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The Joys of Love
During the summer of 1946, twenty-year-old Elizabeth is doing what she has dreamed of since she was a little girl: working in the theatre. Elizabeth is passionate about her work and determined to learn all she can at the summer theatre company on the sea where she is an apprentice actress. She’s never felt so alive. And soon she finds another passion: Kurt Canitz, the dashing young director of the company, and the first man Elizabeth’s ever kissed who has really meant something to her. Then Elizabeth’s perfect summer is profoundly shaken when Kurt turns out not to be the kind of man she thought he was.
Moving and romantic, this coming-of-age story was written during the 1940s. As revealed in an introduction by the author’s granddaughter Léna Roy, the protagonist Elizabeth is close to an autobiographical portrait of L’Engle herself as a young woman—“vibrant, vulnerable, and yearning for love and all that life has to offer.”
Moving and romantic, this coming-of-age story was written during the 1940s. As revealed in an introduction by the author’s granddaughter Léna Roy, the protagonist Elizabeth is close to an autobiographical portrait of L’Engle herself as a young woman—“vibrant, vulnerable, and yearning for love and all that life has to offer.”
288 pages
First published April 29, 2008
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1138 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine L'Engle
170 books9,193 followersMadeleine L'Engle was an American writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels: A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. Her works reflect both her Christian faith and her strong interest in modern science.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
November 5, 2009
This is a story that Madeleine L'Engle wrote in the 40s (and 50s?) but didn't get published. It was published posthumously last year.
The story follows Elizabeth Jerrold, an orphan whose parents are rather a mystery to the reader until a good way through the book. She has graduated from Smith College with a degree in chemistry to satisfy her aunt, but her true passion is the theatre. After graduation, she manages to get a scholarship to be an apprentice in a summer theatre, where she makes some close friends and falls in love for the first time. In classic L'Engle fashion, Elizabeth must examine more closely her love of the theatre and of her family and her friends as discoveries are made and opportunities lost and regained.
Although I really like L'Engle's books, they all seem to be set in a different - maybe more ideal? - world somehow, where families sit around the dinner table and have life-affirming philosophical conversations, and boys love you for who you are and believe in you and make you better and hold you when you cry (I loved Ben in this book!). I've been sitting here trying to think how to describe the slight disconnect I feel when I read her books, and I think it's that she and her characters take life so seriously. Not that I don't, but they really think about life and how they want to participate in it, and then they do it. In a class a few weeks ago, someone a couple years older than me said he'd read an article that said our generation prizes irony above all. I think Madeleine L'Engle is the opposite. She, and her characters, are earnest. They don't have time to waste looking for the silly (or sad) inconsistencies and incongruities we like to amuse ourselves with. They’re too busy searching for truth and love instead, and then living them.
I think that’s a good way to be. Although I’m far from there myself – I can’t even post this without wanting to add some sort of leavening self-disparaging remark or witty bit of dry humor (if I had any...see? see?).
The story follows Elizabeth Jerrold, an orphan whose parents are rather a mystery to the reader until a good way through the book. She has graduated from Smith College with a degree in chemistry to satisfy her aunt, but her true passion is the theatre. After graduation, she manages to get a scholarship to be an apprentice in a summer theatre, where she makes some close friends and falls in love for the first time. In classic L'Engle fashion, Elizabeth must examine more closely her love of the theatre and of her family and her friends as discoveries are made and opportunities lost and regained.
Although I really like L'Engle's books, they all seem to be set in a different - maybe more ideal? - world somehow, where families sit around the dinner table and have life-affirming philosophical conversations, and boys love you for who you are and believe in you and make you better and hold you when you cry (I loved Ben in this book!). I've been sitting here trying to think how to describe the slight disconnect I feel when I read her books, and I think it's that she and her characters take life so seriously. Not that I don't, but they really think about life and how they want to participate in it, and then they do it. In a class a few weeks ago, someone a couple years older than me said he'd read an article that said our generation prizes irony above all. I think Madeleine L'Engle is the opposite. She, and her characters, are earnest. They don't have time to waste looking for the silly (or sad) inconsistencies and incongruities we like to amuse ourselves with. They’re too busy searching for truth and love instead, and then living them.
I think that’s a good way to be. Although I’m far from there myself – I can’t even post this without wanting to add some sort of leavening self-disparaging remark or witty bit of dry humor (if I had any...see? see?).
June 6, 2016
From what I can tell, this was one of Madeleine L'Engle's first novels she wrote, but it was not published until after her death in 2007. It is largely autobiographical; Madeleine spent several summers on Nantucket participating in the theatre, in that same era directly following World War II. She also fell in love during one of those summers. This is really a light coming of age story from a different era. It doesn't contain the magic of her childrens' books, and I have not read any of her full adult novels yet, but there are some sweet moments about love and identity here, with insights that show some of that promise better revealed later on.
November 16, 2016
Maybe it's only for my love of Madeline L'engle; perhaps combined with my love of theatre. None-the-less there came a point in this novel that I simply couldn't put it down. There were many moments when I was so over taken by even the simplest of scenes that I forgot where I was, truly forgot I was even reading about Elizabeth Jerrold, and thought I was in that moment there where she was. I understand why L'Engle had difficulty publishing it. Not because it is a terrible book, but because the story is so sweet and simple and everyone seems to want dark and complicated Gatsby romances. This isn't at all a Fitzgerald romance. It's an Austen romance in every sense. Girl meets boy. Boy loves girl from beginning, girl might even love boy. Both parties are blind to the potential wonderfulness of their union (which is painfully obvious to the reader from the beginning) until at last it all becomes oh-so-clear. Really simple. Really lovely. Definitely a worthwhile read.
March 26, 2010
I thought I'd read just about everything that Madeleine L'Engle had published, so I was astonished to see this book turn up when I was searching for something else entirely (which is usually how things work for me).
Madeleine L'Engle died nearly three years ago at the age of 88. The Joys of Love was published last year by her granddaughters. This is a very early novel, based on a short story she wrote in 1942 at about the age of 24. She reworked the story into a novel in the early fifties and re-set it in 1946, which was the year she met her husband the actor Hugh Franklin.
As I'd read pretty nearly everything she wrote, including such early novels as The Small Rain and And Both Were Young, I was braced for a rather dated and slightly awkward book. L'Engle really hit her stride as an author in the early sixties, and The Joys of Love, being such an early novel, only gives a hint of the skilled story-teller that L'Engle later became. At this stage, she was a very good descriptive writer; her scene-setting is an effective time machine, taking us back to a New England summer sixty years gone. However, although her granddaughter Léna Roy tells us that L'Engle's dramatic training gave her "a keen knack for dialogue", this book is not a good example. Even as a lifetime fan, I found myself groaning inwardly (and sometimes out loud) at the painfully artificial conversations these characters have.
