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sereia8's review against another edition
4.0
Housekeeping is one of my favorite books and I'm so glad I gave Robinson's second novel a try. Her writing gains depth and meaning when savored.
jmrprice's review against another edition
3.0
Framed as a stream-of-consciousness memoir of John Ames, an elderly Congregationalist preacher, as a (very long) letter to his very young son, sharing stories, insights, and beliefs he’d not be able to share with his son as he grew up.
jmwaterhouse's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
skimsdmb's review against another edition
1.0
70 year old Iowan preacher marries an under 40 year old woman and they have a kid. Preacher is shocked to learn he won't live to see the boy grow old so he writes him this letter. Among the pearls of wisdom:
"The sprinkler is a magnificent invention because it exposes raindrops to sunlight. That does occur in nature, but it is rare."
If this is what my father left to remember him by I'd throw it in a fire.
"The sprinkler is a magnificent invention because it exposes raindrops to sunlight. That does occur in nature, but it is rare."
If this is what my father left to remember him by I'd throw it in a fire.
clemencybelle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jsilverman84's review against another edition
4.0
Gilead gave me an unusual glimpse into a time in place that seemed very familiar to modern America and yet had some remarkable differences. It showed me an America where faith played a greater role in everyday life, race relations were more deeply fraught, and one's path through life was much less flexible. Experiencing Gilead, Ohio through the comfortable and understanding perspective a grand-fatherly figure made the notable issues of Gilead seem very close. Religion in particular -- which can seem distant to a modern, urban secularist -- feels very approachable when seen through the eyes of the narrator. Reading the religious references in the context of the narrator showed how a deep and universal wisdom can be expressed in the context of biblical allegories.
I would recommend this book to anybody who wants a better understanding of the social conditions in which older generations of rural Americans grew up.
I would recommend this book to anybody who wants a better understanding of the social conditions in which older generations of rural Americans grew up.
sarainelli's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Once I understood the narrator and his voice, I loved this book. It was full of beauty and reflections on life.
kcourts's review against another edition
Not grabbing me and the initial "so I said, so you said" was irritating.
hannahsbooksandblackcats's review against another edition
Honestly I got bored. Some of the writing was beautiful and tender but just didn’t hold my attention