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When Madeline Was Young
When Madeline Was Young
Author: Jane Hamilton
When Aaron Maciver's beautiful young wife, Madeline, suffers brain damage in a bike accident, she is left with the intellectual powers of a six-year-old. In the years that follow, Aaron and his second wife care for Madeline with deep tenderness and devotion as they raise two children of their own. — Narrated by Aaron's son, Mac, When ...  more » chronicles the Maciver family through the decades, from Mac's childhood growing up with Madeline and his cousin Buddy in Wisconsin through the Vietnam War, through Mac's years as a husband with children of his own, and through Buddy's involvement with the subsequent Gulf Wars.

Jane Hamilton, with her usual humor and keen observations of human relationships, deftly explores the Maciver's unusual situation and examines notions of childhood (through Mac and Buddy's actual youth as well as Madeline's infantilization) and a rivalry between Buddy's and Mac's families that spans decades and various wars. She captures the pleasures and frustrations of marriage and family, and she exposes the role that past relationships, rivalries, and regrets inevitably play in the lives of adults.
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780385516716
ISBN-10: 0385516711
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 288
Rating:
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 48

3.1 stars, based on 48 ratings
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

skywaywaver avatar reviewed When Madeline Was Young on + 148 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was an excellent book. I am going to see what else this author has and read those books too. The only problem with this book was that some spots seemed to drag, and the story jumped back and forth a little bit too much for my taste.
reviewed When Madeline Was Young on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
When Madeline is injured in a bike accident, she is left with the mentality of a six-year-old. Her husband and his new wife care for Madeline, caring her alongside their own children.

This was not written the way I thought it would be. It didn't focus as much on Madeline as I hoped it would. Still, it is worth the read.
reviewed When Madeline Was Young on + 102 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was disappointing. The story was told from the "brother's" point of view. I wished it was more about Madeline.
reviewed When Madeline Was Young on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I think if I had been better prepared for the way this book was written I may have liked it more.
I thought it was about "Madeline" but it really revolves around (and is narrated by) a completely different family member all together.

If you are expecting the story that the summary hooks you on, you will be disappointed. If you go into it more blind, you might enjoy it more since you have no expectations of how the story goes.
reviewed When Madeline Was Young on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was all in all a good read, some very weird happenings but behind all that it really shows how much love can over come. Will definitely touch you, or at least it did me, put a smile on my face a few times too! Wasn't exactly a page turner that kept you waiting and wondering but a heart touching story of a families life and the obstacles they over came and the love they shared!
Read All 6 Book Reviews of "When Madeline Was Young"


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