If you're reading Madeleine L'Engle for the first time, please don't start with this book. Begin with her classic A Wrinkle in Time or A Ring of Endless Light, or even one of her autobiographical Crosswicks Journals. The Joys of Love is for established L'Engle aficionados only, interesting for the promise of great things to come.
Madeleine L'Engle died nearly three years ago at the age of 88. The Joys of Love was published last year by her granddaughters. This is a very early novel, based on a short story she wrote in 1942 at about the age of 24. She reworked the story into a novel in the early fifties and re-set it in 1946, which was the year she met her husband the actor Hugh Franklin.
As I'd read pretty nearly everything she wrote, including such early novels as The Small Rain and And Both Were Young, I was braced for a rather dated and slightly awkward book. L'Engle really hit her stride as an author in the early sixties, and The Joys of Love, being such an early novel, only gives a hint of the skilled story-teller that L'Engle later became. At this stage, she was a very good descriptive writer; her scene-setting is an effective time machine, taking us back to a New England summer sixty years gone. However, although her granddaughter Léna Roy tells us that L'Engle's dramatic training gave her "a keen knack for dialogue", this book is not a good example. Even as a lifetime fan, I found myself groaning inwardly (and sometimes out loud) at the painfully artificial conversations these characters have.
If you're reading Madeleine L'Engle for the first time, please don't start with this book. Begin with her classic A Wrinkle in Time or A Ring of Endless Light, or even one of her autobiographical Crosswicks Journals. The Joys of Love is for established L'Engle aficionados only, interesting for the promise of great things to come.
October 7, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book! L'Engle has such a unique writing style; she can take a side-character with a toothache, and make their toothache be a philosophical commentary on the fantasy vs. reality of emotional entanglements, weaving it so perfectly into the storyline that you barely realize she's doing it. As always, brilliant writing!
The setting is a 1940s summer theater company where Elizabeth is an apprentice, learning to act. She has a crush on the young director, Kurt, but is best friends with the assistant stage manager, Ben. Love triangle goodness ensues.
I think if I were at all interested in acting or the theater, I would have enjoyed this book much more. I liked the plot and the characters, but it didn't deeply appeal to me as some of L'Engle's other books have done.
I really liked the character of Elizabeth, because she makes mistakes and says the wrong thing, but then she owns it and apologizes. I wish she had more backbone, but when it really counted, she showed her mettle finely!
I hated Kurt so much! He's so manipulative, and I wanted to scream at Elizabeth, "Don't you see?! He's manipulating you! He's a selfish jerk!" Agh.
I think Ben was the most interesting character in the whole book. He's always teasing everyone, but never mean-spirited. He seems to vacillate between pride and humility, and I love how he's always trying to take care of everyone. He's a little bossy, and I think he gets frustrated with people who are being stupid, but then he has pity on them too. Figuring him out was the best part of the book! He's a complex person.
The plot moves pretty slowly, focusing on the small but important things of everyday life that end up changing the big events in life. The way L'Engle writes it, it suddenly becomes very important whether or not someone eats icecream or goes for a walk, because somehow that will affect their decision to play MacBeth or love someone new or make an enemy of a friend. It all ties together in a big jumble with strings of everyone's choices affecting everyone else.
Of course, I adore L'Engle's books, and this YA romance is a good one!
The setting is a 1940s summer theater company where Elizabeth is an apprentice, learning to act. She has a crush on the young director, Kurt, but is best friends with the assistant stage manager, Ben. Love triangle goodness ensues.
I think if I were at all interested in acting or the theater, I would have enjoyed this book much more. I liked the plot and the characters, but it didn't deeply appeal to me as some of L'Engle's other books have done.
I really liked the character of Elizabeth, because she makes mistakes and says the wrong thing, but then she owns it and apologizes. I wish she had more backbone, but when it really counted, she showed her mettle finely!
I hated Kurt so much! He's so manipulative, and I wanted to scream at Elizabeth, "Don't you see?! He's manipulating you! He's a selfish jerk!" Agh.
I think Ben was the most interesting character in the whole book. He's always teasing everyone, but never mean-spirited. He seems to vacillate between pride and humility, and I love how he's always trying to take care of everyone. He's a little bossy, and I think he gets frustrated with people who are being stupid, but then he has pity on them too. Figuring him out was the best part of the book! He's a complex person.
The plot moves pretty slowly, focusing on the small but important things of everyday life that end up changing the big events in life. The way L'Engle writes it, it suddenly becomes very important whether or not someone eats icecream or goes for a walk, because somehow that will affect their decision to play MacBeth or love someone new or make an enemy of a friend. It all ties together in a big jumble with strings of everyone's choices affecting everyone else.
Of course, I adore L'Engle's books, and this YA romance is a good one!
March 8, 2010
Madeline L'Engle wrote this early in her career, but it's only now being published. And, yeah, it's a little rough compared to the writer she becomes, but, oh, it still has so many things I love about her writing: Passionate characters, fascinating discussion about art, real emotion.
And the romance! At first, I wasn't sure if I was really on board with the pairing I was supposed to be rooting for, but, in the end, it left me with that wistful, "Yes, that's what I'm looking for in real life." You know, in the sense that it was something that I both want and believe exists in real life.
Anyway, I recommend this book, but, more than that, Madeleine L'Engle to, well, everyone!
And the romance! At first, I wasn't sure if I was really on board with the pairing I was supposed to be rooting for, but, in the end, it left me with that wistful, "Yes, that's what I'm looking for in real life." You know, in the sense that it was something that I both want and believe exists in real life.
Anyway, I recommend this book, but, more than that, Madeleine L'Engle to, well, everyone!
November 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. L'Engle is one of my favorite authors, so it's not difficult for her books to enthrall me, but I loved this one from the start, and it didn't disappoint. It takes place over 4 days (4 Acts, as the book is broken up into), yet so much happens. There are flashbacks that fill in the backstory, and they come at the appropriate time for the most part, and there's a good amount of development throughout the main events. It's not an action-packed book, but it's character-driven, and the main character, Elizabeth, changes in the 4 days. I like the concept of the book, Elizabeth doing a summer apprenticeship with a theater, showing how it works and how everyone lives and gets along (or doesn't). I also like the setting of a beach/boardwalk town and the old, dusty theater and the crowed Cottage, where the apprentices and actors who aren't the stars live.
