The Secret Chord in Aussie Readers

Jul 21, 2015 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc, own-read, aussie-authors, net-galley, 2015-release, read-on-kindle

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 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 himself, and his flock in a hurry. When he was older he escaped with the band of rebels and his meeting with the young Natan was to be a turning point in his life as well.

For Natan had another voice, and the day David murdered Natan’s father and uncle was the day Natan vocalised a prophecy to David – instead of murdering Natan, he carried him to his camp to be cared for. Natan the seer; the prophet was at David’s side from then on – visions of the future; of horrifying occurrences yet to come meant those around him were in fear of him; but David fully believed in Natan; trusted him with his life.

As David’s journey evolved, he became many things – a cruel and barbaric soldier; a man who was idolised as well as hated; a husband and a father; an extraordinary player of the harp and with a beautiful singing voice; and eventually he became King David. His many wives from Mikhal and Avigail to finally Batsheva provided him with several sons and also one delightful daughter. Through all these times, both good and bad, Natan was by his side. David’s last born son by Batsheva, Shlomo was to become the light of his declining years.

What would the bitter fighting between the villagers and David’s army resolve? And what did Natan’s final prophecy mean; why could he not speak of it? Was the intense and overwhelming power that David had held over his people for so long finally fading?

The Secret Chord by Aussie author Geraldine Brooks is a fascinating look into the long ago life of King David; his rise from a lowly young shepherd to eventual King and everything in between. His life was one of barbarism and cruelty; also love and family; betrayal and loss. Written in the voice of Natan, who I thoroughly enjoyed, it was at times deep and intense; the lives of people in Second Iron Age Israel were for the main, traumatic and horrific – the women did what they were told; from being married at twelve or thirteen to the man of their father’s choice; to being used by the husbands they (mostly) abhorred. The Secret Chord is a novel which totally absorbed me; the author’s writing is superb. (I was also intrigued with how this novel came about as she mentions at the beginning). I have no hesitation in recommending it highly, and am sure it will become another best seller for Geraldine Brooks.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
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Sep 29, 2015 PattyMacDotComma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aa, kindle, australian-author, historical-fiction, arc-netgalley-done

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...

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Apr 17, 2015 Kathryn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-authors, reading-list-2015, fiction, owned, released-2015

There were parts of this I liked and parts I was disappointed in. Disappointment in Geraldine Brooks' books does often seem to be part of my reaction to reading her works, so I was prepared for this, also as a result of reading a friend's review (thanks, Dale!).

I enjoyed the retelling of King David's story and was pleasantly surprised by how faithful the recounting of actual events was. I liked that this made me revisit the story of David from 1 Samuel 16 through to 1 Kings 2 in the Bible. I wa ...more

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Oct 06, 2015 Kate rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, reading-challenges

I usually enjoy Geraldine Brooks' writing but THE SECRET CHORD left me disappointed. I found the story of David, first King of Israel - as told by his prophet Natan - quite unengaging, dull even at times. The prose is glorious but the story plods. The portrait of the flawed man but great king is undoubtedly intriguing, but it was a dry old read that I had to persist in to finish. ...more

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Apr 17, 2016 Nettie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My first experience of an audio book probably shouldn't have been a saga. Nevertheless it was a wonderfully detailed long trail that kept me wondering what was around the next corner. As usual with this author, the story was beautifully researched and written. A brilliant author talk at NLA gave me further insight into her research methodology. ...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Hpstrangelove rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobook, library

Audiobook review. Narrator: Paul Boehmer. Read for a book club group.

This book was well written. As I don't know much about this period in history, I can't say how accurate the story was or even if it was supposed to be. The narrator did a fantastic job. I just didn't care for the story and overall found it boring. There were parts that were interesting, but I could not make an emotional connection to David, and I simply didn't understand why so many people loved him - he was selfish, naive, muc ...more

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Nov 27, 2015 Joanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: australian-writers, women-writers, historical-fiction

Geraldine Brooks is so good at this. She re-imagines an historical period and brings it to life - think March, The Year of Wonders, Caleb's Crossing, The People of the Book. This time it's the story of David, the legendary King of Israel. I loved the nod from the biblical story to the contemporary Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah", through the book's title "The Secret Chord" . (I've heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord...) I expected there to be more music wove ...more

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Oct 06, 2015 Tracey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: australian, religion, fiction, historical, 2015, netgalley

Brooks has written a novel that is not about the romanticism of the Biblical King David but has imagined a complex man who lived in a time of war, brutality and spiritualism. Natan, David’s long-time adviser and seer has been dispatched to write the true story of David’s rise from outlaw to King. David wants the truth to be told, warts and all and Natan finds himself talking to those hostile and friendly to King David. What Natan reveals is King David’s legacy that is both dark and enlightening Brooks has written a novel that is not about the romanticism of the Biblical King David but has imagined a complex man who lived in a time of war, brutality and spiritualism. Natan, David’s long-time adviser and seer has been dispatched to write the true story of David’s rise from outlaw to King. David wants the truth to be told, warts and all and Natan finds himself talking to those hostile and friendly to King David. What Natan reveals is King David’s legacy that is both dark and enlightening in achievement.
I love Brook’s writing she has the uncanny ability to sweep you straight into the story with wonderful characters, strong dialogue, great rhythm and pacing. As I was provided with an advance copy I was ready to sit, read and underline. I only achieved the first two as I found myself so immersed into the story. The world that Brooks creates is wonderful as she captures both the harshness and beauty of the landscape.
David is a wonderfully complex man, struggling to be King, father, leader, friend and creator of a new nation. His flaws are those of any other man he has ambitions, desires and a need to create an everlasting legacy. To do this David’s decisions are not always pure or ‘right’, there are times when he makes mistakes and errors of judgement. It is refreshing to see the layers of myth stripped away and this man presented for us to come to know.
I found Natan to be a good narrator as he describes his first meeting with David and subsequent interactions together. The development of the relationship between the two men is interesting as it is Natan who is David’s harshest critic as he expects more than a man or a King as a leader.
Women are normally historically silent in this world as their narrative is rarely captured. Brooks gives them a voice that is powerful and immensely sad. For the women in King David’s time they are used for political advantage and as sexual playthings. Those women who garner respect are few but that was the reality. There are some wonderful strong female voices in the novel.
I found the story compelling with the brutality of wars, rapes, murders and betrayals and Brooks does not gloss over any of this. It is a remarkable imagining of the story how a man becomes King.
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Aug 26, 2015 Christine rated it really liked it

Rich storytelling derived from a thread of reality at its best. I am a big fan of Geraldine's style of writing and I am delighted that The Secret Chord lives up to the standard of her previous books. ...more

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Oct 27, 2016 John rated it really liked it

Great read that incorporated biblical detail and Archeological history. Very happy that Brooks also included the relationship between David and Johnathon.

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Oct 06, 2015 Michael Livingston rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is hugely readable and brilliantly researched re-telling of the life of King David. Brooks has made the famous stories vivid and engaging, but is kind of hamstrung by the constraints of history. David is a hugely flawed character, whose brutal violence makes him almost impossible to sympathise with, even when he's portrayed as a charismatic leader and sensitive soul. Some of the narrative devices are a bit awkward (the interviews that Natan conducts with David's family particularly), and in ...more

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Sep 01, 2015 Kate Moffatt rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I found this book to be a bit of a struggle as it took quite a while to get going, many of the early chapters were overly descriptive for me and seemed bogged in the minutiae. Towards the end it was the reverse with everything being wound up quickly, it appeared that the author was against the clock. Not a book I would easily recommend.

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