Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
I saw this listed as one of the best books of the decade from the Boston Globe. I liked the premise–a father writing a letter to his son–and I ended up really liking this one. But the reason I’m starting a thread on it is because I think many of you would really like this, namely Chris, Kevin, Penny, Tony, Mitchell and Marc. I don’t think you have to have a son to appreciate this book, but it definitely adds to it.
For those of you who need more information, I’ll say a little about what the book is about.The father is a Methodist (I think) minister in 1950′s Iowa. He’s 70+ years old when writing this to his seven year old son. The purpose of his letter is to share with this son the kind of things he would have if he were alive. (The father is not in good health.) Much of the contents of the story deal with stories of the father’s father and as well as the father’s grandfather (father of the man’s father). There is also a lot of anecdotes and insights into theology and an important side story involving the family of the father’s best friend. The writing is very good (although, at times, I thought the writing was awkward–perhaps because the father writes in a colloquial style). The insights are often profound, and I’m sure many of you will want to re-read certain passages, if not the whole book. Definitely a good book to own.
The having a son part pretty much rules out everyone on your list, no? According to Wikipedia, the minister is a congregationalist (small c) pastor, which pretty much rules out Methodist. Sounds interesting. I’m adding it to my list.
Kevin and Chris both have sons, but I also said that you don’t have to have a son to appreciate the book. I really think you–and most of the other idiots–will like this. Btw, the first person I thought of when I started reading this was Ms. King. (She has read it–twice!–and says she really likes it.) Let me know what you think of it, if you do read. This is one I need to go out and buy.
Btw, I also recommend this to John.
Oops, just saw this thread. I’ve read the book and really enjoyed it. I thought that Robinson did an amazing job in creating the voice of John Ames, I thought that the Ames character was vivid and that the character of Jack Ames Boughton also became vivid as the book progressed. As I recall, the issues presented in the book are fantastic and insightful, and the interactions described in the book between Ames and the various people he comes into contact with are beautitully described. If you like plot and character development, this probably isn’t the book for you, although given the framework and the first person narrative through a diary/letter, this is probably to be expected.
Robinson has written a sequel to the book, “Home,” which I guess isn’t really a sequel but rather a retelling of parts of the story written in the third person from the perspective of the Boughton family. I haven’t picked it up yet but will probably read this sometime this year.
I agree with Marc that the book is not so much about plot or character development (well, there is a bit of character development). Just think if you sat down with a thoughtful person at the end of his life and she/he told you about the important lessons she/he learned life–and that’s a big part of what this book is about.
On the other hand, let me modify my concurrence with Marc. There is a bit of a story and character development with Ames and his namesake–and that story is pretty intriguing.
I have one other small disagreement with Marc, regarding the vividness of Ames and Jack. Personally, I had trouble getting a handle on Jack–what he was all about; his facial expressions that Ames talked about at length. Because of that, a part of me would have liked to see a film version just so that I could see real people play Jack and Ames (otherwise, the book is not an ideal one for adaptation).
Marc, how did you find some of the passages of prose? I found some of the sentences awkward in a way that I would have to re-read them.
Btw, I borrowed Home, and hopefully will finish it in a couple of weeks.
Well, I read the book a couple of years ago so I can’t really give you a solid opinion on the prose. I certainly got the sense that the book was being written by a 70+ year old man near the end of his life, not a middle aged female English professor. So in that sense, I think Robinson really nailed the voice of John Ames.
Regarding Jack, I guess I meant that John Ames certainly had vivid descriptions of their interactions. I seemed to remember that the early descriptions of Jack definitely left the reader with the sense that John had issues with him but didn’t overtly explain things until later. I got the same sense that the disagreements between the two and the seemingly confusing interactions were clarified a bit at the end of the book when they meet somewhere. What was it? A train station or bus depot or something. And I remember being really touched by the last interaction. I also remember really having to think hard about John Ame’s thoughts/musings on redemption, apologetics, and so forth.
It was a fascinating book. I gave it away so I don’t have a copy of it anymore but I may look around for it when I browse through half price books.
And I’m really sorry that I haven’t sent your books to you yet. What a loser I am. They’ll be on the way soon.
I agree. I just didn’t think I had a good grasp of Ames, Jack and their relationship. And a part of me feels like better writing or a well-made film could have given me that understanding (without explaining everything). Now by the end of the novel, I had a better understanding of their relationship, but I fell there were details that were missing.
I totally agree. That’s partly the reason I’m recommending this to the others on the list.
Don’t worry about being late on the books. I really appreciate that you’re mailing them. I also had a great time visiting you!