Elizabeth's friends are well-developed, and I really like Ben, her best friend in the troupe. There's a love triangle with Liz, Ben, and the director, Kurt, with Ben being in love with Liz, Liz being in love with Kurt, and Kurt's feelings being unclear. The other major conflict is that Elizabeth's aunt, with whom she has lived since her father's death when she was young, doesn't approve of the theater. She think it's of the devil, so Elizabeth has a tough time between doing what her aunt wants/thinks she should do and doing what her heart tells her to do. The minor conflicts are all the drama and intrigue that happen between and among the apprentices, the actors, and the crew. Of course, Elizabeth's backstory is also part of all this, entwined nicely.
I really love the writing, the depth of the conversations between characters, the banter and silliness/weirdness, and the themes. I like the ending a lot. I'm really glad this early book that L'Engle wrote ended up being published posthumously. As her granddaughters say in the intro, it's worth getting it out there and letting people experience it. I also love the Ilsa Woolf cameo!
I recommend this book to theater and Shakespeare lovers, to people who enjoy realism, and to fans of mid-20th-century writing and setting.
Elizabeth's friends are well-developed, and I really like Ben, her best friend in the troupe. There's a love triangle with Liz, Ben, and the director, Kurt, with Ben being in love with Liz, Liz being in love with Kurt, and Kurt's feelings being unclear. The other major conflict is that Elizabeth's aunt, with whom she has lived since her father's death when she was young, doesn't approve of the theater. She think it's of the devil, so Elizabeth has a tough time between doing what her aunt wants/thinks she should do and doing what her heart tells her to do. The minor conflicts are all the drama and intrigue that happen between and among the apprentices, the actors, and the crew. Of course, Elizabeth's backstory is also part of all this, entwined nicely.
I really love the writing, the depth of the conversations between characters, the banter and silliness/weirdness, and the themes. I like the ending a lot. I'm really glad this early book that L'Engle wrote ended up being published posthumously. As her granddaughters say in the intro, it's worth getting it out there and letting people experience it. I also love the Ilsa Woolf cameo!
I recommend this book to theater and Shakespeare lovers, to people who enjoy realism, and to fans of mid-20th-century writing and setting.
July 7, 2013
I discovered a Madeleine L'Engle book that I'd never heard of before this spring, so of course I snatched it up. I just got around to reading it on vacation, and it doesn't disappoint--if you like Madeleine L'Engle's other YA fiction, which I do.
I marked this as historical, but it's not really--it's set in the 40's, and it was first written in the 40's. It wasn't published until recently, after Ms. L'Engle's death, by her granddaughters, which is why I hadn't heard of it before.
The story follows Elizabeth, an aspiring actress working as an apprentice on scholarship in a summer theater. The two main conflicts are her trying to follow her professional dreams, despite her guardian aunt's lack of approval or support, and her romantic entanglement with an older, suaver, but slimier, actor/director. This character, Kurt, is probably the weak link, as is Elizabeth's falling for him: the problem with all of Madeleine L'Engle's romantic villains is that, while they may occasionally be sympathetic, the reader can pick them out as slime balls from a mile off.
Luckily, the book is not a tragedy, so all ends well. Some of the best parts are the real friendships Elizabeth forms and getting a picture into both the camaraderie and the problems that make up a small theater company in the 1940s. Also, the note by Ms. L'Engle's granddaughter at the front indicates that Elizabeth was largely autobiographical, and much of the story does ring true with her nonfiction work Two Part Invention.
I now need to dig up my copy of Certain Women, an adult book written much later, to see if the Elizabeth in The Joys of Love is the same character as the Elizabeth in that book (I am fervently hoping not, but in Madeleine L'Engle's fictional worlds, you never know).
I marked this as historical, but it's not really--it's set in the 40's, and it was first written in the 40's. It wasn't published until recently, after Ms. L'Engle's death, by her granddaughters, which is why I hadn't heard of it before.
The story follows Elizabeth, an aspiring actress working as an apprentice on scholarship in a summer theater. The two main conflicts are her trying to follow her professional dreams, despite her guardian aunt's lack of approval or support, and her romantic entanglement with an older, suaver, but slimier, actor/director. This character, Kurt, is probably the weak link, as is Elizabeth's falling for him: the problem with all of Madeleine L'Engle's romantic villains is that, while they may occasionally be sympathetic, the reader can pick them out as slime balls from a mile off.
Luckily, the book is not a tragedy, so all ends well. Some of the best parts are the real friendships Elizabeth forms and getting a picture into both the camaraderie and the problems that make up a small theater company in the 1940s. Also, the note by Ms. L'Engle's granddaughter at the front indicates that Elizabeth was largely autobiographical, and much of the story does ring true with her nonfiction work Two Part Invention.
I now need to dig up my copy of Certain Women, an adult book written much later, to see if the Elizabeth in The Joys of Love is the same character as the Elizabeth in that book (I am fervently hoping not, but in Madeleine L'Engle's fictional worlds, you never know).
August 2, 2014
In this book, Elizabeth is an aspiring actress - from the South - who gets an internship with summer acting company in upstate New York. Although she is on scholarship, she struggles to make ends meet and depends on her aunt for her room and board. In the theater, she makes close friends, has many acting experiences, and comes to be recognized for her talent. She falls in love with the star male actor - while her friend Ben is fairly openly in love with her.
This is an interesting book - a period piece written about 1946 soon afterwards, although published in 2008 by L'Engle's granddaughters. (I guess its been a while since I revisited hr books.) It follows her own life experiences and perspectives - which makes it fascinating. And shares a fascinating glimpse of coming of age in the 1940s. Since I am a huge L'Engle fan - she's one of my favorite authors - it was a treat to read a new book by L'Engle. While not her best work - it rings true to life and reads well. I can see some of the ideas she explores here in the Meet the Austins series.
This is an interesting book - a period piece written about 1946 soon afterwards, although published in 2008 by L'Engle's granddaughters. (I guess its been a while since I revisited hr books.) It follows her own life experiences and perspectives - which makes it fascinating. And shares a fascinating glimpse of coming of age in the 1940s. Since I am a huge L'Engle fan - she's one of my favorite authors - it was a treat to read a new book by L'Engle. While not her best work - it rings true to life and reads well. I can see some of the ideas she explores here in the Meet the Austins series.
July 27, 2011
A nice, entertaining read...and like a typical L'Engle, there's so much more beneath the surface.
L'Engle's tales seem so real because, for the most part, they are. I have to wonder which parts, but that's my own curiosity. It's simple enough to read and enjoy, and wonder if our heroine will end up with the cad.
