The Secret Chord

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

“A page turner... Brooks is a master at bringing the past alive...in her skillful hands the issues of the past echo our own deepest concerns: love and loss, drama and tragedy, chaos and brutality.” (Alice Hoffman, The Washington Post)

A rich and utterly absorbing novel about the life of King David, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of People of the Book and March.

With more than two million copies of her novels sold, New York Times best-selling author Geraldine Brooks has achieved both popular and critical acclaim. Now, Brooks takes on one of literature's richest and most enigmatic figures: a man who shimmers between history and legend. Peeling away the myth to bring David to life in Second Iron Age Israel, Brooks traces the arc of his journey from obscurity to fame, from shepherd to soldier, from hero to traitor, from beloved king to murderous despot and into his remorseful and diminished dotage.

The Secret Chord provides new context for some of the best-known episodes of David's life while also focusing on others, even more remarkable and emotionally intense, that have been neglected. We see David through the eyes of those who love him or fear him - from the prophet Natan, voice of his conscience; to his wives, Mikhal, Avigail, and Batsheva; and finally to Solomon, the late-born son who redeems his Lear-like old age. Brooks has an uncanny ability to hear and transform characters from history, and this beautifully written, unvarnished saga of faith, desire, family, ambition, betrayal, and power will enthrall her many fans.

©2015 Geraldine Brooks (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Paul Boehmer delivers a superb performance of Geraldine Brooks's reimagining of the life of King David. Boehmer's characters live through his vocal magic." (AudioFile)

“A page turner...Brooks is a master at bringing the past alive...in [her]skillful hands the issues of the past echo our own deepest concerns: love and loss, drama and tragedy, chaos and brutality.” (Alice Hoffman, The Washington Post)

“The Secret Chord - a thundering, gritty, emotionally devastating reconsideration of the story of King David - makes a masterly case for the generative power of retelling...some of the magic here has to do with setting and time - for sensory dramatics, it’s hard to compete with the Iron Age Middle East...but Brooks’ real accomplishment is that she also enables readers to feel the spirit of the place.” (The New York Times)

Enlightening

Brings the old story to light. I’ve heard it many times, now I think I understand it.

Skip this one, not like her later books. Boring.

Had high hopes for this book as I really enjoyed later books by this author. Unfortunately, it is really slow and
Incredibly boring for the first 2/3 or more. Too bad, the subject matter had great potential.

Brooks at her best

Loved this book. Am a history buff and very interested in Biblical characters especially David. It is told by Nathan, David,s prophet. I know it is partially fiction but Brooks has a remarkable gift of filling in the blanks l.e.the thoughts and feelings of the characters and what could so logically could have happened. The narrator is fabulous. He uses the Hebrew pronunciation of all the names which can be confusing I went to 1&2 Samuel when I couldn't figure out the character I have a different attitude toward David now that I have read Brooks' insightful story.

great story

great story of a great leader, yet flawed and brutal...consistent with that time, consistent with humans for thousands of years.

Fictional Narrative of a great biblical character

I loved listening to this book because it made the story of David from the Bible come alive. But it's important to note that the author took much liberty in adding to the story. For example, this story portrayed David and Jonathan's love for each other as being homosexual in nature, but the Bible never says that. Also, the description of Tamar's rape by her half brother is very explicit. Therefore I only recommend this book for those who can handle a wordly perspective of the story of King David. Personally I really liked it, but I made sure to go back and reread the story of David in the book of Samuel in the Bible so I could tell fact from fiction.

Brooks humanizes history

I've now read all of Brooks's novels (two as audiobooks) and have enjoyed all of them. I admire the way they draw upon solid history and enliven it with humanity. The Secret Chord is my second favorite, after People of the Book. Paul Boehmer does a fine job with narration. He enunciates clearly so that you never miss a word, and he dramatizes appropriately.

Compelling

This fictionalized story of David told through the eyes of Nathaniel is compelling and captivating. I enjoyed it immensely.

loved it

good read mostly true to scripture , followed Davids life very well and added alot of emotion to the Bible narrative . I understand it's hard to stay100% true to scripture in a novel as there's alot of blanks to fill in .Hence it's fiction .

Good

Have never read the bible but I may start now. Enjoyed the refer and characterization

It tried too hard to move me

Perhaps it is impossible to tell the story of King David without employing empurpled prose. The story is well crafted and carries the reader easily along its arc, the characters are, for the most part, vividly drawn, and the harsh life of the time is portrayed unflinchingly. But somehow, I was unmoved. Thank the Name there was no soundtrack, which would have to be big and bold, with many trumpets. Not my cup of tea.