Gilead: A Novel | Marilynne Robinson | The interior life of the soul

Gilead: A Novel | Marilynne Robinson | Wonderfully Powerful Writing

books:

Gilead: A Novel

	Gilead: A Novel Marilynne Robinson, 2004 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 304 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

The interior life of the soul

To appreciate this work is to have an appreciation of the subtle threads of the soul. There is no other way to take in this strange but hauntingly lyrical novel. For it is not a narrative in the usual sense. In fact, it's its ordinariness that is so exquisitely rendered that raises this book to such heights--but I must admit--it took patience for me to believe in this writer enough (and to get through the weaker passages) to see that this would be a not only be a worthy read, but a remarkable one.

Rev. Ames simply is who he is. As plain as the clapboard houses that dot the Iowa lansdcape. The sections that struck me, though, were the scenes with the shadier characters that make up this story: their dialogue-so real; the depiction of who they are as people--absolutely fascinating.

I really felt I was inside of these people or right there on the porch listening to them talk as I was an inner witness to the musings of our protagonist. It's this unusual skill on the part of the author that makes this novel so noteworthy.

A quiet kind of brilliance is at work here and either you get it or you don't. It's that kind of read.

for more information click here

Wonderfully Powerful Writing

I think this review best sums up my own thoughts about this book. First, I listened to the audio version as I do a lot of driving and it's easier to read with my ears than sitting down and going page by page. Second, I listened to most of this book in one sitting but I kept stopping the cd player so I could ponder what Ms. Robinson had just said and by the time I got through 5 disks I knew I'd have to start over because I was stopping the story so much that I was loosing the sense of the over all story. Third, the second time I went through the story I took it in 5 to 15 minute segments. I just finished it about earlier this evening; came home and played a couple of segments for my wife and then came on Amazon and bought 2 hard back copies: 1 for me and 1 for the 'Boudin" in my life. I'll be (sit-down) reading this book again in about 10 days.

I think that Marilyn Robinson has got to be one of the most wonderful writers I have read in my entire life. She is able to pull the reader into her story and make you think the story is being told to you or, as in housekeeping, you are part of the story. I have not ever been so moved by an author as I have been with her writing. And, I too, am an old man ~ not given easily to being swayed by youngsters like Ms. Robinson; but, in her case I know that for the rest of my days I'll be reading everything of hers that I can.

for more information click here

An enjoyable read

The critics hailed Marilynne Robinson's second novel, Gilead, when it was released in 2004. However, everyone I talked with about the book confessed that it was a total snoozefest. The novel came up in conversation with a new friend recently who was sure I would enjoy this character-driven novel.

I had a little trouble getting into the story as it is a letter from the 76/77-year-old John Ames to his six/seven-year-old son. I think the problem results because the letter does not begin with "Dear..." The son's name is never given, which I found irritating. Why keep it a secret? The novel starts by stating "you" and that always makes me squirm. I felt as if Reverend Ames was addressing me, and I hate that in a novel.

The letter that John writes flows smoothly, relating stories about his grandfather and father, and the child's much younger mother. The stories are peppered with family history and John's best friend and colleague Don Boughton. Like Ames, Old Boughton is nearing the end of his life but seems to be in much worse shape.

Boughton's son Jack, has returned to Gilead. To Ames, he is a godson and a potential threat to become his wife's new lover after Ames dies. Jack, however, has other problems he is trying to resolve, the nature of which is quite surprising.

It may seem that the letter rambles a bit, but it is carefully constructed. Gilead is reminiscent of William Faulkner's Absalom! Abaslom! in that the same story may be told repeatedly, but with each telling, a new information is gleaned. I got a bogged down on Ames' interpretation of the Fifth Commandment. Ames descends from a long line of preachers so his comments and thoughts are not unexpected.

One thing I did find surprising and am hopeful that Robinson will give us in the future is the text to the thousands of sermons Ames has written and are now stored in the attic. I find myself wishing I could take a peek in the boxes.

Gilead isn't for everyone, but I enjoyed the read.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

for more information click here