There's something very real about a L'Engle novel. I like that. I wish I'd have known about these books (beyond 'Wrinkle'). Perhaps she could've given me the courage to realize that there was another adolescence than the reality that Judy Bloom presented. Gratefully, I can read L'Engle's adult works with an appreciation for grace and forgiveness for human weakness.
L'Engle's tales seem so real because, for the most part, they are. I have to wonder which parts, but that's my own curiosity. It's simple enough to read and enjoy, and wonder if our heroine will end up with the cad.
There's something very real about a L'Engle novel. I like that. I wish I'd have known about these books (beyond 'Wrinkle'). Perhaps she could've given me the courage to realize that there was another adolescence than the reality that Judy Bloom presented. Gratefully, I can read L'Engle's adult works with an appreciation for grace and forgiveness for human weakness.
April 13, 2014
I have always loved this author-A Wrinkle in Time was probably my introduction to science fiction/fantasy. This book is especially precious as it was a hidden treasure and only published a year after her death.I found the introduction by her grandaughter only added to the story. I love that L'Engle supported her writing carreer by acting. This story started as a short story in 1942 and then became a book that somehow never was published. I loved the story of an aspiring your actress apprenticed to a summer theater on the beach. A young adult novel that makes you examine what makes people first fall in love and discover what real love is! That special L'Engle touch is there-she's so observant and nature id definitely another character. A must read for anyone who loves her work.
March 1, 2012
A lovely sensitive book about growing up and following one's passion. Yes, the heroine is naive (as we all were, once). But it's well written: beautifully observed and very telling. And on several occasions I laughed out loud! ‘The Joys of Love’ will be little too quaint for contemporary teenagers, but the adults – woman in particular - who can remember growing up in America in this era (the summer of 1946) should enjoy it.
December 18, 2017
This was a pretty calming, slow read. I enjoyed following along with Elizabeth's time at the theater. The characters were well-sketched and I enjoyed the dialog, as well as the look at the 1940s from another perspective.
August 30, 2009
"I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive."
—The Joys of Love, P. 4
"If you're too happy about anything, fate usually gives you a good sock in the jaw and knocks you down."
—Elizabeth Jerrold, "The Joys of Love," P. 91
I certainly think that this book is one of the hidden gems of the 2008 young adult literary year that I wish more people would end up reading.
Madeleine L'Engle's prose flows elegantly and wraps around the characters and events of her story exquisitely, fitting the tone of Elizabeth and her friends at Mr. Price's acting studio to near perfection. The introduction to the book mentions that the author always wanted this book to be published as a young adult novel instead of as adult literature, despite the recommendations of her agent, and after reading the book myself I would concur with Madeleine L'Engle's view on the matter. "The Joys of Love" really does seem to be fresher when viewed as a young adult novel, and I am glad that all these years after it was first written, it has now been published in the young adult genre.
"The joys of love...last only a moment. The sorrows of love last all the life long."
—Kurt Canitz, "The Joys of Love," P. 94
"She always had to have someone to love...She couldn't seem to believe that anyone could really love her. She always thought it was because she was a star, not just because of her herself, and she always had to be reassured."
—Ben Walton, "The Joys of Love," PP. 118-119
"Maybe the theatre isn't any place for a reasonable human being after all. It keeps your emotions in such a constant state of upheaval. It's really terribly wearing. I wonder if I could stand it, one emotional upset after the other just going on and on for the rest of my life."
—The Joys of Love, P. 181
What I like about this book most of all are the uniquely perceptive ways that the author allows us to see the intertwining between interpersonal love and one's fixation on ultimate success in a venture as intoxicating as the theater. I found the ways that Madeleine L'Engle told this highly personal story for her to be sharply real and resonant, and the authenticity of phrase and emotion is very plain to see in the numerous in-depth conversations that are recorded throughout the pages of "The Joys of Love."
Madeleine L'Engle has managed something exceptional in this soul-stirring novel, a book that is inherently special and sad because it will almost certainly be the last piece of literature from this renowned pen to ever be published and allowed to the world, published posthumously as it was. "The Joys of Love" is something of a curtain call for the life and legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, as it were, and I am happy that she finished her days of bringing light to others with such a fine novel.
Madeleine L'Engle, you are a friend to young people. You always were.
"But my memories are like a fire in winter—whenever I'm cold I can warm my hands at them."
—Ditta, "The Joys of Love," P. 222
"I've always thought about the theatre like a Christmas tree, all shining and bright with beautiful ornaments. But now it seems like a Christmas tree with the tinsel all tarnished and the colored balls all fallen off and broken..."
"Sure, I know what you mean...And it's both ways...Some of the ornaments fall and break and some stay clear and bright. Some of the tinsel gets tarnished and some stays shining and beautiful like the night before Christmas. Nothing's ever all one way. You know that. It's all mixed up and you've just got to find the part that's right for you."
—Elizabeth and Ben, P. 246
—The Joys of Love, P. 4
"If you're too happy about anything, fate usually gives you a good sock in the jaw and knocks you down."
—Elizabeth Jerrold, "The Joys of Love," P. 91
I certainly think that this book is one of the hidden gems of the 2008 young adult literary year that I wish more people would end up reading.
Madeleine L'Engle's prose flows elegantly and wraps around the characters and events of her story exquisitely, fitting the tone of Elizabeth and her friends at Mr. Price's acting studio to near perfection. The introduction to the book mentions that the author always wanted this book to be published as a young adult novel instead of as adult literature, despite the recommendations of her agent, and after reading the book myself I would concur with Madeleine L'Engle's view on the matter. "The Joys of Love" really does seem to be fresher when viewed as a young adult novel, and I am glad that all these years after it was first written, it has now been published in the young adult genre.
"The joys of love...last only a moment. The sorrows of love last all the life long."
—Kurt Canitz, "The Joys of Love," P. 94
"She always had to have someone to love...She couldn't seem to believe that anyone could really love her. She always thought it was because she was a star, not just because of her herself, and she always had to be reassured."
—Ben Walton, "The Joys of Love," PP. 118-119
"Maybe the theatre isn't any place for a reasonable human being after all. It keeps your emotions in such a constant state of upheaval. It's really terribly wearing. I wonder if I could stand it, one emotional upset after the other just going on and on for the rest of my life."
—The Joys of Love, P. 181
What I like about this book most of all are the uniquely perceptive ways that the author allows us to see the intertwining between interpersonal love and one's fixation on ultimate success in a venture as intoxicating as the theater. I found the ways that Madeleine L'Engle told this highly personal story for her to be sharply real and resonant, and the authenticity of phrase and emotion is very plain to see in the numerous in-depth conversations that are recorded throughout the pages of "The Joys of Love."
