Customer Reviews

Temple of My Familiar (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was taken aback on some of the customer reviews and I felt the need to defend this extraordinary book."Temple of My Familiar" is more than an African-American feminist polemic or a deconstruction of Judeo-Christian values or a debunking of Western myth-making (that we call history). However, this appears to be where most critics get hung up on. They seem to point to certain "imperfections" such as the unruly narrative structure populated by countless characters and may subplots or the lack of restraint in the novel's exploration of numerous ideas and philosophical threads. The reality is that Temple of My Familiar challenges our preconceptions and offers up alternative worldviews as a direct confrontation to our socialized paradigms. But more importantly, it challenges us to explore what we have somehow lost along the way--our spiritual consciousness and sense of belonging. Ms. Walker possesses the courage of her convictions, and as such, this novel defies any attempt to put it into some nice neat little package. The novel challenges the reader to think, listen and dream. And the process is not orderly or self-evident. Temple doesn't offer up any real epiphanies or earth shattering revelations. It only offers suggestions and possibilities and most importantly, hopes. We have lost "Eden" a long way back; Temple of My Familiar is a beautiful attempt to get back to the garden.

Heck, nobody said, "It was going to be easy!"

She masterfully moves her characters beyond worldly conventions towards not only a greater understanding of themselves but of humanity at large. I honestly recommend this book to anyone who as ever wished to further themselves, because it is a literary experiment into the healing side of human nature (a side too often compromised for violence). Furthermore, it is a book of real people rising out of varying levels of suppression-a book which in gauges everyone to break limits and asks questions of at least themselves. Yes indeed this is a book which tells us why we struggle to stay alive...why we press forth into the next day.

I purchased my version of Temple of My Familiar when I was working in Frankfurt, Germany. I didn't speak the language and stumbled across a kiosk in the center of the city that sold a few books in English and this was one of them. Not having read any Walker before, but knowing her reputation as a wonderful writer, I purchased the book and devoured it in one sitting. At first hungry for English, I realized I was savoring a masterpiece. Walker deftly intertwines the lives (and past lives) of numerous characters from the US, England, and Africa and gives incredible perspectives of many different perspectives of the native/colonial African experience as well as the experience of men and women in the racially divided US. I ended up rereading the book numerous times while in Europe and I periodically find myself rereading it every few months. Each character is on a personal journey to find themselves and honesty and caring for others is a key component to their discovery. A great message and a skillfully written book.

I too was surprised by the other customer reviews and I feel the need to defend this extraordinary book that touched my life as no other before it has. There are many underlying messages in this novel that may remain unseen by one who reads what is merely on the surface. The imperfection of human emotion, the inexplicable forces of attraction, and the chains of one's past are all important issues that Ms. Walker delves into with style and grace. Yet at no time did I feel I was receiving too much information. On the contrary, I couldn't put the book down because I was so thirsty for more. The everyday, and not-so-everyday struggles of these amazing characters made these stories so touching and real that I found myself talking about them as if they were familiar friends. I feel that one of the most important issue that Ms. Walker deals with in this novel is the very true and very devastating change from the worship of the goddess to the god. She explains this transformation in such a way that any woman - or man for that matter - can understand and feel this pain as they should, for it affects all of our lives - now and forever. For those of you who have not read this book, please do so with an open heart and mind and I promise that you will receive the message that is meant for you. For those of you who have read it and did not understand it, I urge you to read again and again. You will see things that you never knew were there: in the book as well as inside yourself.

I read this for the first time in 1990. I was 13 the first time I read this book. At the time, the story was so complex, so moving to me in some way. Particularly Ms Lizzie's character. Someone who'd lived so many different lives, through so many different times struck a chord with me. I've read this book at least once every year since that first time. I've gone through three paperbacks and finally when I became an adult, got myself a beautiful first edition which I cherish. As I've gotten older, I've related to each character differently of course, come to understand them better in some ways, sometimes made some of the same mistakes they've made. Ms. Walker is an excellent writer, I've read all of her books but this one, for me is a masterpiece. Whenever some traumatic thing has happened in my life, I reach for this book. I've done papers, character analysis, paintings all based off of this work.

