The Secret Chord

I approached this book with ambivalence - the retelling of biblical stories does not usually appeal to me - but I have read and loved all Geraldine Brooks’ other books so when I saw this one was available in audio format through our library’s app (Libby) I decided to give it a try. By the end of the 2nd chapter I was once again captivated by her narrative skills. It is a gruesome story of battles, rapes, and perfidy; wrongdoings, punishment, and retribution; sins, penance, and atonement. As I listened I began to think about how antiquity reverberates in the present of the Middle East. ****

I've read a fair bit of historical fiction- it's not often a great literary accomplishment, but IS a customer-friendly way of immersing yourself in the past and picking up a fair bit of background knowledge in a palatable way. I did wonder, though, how the Bible would fare in a fictionalized version, having visions of sentimental schmaltz.
This is the story of the life of King David, and I felt it was very cleverly constructed. Told by his prophet, Natan, the author manages to recount the past (as Natan interviews people from the past to complete his biography of the King) and events at which Natan wasnt actually present) through court gossip, or the visions he has (these were VERY convincingly portrayed...I guess we hear of a prophet show more pronouncing judgement and rarely conmtemplate just how it was for him...)
Sentimental schmaltz is entirely absent- David's life, of course, was a violent one, and the author pictures the eviscerating battles, rapes, uprisings etc very vividly. The characters come to liofe, pretty much...the flawed king, who fails to control his sons, with dire consequences; the various wives (the account of Michal's being forced back to the palace from her second husband and children is particularly memorable), the jockeying for power among the factions. And the early life of Shlomo (Solomon) as he shines as potential successor.
Does God ('the Name') come into story as much as one might expect? Would it have worked if He had?
A very well written book...the author definitely pulls it off! show less

I always look forward to reading a book by author Geraldine Brooks, and The Secret Chord was another story where this author breathed life into history by telling an ancient biblical legend, the story of David. Told through the eyes of his profit, Natan, we see a young shepherd’s boy rise to be the chosen one of God. He has style, charisma and a savvy knowledge of people and their desires. He is able to gather men to him, bind the various tribes and city states of Judah together into the country of Israel.

Unfortunately David’s downfall turns out to be his family. He had been an unloved child of a drunkard, so when he had sons of own from his various wives, he pampered them and allowed no one to cross them. This in turn yielded a show more group of princes who were spoiled and jealous of one another. Like many great men, David could not see the weaknesses in his sons and this in turn lead to fratricide, treason and betrayal.

This story of a magnetic yet flawed warrior king is exciting, interesting and a very good read given the author’s restraints of having to follow what the bible has laid out as key points in David’s life. The Secret Chord served to remind me why I remain a huge fan of both historical fiction in general and Geraldine Brooks in particular. show less

I raced through this novel in record time, which is pretty funny considering I knew exactly what was going to happen throughout its 300 pages! That's a testimony to Geraldine Brooks' storytelling and writing ability. Everything I learned in religious school is here, but it seems new, compelling and relatable. As Natan says early in the novel, he wants to set down the story of David as a man, not just a historical figure, and boy does he succeed. David was a brilliant strategist, dynamic leader and skilled musician but he was also violent, sexually abusive, blind to his faults and those of his sons. He used whatever means necessary to unite the Israelites and suffered the consequences by losing many of his loved ones and not being show more allowed to build the temple he dreamed of. Somehow Brooks makes it seem realistically Biblical but also at the same time strangely modern. Bravo. show less

A decade after winning the Pulitzer prize, Geraldine Brooks writes the story of history’s most famous harpist, poet, and warrior, David. The story is narrated by prophet, Natan (Nathan), who we first meet when David slays his father for his refusal to give the band supplies. David is ready to kill Natan as well, until his vision shows that David will win a throne, as well as a generational line that will last for centuries. Natan continues his service to David and is always there to be his conscience. This author portrays David as both hero and villain. He was a man who rose to power and maintained it according to his motto of doing whatever is necessary. He became a powerful king who excelled at political machinations, but wrote show more poems and played the harp with incredible sensitivity.

I initially had a bit of a problem with the translation of the names but there is a handy guide at the beginning of the book that helped. For example, Plishtim are the Philistines and God is referred to as “The Name”. This isn't a Sunday School retelling of the happy shepherd boy who slayed Goliath. It's an incredibly violent book, filled with rapes, murders, betrayal and destruction. David is complicit in many horribly distasteful acts, including the murder of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, so he wouldn't know that David had impregnated her.

The book started very slowly for me but once I got about a quarter of the way through, the story became much more compelling. Geraldine Brooks does a magnificent job of transforming history into fascinating fiction. show less

Geraldine Brooks hits another out of the park with her King David brought to life in [The Secret Chord]. Through sources at the Harvard Divinity School Library, I happen to know her books are incredibly well researched. Brooks takes the bones of present scholarship on King David and, using glorious prose, adds sinew and flesh. One can almost smell the meat roasting on the spit, hear the blast of the war trumpets, and see the throngs in happy procession. Told through the voice of Natan, confidante and seer whom David has asked to write the history of his life. David decrees Natan shall speak with his mother, first wife and brother, who supply details of his early life: young goatherd ignored by his father and brothers, recognized by show more prophet Shmuel, killer of the giant, and beloved, by Shaul. From there Natan picks up the story himself, carrying us through many battles, rise to glory and accompanying tragedies. Brooks David’ is a large personality, full of life, charisma, faults and vainglory.

Some have said the use of Hebrew names and places are off putting. I felt this gave the tale even more verisimilitude. Many biblical women get short shrift. Brooks provides context and allows their stories to be told – the horror of Tamal’s rape by her brother, Amnon; Batsheva’s terror at the impossible position David had placed her; the countless women’s positions as mere political pawns to be married off and used. Hearing their stories anew and more fully was worth the effort alone. I found this a memorable book and recommend highly. show less

An amazing, beautifully told story from the Bible and the life of King David. and his relationship with Natan, the prophet who speaks through God. The story is told from Nathan's point of view. Although there is a lot of tragedy and violence, somehow I was able to read it. It's amazing that, as a child in Hebrew School, this aspect of life in Palestine was somehow kept from us. Geraldine Brooks is one of my favorite writers for how she captures the life and lives of the people she writes about. You learn how Saul and David were enemies and how the Philistines were always at war with the Jews and the constant machinations regarding the King, his sons and the land of Israel. A great read!