Madeleine L'Engle has managed something exceptional in this soul-stirring novel, a book that is inherently special and sad because it will almost certainly be the last piece of literature from this renowned pen to ever be published and allowed to the world, published posthumously as it was. "The Joys of Love" is something of a curtain call for the life and legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, as it were, and I am happy that she finished her days of bringing light to others with such a fine novel.
Madeleine L'Engle, you are a friend to young people. You always were.
"But my memories are like a fire in winter—whenever I'm cold I can warm my hands at them."
—Ditta, "The Joys of Love," P. 222
"I've always thought about the theatre like a Christmas tree, all shining and bright with beautiful ornaments. But now it seems like a Christmas tree with the tinsel all tarnished and the colored balls all fallen off and broken..."
"Sure, I know what you mean...And it's both ways...Some of the ornaments fall and break and some stay clear and bright. Some of the tinsel gets tarnished and some stays shining and beautiful like the night before Christmas. Nothing's ever all one way. You know that. It's all mixed up and you've just got to find the part that's right for you."
—Elizabeth and Ben, P. 246
March 9, 2016
After reading "And Both Were Young" and recently thinking about a passage in "Camilla" that I've always loved, I figured it was time to finally read "The Joys of Love." As the world's greatest Madeline L'Engle fan, you'd think that I would have picked this up the moment it hit the shelves. A lost L'Engle book! One of her first! But I was worried that the reason it was released after her death was because she didn't think it was good enough to print in the first place, and the estate just wanted to make some money. Turns out I was wrong. According to the introduction, the reason it wasn't printed was because it was turned down repeatedly before L'Engle's surge in popularity, and she eventually put it away and then gave it to her granddaughters.
It certainly isn't as strongly written as her other work, and tends to a more popular YA style (read: it describes clothes a lot). But it still has those signature L'Engle elements that she learned to nurture later on, such as a keen insight into human behavior and relationships, a need to connect to the world on a larger scale and a love of art and its transportive abilities.
It's also interesting because this is her most biographical work, apparently, drawn from who she was as a teen and her work in the theater before becoming a writer. It's the closest I will get to meeting her and she must have been an interesting person to know. I have to agree with some of the characters that Elizabeth is a little too sheltered and prudish in her outlook, and for a modern reader, she comes off a lot younger than the college-graduate she is. That also might be from the time gap — this book was written in the late forties. But in the end, you can't resent Elizabeth for her inhibitions because she doesn't impose them on others and is learning to be herself, even if that doesn't line up with what others want.
It's also a love letter to theater, and reading this made me long for it. "The Seagull" is a part of the plot, which makes me happy, that L'Engle loved this play as much as I do, and that she uses it as a way for her own character to discover her own motivations and to learn about life.
It certainly isn't as strongly written as her other work, and tends to a more popular YA style (read: it describes clothes a lot). But it still has those signature L'Engle elements that she learned to nurture later on, such as a keen insight into human behavior and relationships, a need to connect to the world on a larger scale and a love of art and its transportive abilities.
It's also interesting because this is her most biographical work, apparently, drawn from who she was as a teen and her work in the theater before becoming a writer. It's the closest I will get to meeting her and she must have been an interesting person to know. I have to agree with some of the characters that Elizabeth is a little too sheltered and prudish in her outlook, and for a modern reader, she comes off a lot younger than the college-graduate she is. That also might be from the time gap — this book was written in the late forties. But in the end, you can't resent Elizabeth for her inhibitions because she doesn't impose them on others and is learning to be herself, even if that doesn't line up with what others want.
It's also a love letter to theater, and reading this made me long for it. "The Seagull" is a part of the plot, which makes me happy, that L'Engle loved this play as much as I do, and that she uses it as a way for her own character to discover her own motivations and to learn about life.
June 29, 2010
Okay, if I could have given 3 and a half stars, I would have. I'm honestly not into anything resembling "romance" when it comes to books, but since I've loved all the other L'Engle I've read, I figured I'd give it a go. Now I want to clarify my rating. As compared to literature at large, I give this closer to four stars, but comparing L'Engle to herself I give it three. It's very obvious that it was written early in her career.
What I loved:
I loved the main character, Elizabeth. I was amazed that I could understand and relate to a character who is so different from me as far as interests and career endeavors. The very first thing I noticed when I began to read was what a compelling character she is.
Second, it was pretty much what I was hoping it would be - an escape into a relaxed world of fun people and an excellent setting. A perfect read for summer break. This book is not a freight train. It is a very nice stroll through the park, so if you go in expecting anything else, you will be disappointed. It is very much a sensory experience rather than a highly emotional or suspenseful one.
What bothered me:
There were a lot of flash backs and long bits of dialogue. These didn't bother me most of the time, however it does seem to get in the way of the pacing of the plot in a couple of places. There was one part when I started to get annoyed at a long bit of dialogue though, and it ended up actually being pretty important. These are both a plus and a minus because they add depth and interest to the characters, but at the same time they can be a distraction from the plot.
Overall I'm glad I read it and I'm surprised that there are so many negative reviews. I think some L'Engle fans were disappointed that it wasn't as good as her stronger works, but I think she's such a talented writer that even before she hit her stride she was able to crank out some pretty compelling stuff.
What I loved:
I loved the main character, Elizabeth. I was amazed that I could understand and relate to a character who is so different from me as far as interests and career endeavors. The very first thing I noticed when I began to read was what a compelling character she is.
Second, it was pretty much what I was hoping it would be - an escape into a relaxed world of fun people and an excellent setting. A perfect read for summer break. This book is not a freight train. It is a very nice stroll through the park, so if you go in expecting anything else, you will be disappointed. It is very much a sensory experience rather than a highly emotional or suspenseful one.
What bothered me:
There were a lot of flash backs and long bits of dialogue. These didn't bother me most of the time, however it does seem to get in the way of the pacing of the plot in a couple of places. There was one part when I started to get annoyed at a long bit of dialogue though, and it ended up actually being pretty important. These are both a plus and a minus because they add depth and interest to the characters, but at the same time they can be a distraction from the plot.
Overall I'm glad I read it and I'm surprised that there are so many negative reviews. I think some L'Engle fans were disappointed that it wasn't as good as her stronger works, but I think she's such a talented writer that even before she hit her stride she was able to crank out some pretty compelling stuff.
