A story is often a journey in search of something significant. It begins with a glimmer of an idea, a situation, or a character that piques our interest. As the story unfolds, we are led through a series of events, hoping to discover a point, a central theme that ties everything together. We long for an ending that will provide closure, that will make sense of all that has come before. But sometimes, the search can be frustrating. We may feel like we are lost in a maze of words and actions, with no clear path to the center or the ending. Meh, that's the feeling we get when a story fails to deliver on its promise, when it leaves us unsatisfied and longing for more.

Wait, I'm really confused. Isn't Jane Hamilton widely regarded as a talented writer? Are her other novels of good quality, or is When Madeline Was Young truly representative of her work?

This novel is extremely vague. It meanders aimlessly, without any structure, from one irrelevant scene to another. Nothing is easy to envision clearly; none of the characters are fully developed; and nothing profound or even remotely interesting is said about the various issues that this novel purports to address, such as race, class, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. The title character is a complete enigma. However, I did like her because she is the only person who doesn't speak in the manner of Dan Brown, with sudden bursts of exposition.

Most offensive of all is the narrator. For one thing, the notion that he is a man is simply laughable. For another, he is a despicable racist, which I assume he is intended to be. But Hamilton's description of the loving black maid is equally despicable. And I'm sorry, but having one character constantly refer to her sardonically as "Mom's slave" does nothing to mitigate the situation. It only serves to make the whole thing even more uncomfortable and unacceptable.

Overall, this novel is a disappointment, and it makes me question whether Jane Hamilton's other works are worth reading.

Yet another 3-star read.

I'm not sure if it's me or the books I've been choosing lately, but nothing has been truly amazing.

This book had an interesting concept. A man's first wife sustains a traumatic brain injury, so he divorces her and remarries. However, he and his new wife continue to care for the first wife as if she were one of their children. The story is told from the perspective of Mac, their son.

With this premise, one might expect family secrets and scandals to unfold, but that's not the case at all. Instead, it's more of a family saga that focuses on Mac and his cousin Buddy and the different paths they take in life.

Overall, it's a bit of a meandering story, and I'm not really sure what the point was. It had its moments, but it didn't quite come together for me.

Jane Hamilton never fails to deliver, and this book is truly a worthwhile read.

It spans from the 1940s all the way to the present, incorporating a wide range of elements such as politics, including the Viet Nam War and the Iran conflict. It also delves into family relationships and adult mental impairment. I was completely engaged from start to finish.

This book, similar to many of Hamilton's novels, is set in the upper midwest. The characters and settings are so relatable that it feels as if I am part of their world.

Hamilton's writing is细腻 and engaging, making it easy to become invested in the story and the characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and enjoyable read.