CAMILLA is a story about a fifteen year old girl who lived a sheltered life until her parent’s marriage started to crumble. During the time of this challenging part of her life, she met Frank, her best friend's brother. Frank is the one person whom she could talk about anything, her dreams, her beliefs, her fears. He also introduced her to different kinds of people, which opened her eyes to a wider world than the one she was brought up in.
“You sit there and you talk about God and you look just beautiful”
When Frank said that it was as though something warm and lovely had exploded right in the middle of my stomach, and like the sun, sent rays of happiness all through my body.”
Though this may sound one, Madeleine L’Engle's Camilla is definitely more than just a sappy love story (if it’s even considered one). It’s themes touch on family affairs, friendship, beliefs, God, love, and dreams.
“I don’t think it’s God’s fault when people do anything wrong. And I don’t think he plans it when people are good. But I think he makes it possible for people to be ever so much bigger and better than they are. That is, if they want to be. What I mean is people have to do it themselves. God isn’t going to do it for them.”
What I like about the story is how it introduced me to ideas and things. One of them is the beautiful music of Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev, particularly his Third Piano Concerto, which is I think is a masterpiece.
As for the characters, sadly I did not find them likeable. Even Camilla. Unlike some books where I feel characters become my friends, in this book, I felt like someone who just watched from a near distance. I could not totally blend with any of them. At times, I felt frustrated by Camilla’s submissiveness. There were scenes where she could’ve gone mad or even just express herself, but she did not. Instead she felt obligated not to speak more lest the person's mood she was with would get fouler.
“Camilla, it isn’t good for you to try to keep things inside yourself the way you do. That’s they way you get inhibitions.”
Though they were largely portrayed in the story, I did not understand her mother and Frank. Both of them were after Camilla’s interest but both of them have maltreated her on some occasions.
The ending also left me hanging. Why did her parents have to go away without her? I feel that there is an important story preceding this one, especially about the way Camilla's father behaved around her wife’s sister. Were they lovers before. Was Camilla unplanned?
Did Frank love Camilla?
So many questions left unanswered. Nevertheless the story is a good read. The writing is fluid and engaging. The premise is not new, but the author weaved it intricately, putting depth into every theme.
I picked up this book because I love Madeleine L’Engle. The book cover is just so nostalgic, plus it says “One of the 25 Books You Can't Put Down” —OPHRAH MAGAZINE. Although I don’t agree with Ophrah on that one, I could say that I highly recommend this book to anyone, I highlighted so many lines in this book, and I'm glad to have read it.
“A daffodil pushing up through the dark earth to the spring, knowing somehow deep in its roots that spring and light and sunshine will come, has more courage and more knowledge of the value of life than any human beings I've met. Model yourself after the daffodil, Camilla. Have the courage to push your head up out of the darkness.”
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