December 26, 2013
Madeleine L'Engle was one of my favorite authors growing up. I saw this book in a discount book store, never having heard of it.
It is a fast, simple read. It rang true with real, authentic life. I feel that I get the most out of books like this. This, to me, means that parts dragged, there was a good mix of positive and negative things happening to the characters as such is life, and the characters had actual conversations. Love starts off sweet, but doesn't always last.
This wasn't an action-packed, dramatic mess. It actually only covers four days of Liz's summer adventure at the theatre. L'Engle invites you into the characters lives. The book isn't the entirety of their lives.
You can always spot one of L'Engle's "villains" from a mile away. Kurt is no exception. But in this book, the characters question why people are the way they are. There is a beautiful conversation between Liz and Ditta. The whole conversation is genius. But they talk about Kurt and Liz. They talk about why Kurt is the way he is. And even though it doesn't excuse the way he acts, you understand him. He is brought to a human level, for the reader and Liz. A lesson we should all take to heart. No one is a jerk for no reason.
Ben is also one those characters that I would want to meet in real life, fall in love with, and live out a life with. He's unique, full of personality, talent, awkwardness, self-awareness, etc. The list could go on. If L'Engle was alive today, I would beg her to write out Ben and Liz's story. Any girl would love to be loved with such assuredness and humor.
It is a fast, simple read. It rang true with real, authentic life. I feel that I get the most out of books like this. This, to me, means that parts dragged, there was a good mix of positive and negative things happening to the characters as such is life, and the characters had actual conversations. Love starts off sweet, but doesn't always last.
This wasn't an action-packed, dramatic mess. It actually only covers four days of Liz's summer adventure at the theatre. L'Engle invites you into the characters lives. The book isn't the entirety of their lives.
You can always spot one of L'Engle's "villains" from a mile away. Kurt is no exception. But in this book, the characters question why people are the way they are. There is a beautiful conversation between Liz and Ditta. The whole conversation is genius. But they talk about Kurt and Liz. They talk about why Kurt is the way he is. And even though it doesn't excuse the way he acts, you understand him. He is brought to a human level, for the reader and Liz. A lesson we should all take to heart. No one is a jerk for no reason.
Ben is also one those characters that I would want to meet in real life, fall in love with, and live out a life with. He's unique, full of personality, talent, awkwardness, self-awareness, etc. The list could go on. If L'Engle was alive today, I would beg her to write out Ben and Liz's story. Any girl would love to be loved with such assuredness and humor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
Elizabeth Jerrold is an apprentice for the summer theater company. Acting is her dream and this summer is her chance to make the dream come true. After four years of chemistry at college, Liz convinced her aunt to fund this summer job in exchange for her cooperation. But when Aunt Harriet calls to summon Liz back to Virginia for immoral behavior, Elizabeth fights for one last week to work under her idol, Valborg Andersen.
Events conspire to allow Liz one more week, but that week holds more than she bargained for. When the politics of the theater rip away the prime opportunity for Liz to break into professional acting, her friends step in and make it a week to remember.
Practicing scenes, managing the box office, and free time on the beach fill the friends' free time while they each discover their own hopes and dreams. Liz fights the expectations placed upon her to find her path; from Ben, the sweet, loyal young man who stays by her side through trouble; to the sophisticated director/producer who flits from woman to woman with the sense of his own importance Elizabeth must choose between the choices presented, or step off the boardwalk and trudge her own path across the sand.
Liz's story, while steeped in romance, is more than the usual young adult meandering about a life's plan gone awry. She is passionate and, at twenty, has an integral belief in who she is. Teens and young adults can enjoy and relate to her story.
http://bookshelfpicks.blogspot.com/20...
Events conspire to allow Liz one more week, but that week holds more than she bargained for. When the politics of the theater rip away the prime opportunity for Liz to break into professional acting, her friends step in and make it a week to remember.
Practicing scenes, managing the box office, and free time on the beach fill the friends' free time while they each discover their own hopes and dreams. Liz fights the expectations placed upon her to find her path; from Ben, the sweet, loyal young man who stays by her side through trouble; to the sophisticated director/producer who flits from woman to woman with the sense of his own importance Elizabeth must choose between the choices presented, or step off the boardwalk and trudge her own path across the sand.
Liz's story, while steeped in romance, is more than the usual young adult meandering about a life's plan gone awry. She is passionate and, at twenty, has an integral belief in who she is. Teens and young adults can enjoy and relate to her story.
http://bookshelfpicks.blogspot.com/20...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2012
Reviewed by Marie Robinson for TeensReadToo.com
Elizabeth has big dreams of becoming an actress. She loves everything about the theater and feels born to be a part of it. Her aunt, who has raised her, wants a more conventional life and disapproves of Elizabeth's ambitions to become an actress.
Taking place over a mere four days, Elizabeth is forced to learn a lot about herself, about her career ambitions, and about growing up. Her aunt disapproves of the lifestyle Elizabeth has adopted while working for a theater company, and has withdrawn the money she was paying for Elizabeth's room and board. This leaves Elizabeth to confront just what compromises she will make in her life to realize her dream.
The melodramatic title aside, this is a lovely book. It's set in 1946, with mentions of Automats, and with characters speaking a diction reminiscent of an earlier time. It's a detailed look into the lives of young men and women trying to find themselves by playing other characters. Elizabeth doesn't just have to stand up to her aunt, she also has to learn about the kind of love that comes along with growing up.
The characters are well drawn, and L'Engle deftly draws the reader in to the stories of the minor characters as well as the major ones. It is an example in character study, with a satisfying ending that does not feel trite or contrived.
Elizabeth has big dreams of becoming an actress. She loves everything about the theater and feels born to be a part of it. Her aunt, who has raised her, wants a more conventional life and disapproves of Elizabeth's ambitions to become an actress.
Taking place over a mere four days, Elizabeth is forced to learn a lot about herself, about her career ambitions, and about growing up. Her aunt disapproves of the lifestyle Elizabeth has adopted while working for a theater company, and has withdrawn the money she was paying for Elizabeth's room and board. This leaves Elizabeth to confront just what compromises she will make in her life to realize her dream.
The melodramatic title aside, this is a lovely book. It's set in 1946, with mentions of Automats, and with characters speaking a diction reminiscent of an earlier time. It's a detailed look into the lives of young men and women trying to find themselves by playing other characters. Elizabeth doesn't just have to stand up to her aunt, she also has to learn about the kind of love that comes along with growing up.
The characters are well drawn, and L'Engle deftly draws the reader in to the stories of the minor characters as well as the major ones. It is an example in character study, with a satisfying ending that does not feel trite or contrived.
