The First Book of Samuel
Style: Good
Attitude: Unobjectionable
Publisher: Puffin
Published in: 1995
Age Range: Pre Teens+
Period: Contemporary
Genres: Growing-Up
Synopsis:
11-year-old Samuel is the only child of his father's second marriage; the youngest sister of the first marriage lives with them. Elkanah his father is an opera singer who travels a lot and has little constancy in his dealings with his family. The fathers of his first and second wives mistrust him and he believes his wife is having an affair. To counter this he pretends to have got a 2-year contract in America and must take his family. Samuel is disturbed by this and his grandfather hatches a plan to run away to Samoa.
Notes:
Something of a stage-piece with focus shifting between the different families notionally united by Elkanah the father but in fact divided because of him, leaving Samuel uncertain and confused. Not a clear message.
Tuesday 1st January 2002