Aug 24, 2022orangelibrarycard rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A contemplative church pastor getting along in age is the narrator in this slow, moving, and beautifully written novel. In the form of a letter to his son, John Ames recounts his family story, ruminates on God and forgiveness, gives…
Feb 15, 2022Blakec_scott rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is a book about ideas, morality, and relationships in which, like in life, nothing seems to happen when, in fact, everything happens...hearts are broken, religious visions are experienced, murders are committed, and families are…
Aug 20, 2021Worthwords rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I really wanted to like this book considering all the praise for it. I forced myself to read more than I wanted to but I finally gave up. It was dull and rambling and even though I asked myself several times what I was learning from this…
Aug 10, 2020janerf rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Loved the parts about abolition and fighting to free the slaves. Loved the parts about war and how hateful it is. The talk of war was always about his grandfather. I guess John Ames b. 1880 was too old even for the WW1 draft, and so missed…
Mar 03, 2020merritr rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This entire book consists of a journal or notebook written by an aging reverend, John Ames, to his seven year-old son, whom I don’t remember ever being named. It was clear throughout the narrative that Ames loved his son immensely, and…
Sep 13, 2019STPL_JessH rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I love this book. I was moved to tears many times. I felt as though I was inside an extended prayer with all the contradictions and reckoning that comes with devotion and steadfast faith. Just a beautiful book.
Jul 14, 2019IndyPL_SteveB rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
If you ever see a booklist on the subject of “the experience of being a human” and the list does NOT include *Gilead*, don’t trust the list. This is one of the absolute best American novels and should be a long-term classic. Marilynne…
This Gilead, Home, actually stands as the 1st book of Marilynne Robinson's 3 title Gilead series.
Book 1, title of Gilead, pub yr 2004: book 2 of title Home, yr 2008, and Lila, book 3, yr 2014.
Her novel, Gilead, won the Pulitzer…
Jul 24, 2018RogerDeBlanck rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Gilead chronicles the life of John Ames, a seventy year-old preacher, dying of heart disease. The novel takes place in the small town of Gilead, Iowa, and the narrative is written from Ames’s perspective as he undertakes an extended letter…
John Ames, a preacher in the small town of Gilead, Iowa believes he doesn’t have long to live so he writes a series of letters to his young son. Ames asks “What should I record for you? … And what else should I tell you?” Ames’ letters end…
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Gilead