July 12, 2011
Most times when I read a book I am focused on the story, rather than on the author but this book made me feel closer to Madeleine L'Engle, like I've peeked through a little window into her life.
This is a sweet, coming of age story, loosely autobiographical, that was published after the author's death, although it was actually one of her earliest written works.
I stumbled across it in the library and the first disc was missing, so I didn't realize until I finished it and looked it up that this was an early novel, rather than a most recent one. Finding this out improved my opinion of the book quite a bit. Truthfully, as I listened to it, I found it dragged a bit, belabored a bit, and was awkward at times.
Despite this, I still enjoyed it and finished it. There were quite a few moments where L'Engle had the perfect quote or a keen insight, or a beautiful phrase. I loved getting these glimpses of her future skill as a powerful storyteller.
My only warning - I picked it up for a road trip, counting on it to be "safe" listening for my 6-year-old and 3-year-old (not that I expected them to be interested). It turned out slightly less safe than I was hoping, as there is a surprising amount of very mild swearing throughout the book. (Lots of "damns" and "hells," etc.) Also surprising was how much my 6-year-old enjoyed the parts of the story she was awake to hear.
This is a sweet, coming of age story, loosely autobiographical, that was published after the author's death, although it was actually one of her earliest written works.
I stumbled across it in the library and the first disc was missing, so I didn't realize until I finished it and looked it up that this was an early novel, rather than a most recent one. Finding this out improved my opinion of the book quite a bit. Truthfully, as I listened to it, I found it dragged a bit, belabored a bit, and was awkward at times.
Despite this, I still enjoyed it and finished it. There were quite a few moments where L'Engle had the perfect quote or a keen insight, or a beautiful phrase. I loved getting these glimpses of her future skill as a powerful storyteller.
My only warning - I picked it up for a road trip, counting on it to be "safe" listening for my 6-year-old and 3-year-old (not that I expected them to be interested). It turned out slightly less safe than I was hoping, as there is a surprising amount of very mild swearing throughout the book. (Lots of "damns" and "hells," etc.) Also surprising was how much my 6-year-old enjoyed the parts of the story she was awake to hear.
Read
June 22, 2008A very satisfying way to start my summer reading. I liked this book, very much. I was so pleased to find this similar in style, quality, and subject matter to the early L'Engle books that I love, particularly The Small Rain. And it was delightful to identify two characters from her other novels in this one. Amazing to think that parts of their stories were sitting in a box for decades.
I am puzzled by the idea that this should be a YA novel (both on L'Engle's part and her publisher's). It is very like The Small Rain and that is not a YA book. Also, it ended so abruptly, and at the bottom of the page, that I thought perhaps my copy was defective (I looked up the number of pages to find that it is, yes, 255). I think I would have been all right with the abrupt ending if it had looked like the end, and I hadn't turned the page anticipating more.
This is definitely a finished, polished work, unlike other posthumous books that you read and think should have stayed locked away. I'm very happy to have it.
I am puzzled by the idea that this should be a YA novel (both on L'Engle's part and her publisher's). It is very like The Small Rain and that is not a YA book. Also, it ended so abruptly, and at the bottom of the page, that I thought perhaps my copy was defective (I looked up the number of pages to find that it is, yes, 255). I think I would have been all right with the abrupt ending if it had looked like the end, and I hadn't turned the page anticipating more.
This is definitely a finished, polished work, unlike other posthumous books that you read and think should have stayed locked away. I'm very happy to have it.
June 19, 2008
What really struck me as I was reading this early L'Engle is how her recurring themes were fully formed already. Also, her love of the apt quote is very evident. The story is, in fact, a little clunky and moralistic- but it's also a L'Engle, so it transcends this slight clunkiness and pulls one into the characters. The story is nearly universal as a coming-of-age tale, and the moment when Elizabeth notices her life has begun made me well up. I marvel anew at L'Engle's skill, if this is an example of where she began- head and shoulders above so many seasoned writers. I also loved the forward from the granddaughter I remember from L'Engle's nonfiction. That said, I'll not read it again, I don't like the people well enough. The main character is a moralistic stick, the villain is a right bastard without a redeeming characteristic and the repetition of (admittedly period) gag-inducing "endearments" was nearly enough to make me long for something by Dworkin.
Recommended for any L'Engle fan.
Recommended for any L'Engle fan.
October 17, 2008
So, there's probably no L'Engle book that I wouldn't give 5 starts to, because I love her. This was fun because it's an early, early one for her that was her last to be published. There's a really nice introduction from one of her granddaughters that made the reading of it feel even more personal. Growing up on her books, I always felt like I knew Madeleine personally (even thought I'd have a daughter named Madeleine when I was young) and the introduction made me feel that even more. When I recommend her to people, I often wish they could discover her the way that I did. First with "A Wrinkle in Time" and the rest of the Time Trilogy and then slowly one book at a time over the next 10 to 15 years. She has characters and family members of characters appear in books where you don't expect them and I always loved that. She believed in writing to "show, don't tell" and that seemed to be very clear in this book as I could "see" the story and setting and characters. Not her "best," I'm sure, but a fan like me thinks they are all her best.
September 3, 2015
What a charmer! This sweet story made me smile throughout.
Although I'm not sure when exactly the wonderful Madeleine L'Engle wrote this book--I believe it was in the '70s--it takes place in the '40s, so the dialogue is very much like an old movie of that era. The characters call each other things like, "You nut!", and I can easily see people like Rosalind Russell and Eve Arden and Jimmy Stewart playing some of the main characters.
It's a very gentle, naive young adult novel about a 21-year-old Elizabeth's first love at a summer theatre--a story that would be harrowing if written today; it's unlike young adult novels published these days. I was occasionally put off by her thoughts--so over-the-top dramatic--but realize that these were the musings of a young woman who wants to be an actress, so of course they are full of drama.
The audiobook includes a bonus introduction by and interview with L'Engle's granddaughter, which offers a personal view of a writer I've admired since I read A Wrinkle in Time when I was 7 or 8. Overall, a lovely time.
Although I'm not sure when exactly the wonderful Madeleine L'Engle wrote this book--I believe it was in the '70s--it takes place in the '40s, so the dialogue is very much like an old movie of that era. The characters call each other things like, "You nut!", and I can easily see people like Rosalind Russell and Eve Arden and Jimmy Stewart playing some of the main characters.
It's a very gentle, naive young adult novel about a 21-year-old Elizabeth's first love at a summer theatre--a story that would be harrowing if written today; it's unlike young adult novels published these days. I was occasionally put off by her thoughts--so over-the-top dramatic--but realize that these were the musings of a young woman who wants to be an actress, so of course they are full of drama.
