning and everything that he should not have been.
His many marriages, some political, some of the heart added a lot of interest to the story. The many sons he had created problems from the start as one knew divisions would arise when a kingdom of this stature was at stake. How the break up happened, how he lost it all is detailed in this book. The past history of David is derived from three sources - as told to Natan and as he wrote it down. That gives a faithful account of history upto that point. The future is still to come and that was what Natan saw and dreaded.
The story told from the point of Natan, a seer and prophet, one who was loved and trusted by the King and the heartache of Natan who knew what was coming was very sensitively told.
This was a book that could not be read quickly. You had to savor the read as it was very intense.
Sent to me by Netgalley courtesy of Little, Brown Book Group UK for an unbiased review.
Admire your bravery setting into this one, have looked at it before and decided it's not for me but I know it has been very well thought of. I pretty much have known the story of David but I be this one really gets into his life.
ReplyDeleteI read a good one of hers way back, and I should read more
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Mystica. I'm adding it to my wish list. I enjoyed the author's Year of Wonders.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of this one! I don't read too much historical fiction but this one sounds very fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI don't read a lot of historical fiction, especially this time period. A lot of my book club friends would probably love this book.
ReplyDeleteI have the eGalley but later decided it might not be for me, but, now you made me curious. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteI have read a few books by this author and loved them all. I expect this will be no different. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteI really love books that take Biblical accounts and add some humanity to them. This sounds like a perfect read for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is definitely not a quick, easy read. I did find it interesting that Brooks chose to use Natan as our eyes into the story.
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