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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
This book reads like a dream: luminous and beautiful. It's a poignant letter from an elderly preacher approaching the end of his life to his young son, whose life stretches ahead. It's an attempt to share with his boy all the lessons he learned: about himself, family, life, faith. This is a thoughtful read. It's meditative. It is slow in spots, but the writing is gorgeous.
Excerpts:
“I’m writing this in part to tell you that if you ever wonder what you’ve done in your life, and everyone does wonder sooner or later, you have been God’s grace to me, a miracle, something more than a miracle. You may not remember me very well at all, and it may seem to you to be no great thing to have been the good child of an old man in a shabby little town you will no doubt leave behind. If only I had the words to tell you.”
“I wish I could leave you certain of the images in my mind, because they are so beautiful that I hate to think they will be extinguished when I am. Well, but again, this life has its own mortal loveliness. And memory is not strictly mortal in its nature, either. It is a strange thing, after all, to be able to return to a moment, when it can hardly be said to have any reality at all, even in its passing. A moment is such a slight thing. I mean, that its abiding is a most gracious reprieve.”
Excerpts:
“I’m writing this in part to tell you that if you ever wonder what you’ve done in your life, and everyone does wonder sooner or later, you have been God’s grace to me, a miracle, something more than a miracle. You may not remember me very well at all, and it may seem to you to be no great thing to have been the good child of an old man in a shabby little town you will no doubt leave behind. If only I had the words to tell you.”
“I wish I could leave you certain of the images in my mind, because they are so beautiful that I hate to think they will be extinguished when I am. Well, but again, this life has its own mortal loveliness. And memory is not strictly mortal in its nature, either. It is a strange thing, after all, to be able to return to a moment, when it can hardly be said to have any reality at all, even in its passing. A moment is such a slight thing. I mean, that its abiding is a most gracious reprieve.”
I didn't love it or hate it nor like or dislike the characters
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
i went into this thinking i would hate it. maybe a little harsh, but i at least thought it would have me rolling my eyes and wondering why i ever bought it at that used bookstore that one time. but i'm surprised to say i really enjoyed it. there were so many beautiful lines. it's very reflective, told from the perspective of a preacher to his son as he knows that he is getting old and dying. i loved the parts about forgiveness, beauty in mundanity, and how our love supersedes all. very no plot just vibes and definitely has religious tones throughout, but it didn't feel like the author/narrator were pushing it onto the reader in any capacity.
The self reflection and poignancy of the Reverend makes you reflect on your legacy and what you see and don’t.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the language in this was lovely, though i cannot in good conscience give this any more stars due to the rather disjointed narrative and lack of cohesion. some parts were really sweet, and I really liked reading to the bits about the author and his wife and the prose was so elegant that i ended up reading it out aloud to myself
I guess - what took the cake was really Jack's arc throughout the story, told in bits and pieces, and the eventual redemption that came from both the author and the subject himself
So - great, but this book had the effect of dribbling words out through my fingers the instant I read them.
I guess - what took the cake was really Jack's arc throughout the story, told in bits and pieces, and the eventual redemption that came from both the author and the subject himself
So - great, but this book had the effect of dribbling words out through my fingers the instant I read them.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated