Glittering Images
|
|
Set in Starbridge, which is really Salisbury, this is a story of love, life, morals and conscience. She brilliantly describes the struggles between the generations and the way we live we our lives within the framework of the Church of England. There are no bad characters, only acts which are not good.
|
|
|
These books could change your life
|
|
A series of novels spanning several decades in the Church of England may not sound like a gripping read. But Howatch's Starbridge series is a great accomplishment - the writing is insightful and absorbing, the characters beautifully observed and the storylines make for compulsive reading. Perhaps most impressive is that her characters' spirituality is realistic and encouraging, and her theology is sound. If you're looking for a good read, this will fit the bill. If you're looking for a refreshing (but grounded and considered) take on faith and belief, this series could be profoundly helpful.
|
|
|
Glittering Images
|
|
Glittering Images, along with the other five books of the Starchester chronicles, portrays with eerie clarity the seldom seen inner workings of the Church of England. This is like one of those books from childhood when your open the pages and the pictures stand up in three dimensions. Susan Howatch manages to have me siding with first one character and then the other; I'm swept along in a swirling grasp of surprise and wonderment as these real life people manipulate my beliefs. It's a thrilling ride. Anyone who thinks that religion is boring should read this book and its partners.
|
|
|
Sparkles with her wit and expertise
|
After writing 5 highly successful family sagas Susan Howatch had a spiritual experience which converted her to Christianity. She then embarked on the series of six novels which were later to be known as the Starbridge books; she had lived herself for some time in the Cathedral Close at Salisbury, and her fictional town Starbridge is actually Salisbury. Just as her family sagas were written in a multi-person first-person narrator format, so was the Starbridge series, but this time each narrator gets a whole book instead of only a section of one!
Glittering Images is the first book in the series. I had already read al five of the family sagas before I had the courage to start on Starbridge; I saw had the courage because I was sure that a whole series of books set in the Church of England could not help but be stuffy and priggish. But this of course is Susan Howatch, a master storyteller. And these books are considered by many to be an enormous step forward.
I found the depth of character found in all the Starbridge even more impressive than in the sagas. She shows not only an extraordinarily deep understanding of the human condition, she also shows great compassion and warmth for all her characters so that even if they have weaknesses and make mistakes, we can nevertheless forgive and love them.
In the first trilogy of books. Set in the 1930's and 1940's, each of the three narrators is stripped down and turned inside out, so that the reader knows all there is to know about them.
In this first book we first meet Charles Ashworth, who will be a major player in the series. Charles has conservative leanings and a Middle Way churchmanship. As ever, Howatch succeeds in giving us an in-depth portrait of a very likeable and sincere man, and sets him in the middle of a story that simply pulls you through, unravelling secret after secret. A wonderful book, which made me immediately want to start on the next one in the series... Glamorous Powers! I've opened an online discussion and reading group based on the Howatch novels; if you are interested in joining please mail me!
|
|
|
A great story with unexpected depths
|
|
Susan Howatch's ability to spin a good yarn is well known. Add to that the complexities of the Church of England and characters who have a realistic relationship with God (what a refreshing idea!) and you get this un-put-downable novel. I've recommended it to all my friends, and my husband - all have loved it. And don't forget to read the rest of the Starbridge Novels after this cracking opener...
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada