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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Lila may be the most compelling and wonderful character Robinson has created -- and that's saying something. Slow and thoughtful and lovely novel. The relationship between Lila and John Ames is beautifully depicted. Now I need to read Gilead again.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Marilynne Robinson turns her extraordinarily beautiful prose to bear on the Reverend John Ames' second wife, Lila. Something of a prequel to 'Gilead,' 'Lila' fills in the gaps and opens the door into the past of Lila Dahl.
If 'Gilead' was concerned with reflections on a life filled with and lived by grace and if 'Home' wrestled with questions about whether it's possible to reject or accept grace, then 'Lila' is the story of one who encounters grace late in life after a very grace-less life and is slowly transformed by it.
As always, Marilynne Robinson is moving, profound, and beautiful in her writing. If you loved 'Gilead' and 'Home,' you'll love this as well.
If 'Gilead' was concerned with reflections on a life filled with and lived by grace and if 'Home' wrestled with questions about whether it's possible to reject or accept grace, then 'Lila' is the story of one who encounters grace late in life after a very grace-less life and is slowly transformed by it.
As always, Marilynne Robinson is moving, profound, and beautiful in her writing. If you loved 'Gilead' and 'Home,' you'll love this as well.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 rounded up. I have not read any of the other books in this series.
This is a very quiet, character-driven story that was a little difficult for me to get into for its slow-moving pace. But it became a truly sweet story of a woman who bends repeatedly but does not break. I adored her relationship with the reverend and all their quiet moments, as well as the up-hill internal battle she faced. The religious aspects didn’t feel very religious, which I preferred. Some truly beautiful lines, too.
This is a very quiet, character-driven story that was a little difficult for me to get into for its slow-moving pace. But it became a truly sweet story of a woman who bends repeatedly but does not break. I adored her relationship with the reverend and all their quiet moments, as well as the up-hill internal battle she faced. The religious aspects didn’t feel very religious, which I preferred. Some truly beautiful lines, too.
My least favorite of the Gilead series so far, but still like how it ties into the first 2 books
I didn’t love this book and that makes me sad because I like the story as a whole. I had a hard time following it though. Lila’s thoughts were so scattered and didn’t follow along chronologically and that’s just hard for my brain to keep up with. The writing itself is beautiful in places:
“That sound of settling into the sheets and covers has to be one of the best things in the world. Sleep is a mercy. You can feel it coming on, like being swept up in something...You had to trust sleep when it came or it would just leave you there, waiting.” pg. 238
“When you’re scalded, touch hurts, it makes no difference if it’s kindly meant.” pg. 253
“And the old man did look as though every blessing he had forgotten to hope for had descended on him all at once.” pg. 254
There were other quotes earlier in the book that I liked too, but I wasn’t marking them then.
I wonder how this book compares to Gilead or Home? I hear so many wonderful things about them, and I heard wonderful things about this book. The problem is probably me for not liking it as much as I should.
“That sound of settling into the sheets and covers has to be one of the best things in the world. Sleep is a mercy. You can feel it coming on, like being swept up in something...You had to trust sleep when it came or it would just leave you there, waiting.” pg. 238
“When you’re scalded, touch hurts, it makes no difference if it’s kindly meant.” pg. 253
“And the old man did look as though every blessing he had forgotten to hope for had descended on him all at once.” pg. 254
There were other quotes earlier in the book that I liked too, but I wasn’t marking them then.
I wonder how this book compares to Gilead or Home? I hear so many wonderful things about them, and I heard wonderful things about this book. The problem is probably me for not liking it as much as I should.