I have read several of Alice Walker's books, and find The Temple of my Familiar the most powerful and captivating.

The novel is more than a story, it is a literary investigation into the origins, nature, foibles and follies of mankind. From man's first decent from the tree, to present-day struggles, Ms. Walker poetically contextualizes who we are.

This novel is as timeless as Hamlet, as pointed as The Naked Ape, and as poetically-written as I Know Why the Caged Bird sings.

I found myself hooked on this novel after the first sentence, and it has given me one of my more magical reading experiences. The Temple of My Familiar is part history, part myth, part love story, part everything. Walker's prose is absolutely rapturous.

But, as concisely as possible, I would like to try to address some of the issues that have been raised in other reviews. As close as I've grown to this book over the past couple of weeks, I feel like I've been put in the position of defending a friend.

First of all, I did not find the novel hard to follow. Yes, there is a certain Chekhovian decentralization, and we are never given a specific protagonist, but each storyline is completely engaging in its own way. And the tiny ways in which these characters' lives intersected over the course of the novel never failed to bring a smile to my face. The psuedo cameos from characters in The Color Purple were a delightful connection. (Note for those readers of The Color Purple who are not aware: this novel, in large part, follows the story of Celie's granddaughter.)

It's an Alice Walker novel so, yes, it has political forays -- some bizarre, others poignant. But I do not understand the fear of the things that Alice Walker writes. History is dark, and it deserves to be studied, even if our own sensibilities are offended. Her word is not law, it's simply her word. Her philosophy. Her story. Sensitivity to her touchy subject matter should not distract from the beauty of her prose and storytelling.

I will confess one problem with the book (and it is the only reason I docked it one star): Walker is not capable of separating her own voice from those of her characters. No protagonist ever steps outside of its creator's shadow, and each time a character states an opinion on the world, small or grand -- be it a musician they admire or a first lady they detest, we know that it is actually Ms. Walker's own opinion and spiritual message we are reading. And this does not even give mention to the raw sexuality of ALL of her characters. They suffer a poverty of independent ideas.

Luckily, what Walker (through her characters) has to say is captivating. Did I agree with every generalization or feminist critique? Of course not. But my own disagreement with a dicey philosophy did not stop me from enjoying this wonderfully rich novel.

For my part, The Temple of My Familiar is highly recommend for any reader who is looking for a good book to transport them to another world. Or I suppose in the case of this novel, many worlds.

While I do not subscribe to New Age beliefs, reincarnation, or any of the other spiritual stuff that this book advocates, that did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the characters and the world they exist in. Indeed, this book tapped into my sense of wonder as few have in recent years, the mystery of life and how our beliefs shape our world as we struggle to make sense of it all and move ahead. As such, this book for me was a complete success, just a delight to experience - I could suspend my disbelief and simply savor it, hooked into the characters, their issues, their compromises and little triumphs. That makes for a superior novel. It tickled my imagination and gave me images that I will never forget, no matter how weird or unbelievable some of them might be.

Warmly recommended.

This book reads like Shakespeare. It is simply about being alive, whether as a person, male, female, plant or animal, black or white, old or young, ancient or modern, gay or straight, religious or not, anyone, anywhere, anytime. Don't try to pick it apart, don't try to agree with everything it says, just allow yourself to be swept into the sea of life.

This is one of the most touching and moving books I have read. I bought this copy for a friend but had to read it again first!

mmmm...a totally satisfying read. The characters are carefully and artfully woven together. It was bliss to read the past life memories & strength of the central female characters. Since I am aware of my own such experiences it was a joy to read, as well as the surrounding revelations & philosophical jewels Walker includes....Especially enjoyable for those who worship the Goddess & spiritual people. She doesn't hold anything back.