Gilead, Marilynne Robinson's Pulitzer-winning novel, is surprisingly entertaining for an epistolary novel consisting of only one, long letter from a 77-year-old minister to his seven-year-old son. Certainly letters from dead, Midwestern pastors are not the typical stuff of contemporary novels. But Robinson makes it work.
In his letter, the father writes about his own youth and his relationship with his father, his scallywag of a grandfather, his best friend and that man's ne'er-do-well son, the history of his Iowa town as a stop on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War, and his two marriages. Throughout, he ties in the themes of grace, forgiveness, and man's fallibility.
Particularly striking were the narrator's discussions on how much he enjoyed his life. He writes the letter to his young son knowing that he will not be around when his son is an adult. But, although he is approaching death and anticipating his heavenly afterlife, he makes it clear that he appreciated the temporal pleasures of his life -- the beauty of the prairie, his books and education, falling in love, baseball, and his town. His reminiscences and the lessons he imparts to his son are elegant and timeless. Gilead is a beautiful story.
OTHER REVIEWS
Musings
(Please leave a comment with a link if you would like your review posted here.)
.
.
I had no idea that book was one long letter. Sounds good, though.
ReplyDeleteNice review, so glad you enjoyed this book as much as I did. You'll enjoy Home if you haven't read it yet. It deals with the life of the pastor's friend's son, the one who is named after him. An excellent story too.
ReplyDeleteI also didn't know what this one was about, but it sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI just could not get into this book, and I didn't care all that much for the sequel, "Home," which was a National Book Award finalist last year. Technically,her writing is about as close as it gets to perfect, which could be my problem with it. It's almost too correct. Clearly she has a large following, and the literary community seems to love her. I guess that puts me in the minority.
ReplyDeleteI loved this one! It is surprisingly entertaining--funny and thoughtful as well. It's spiritual without being preachy. I think I will reread it someday.
ReplyDeleteYour review makes me want to bump my copy up to the top of my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteI read Housekeeping and didn't really care for it that much. This one sounds good but I am war of taking the plunge into another of her books.
ReplyDelete