The audiobook includes a bonus introduction by and interview with L'Engle's granddaughter, which offers a personal view of a writer I've admired since I read A Wrinkle in Time when I was 7 or 8. Overall, a lovely time.
July 10, 2008
the joys of a new madeleine l'engle book being published after her death! i cannot seem to review l'engle without using the word "quaint." but it was. quaint. 20 year old elizabeth is spending the summer as a theater apprentice on the shore. there's a delightful campy feeling, with all the theater employees living in a big cottage and going to get hamburgers at diners and whatnot. unfortunately i'm not that keen on stage people myself (chalk it up to my high schools insufferable "theatre troupe") so i couldn't get into the rehearsal scenes.
elizabeth falls in love with an older actor, kurt, who calls her "liebchen" and admires her for her childlike innocence. this is a recurring theme in many of l'engle's novels, one that i might find creepy if i did not unabashedly LOVE HER WORK SO MUCH. kurt is kind of slimy but it is elizabeth's first love so everything is very important and romantic.
unfortunately, the book's ending was absolute suckitude.
elizabeth falls in love with an older actor, kurt, who calls her "liebchen" and admires her for her childlike innocence. this is a recurring theme in many of l'engle's novels, one that i might find creepy if i did not unabashedly LOVE HER WORK SO MUCH. kurt is kind of slimy but it is elizabeth's first love so everything is very important and romantic.
unfortunately, the book's ending was absolute suckitude.
October 2, 2009
Madeleine L'Engle is one of my favorite writers. Such a favorite that I make it a point not to read everything she's written so that there's always a little L'Engle left to discover. This novel, published posthumously, exposes L'Engle's talent for writing in a contemporary setting with an enduring voice. It's a coming of age story that explores young love amid the sophomoric relationships of the world of theater. As with all of her female protagonists, Madeleine L'Engle imbues herself into the main character, Elizabeth. Like her other female protagonists, she listens to Bach, quotes Shakespeare and Chekov, and rarely describes food (as if her characters have no time for the physical, being so enwrapped in their emotional rewinding). I recommend this book to young readers and L'Engle fans, although it falls short of her more splendid coming of age stories: A Wrinkle in Time and A Small Rain/The Severed Wasp.
February 21, 2013
The Joys of Love is the story of a young actress in her first professional debut at a small summer theater. Elizabeth is dealing with typical youthful problems, an unwise crush, disproving family members, money problems, but with Madeline L'Engle's masterful writing and unique vision what could be an ordinary cliche of a novel turns into a beautiful and timeless account of youthful hope and ambition. The story is set in the 1940s or 50s, but like so many L'Engle novels it is honestly difficult to tell when it takes place. The world of the theater hasn't changed dramatically in the past 60-70 years. Elizabeth comes across as naive, but she really does hold your attention throughout the whole novel. There is nothing remarkable about the plot of The Joys of Love, all pleasure that is derived from this novel comes from the way that L'Engle can make you feel about the story and by extension the world at large.
July 27, 2008
The introduction to this book really helped set a framework to read it in--and, often, I felt like I was reading about a young Madeleine L'Engle, rather than the character of Elizabeth. In tone and development, this novel obviously reads like her early work: and, it's important to note, this early work is not as well developed as what comes later. It tends to show her development as a writer rather than her real gift in action.
As someone who has read practically everything Madeleine L'Engle's ever written, I enjoyed having this book to add to the canon. Is it my favorite? Not by a long shot. But I enjoyed it's wistfulness, and the distinctive voice of all of her work. And it feels like a blessing to have something new to read after her death--it's a nice little gift of a fully formed novel, not something pieced together by relatives after the fact.
As someone who has read practically everything Madeleine L'Engle's ever written, I enjoyed having this book to add to the canon. Is it my favorite? Not by a long shot. But I enjoyed it's wistfulness, and the distinctive voice of all of her work. And it feels like a blessing to have something new to read after her death--it's a nice little gift of a fully formed novel, not something pieced together by relatives after the fact.
June 23, 2009
Madeleine L'Engle is an amazing writer. That having been said this book is way less than amazing.
I wonder if she was still alive would it ever have been published. Her granddaughters are responsible for its publication and I have to ask if it was sentimentality or the thought of more dollars to be made for her estate?
They said this was something she had written when she was very young and would let them read (when they were young). She never pushed for its publication. When you read it you can see why.
Compared to all that she has published this was very mediocre. It could have been written as a teen for an English class assignment. Or a journal entry since it was supposedly based loosely on her life.
It isn't anything I would rush to buy or read. (Although I did because after all it was M. L'Engle. Learn from my mistake or borrow my copy!)
I wonder if she was still alive would it ever have been published. Her granddaughters are responsible for its publication and I have to ask if it was sentimentality or the thought of more dollars to be made for her estate?
They said this was something she had written when she was very young and would let them read (when they were young). She never pushed for its publication. When you read it you can see why.
Compared to all that she has published this was very mediocre. It could have been written as a teen for an English class assignment. Or a journal entry since it was supposedly based loosely on her life.
It isn't anything I would rush to buy or read. (Although I did because after all it was M. L'Engle. Learn from my mistake or borrow my copy!)
August 18, 2009
Would recommend: Ehhh...
I am a huge fan of Madeleine L'Engle. I collect her books, and I have high expectations for what I should get out of them. The Joys of Love was just okay for me. The characters were lovely, and I was eager to find out what happened to them, but it wasn't as good as her other books are.
I had a dim view going into it because it was published posthumously; I couldn't shake the feeling that if Madeleine L'Engle wanted it to be published during her successful, prolific career, why wouldn't she? Maybe she didn't want it to be published, you know? There was a slim chance in my mind that it would be brilliant, the previously undiscovered work of hers, but that was not the case.
The book is pleasant enough, but there are so many other books of hers that I'd recommend before this one.
I am a huge fan of Madeleine L'Engle. I collect her books, and I have high expectations for what I should get out of them. The Joys of Love was just okay for me. The characters were lovely, and I was eager to find out what happened to them, but it wasn't as good as her other books are.
I had a dim view going into it because it was published posthumously; I couldn't shake the feeling that if Madeleine L'Engle wanted it to be published during her successful, prolific career, why wouldn't she? Maybe she didn't want it to be published, you know? There was a slim chance in my mind that it would be brilliant, the previously undiscovered work of hers, but that was not the case.
The book is pleasant enough, but there are so many other books of hers that I'd recommend before this one.
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