Reviews for Maud

The average rating for Maud based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-10-22 00:00:00 James Long How to review the diary of a soul? Limited research shows this book of poems was originally "privately printed," its original title A Book of Strife, in the form of the Diary of an Old Soul. I doubt MacDonald ever expected more than his family to read this work, much less review it. In these verses, he wrestles (strives?) with himself, with God or his understanding of Him, with the imperfectness of the world around him and the heart within him. Ultimately he holds onto the promises that someday this world and his soul will be redeemed perfectly. The poetry is beautiful, always. The musings and feelings put forth are raw, searching, hurt, unguarded, and worth the time it takes to soak them in. Yes, some of it is difficult to decipher, but not through any flaw of the poet. I had to reread some passages, and careful attention to punctuation (not only line breaks) helped me as well. Though it does appear (from a few of the verses in "December," especially the 25th) that MacDonald wrote a verse a day for a year, the themes often carry through several consecutive days. "September" is one complete thought. My recommendation is to read not a day at a time but a month at a time. To give the prospective reader a taste of the beauty and honesty found herein, a few quotes follow. p. 35 ~ "Let my soul talk to Thee in ordered words, O King of kings, O Lord of only lords! When I am thinking Thee within my heart From the broken reflex be not far apart. The troubled water, dim with upstirred soil Makes not the image which it can yet spoil Come nearer, Lord, and smooth the wrinkled coil." p. 54 ~ "Afresh I seek Thee. Lead me--once more I pray-- Even should it be against my will, Thy way. Let me not feel Thee foreign any hour, Or shrink from Thee as an estranged power. Through doubt, through faith, through bliss, through stark dismay, Through sunshine, wind, or snow, or fog, or shower, Draw me to Thee Who art my only day." p. 70,1 ~ "Master, Thou workest with such common things-- Low souls, weak hearts, I mean--and hast to use, Therefore, such common means and rescuings, That hard we find it, as we sit and muse, To think Thou workest in us verily: Bad sea-boats we, and manned with wretched crews-- That doubt the Captain, watch the storm-spray flee."

Review # 2 was written on 2013-07-26 00:00:00 Maureen Ellis MacDonald explains the transcendence of Christ better than some of his prominent first century disciples. And his premise throughout the poem seems to be the assertion "The truth is who, not what." The poem makes 'Born Again Christianity' aka evangelicalism look rather......... narrow-minded??? Look, I am very tolerant of people's different views on religion. But evangelicalism monopolizes the 'market' of Christianity in the American south (I'm from Texas). Sooooooo, this poem, as well as other reads, can sometimes be a fresh escape from the tyranny of stated viewpoint. I even heard that C.S. Lewis (never was a big fan of C.S.) called MacDonald his 'master.' I have never understood Christ and Christianity deeply until being introduced to MacDonald. Now I have finally finished the year round poem. I'll probably just keep going...