A review by flyingfox02
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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.

How soft her voice is. That there should be such a voice in the whole world, and that I should be the one to hear it, seemed to me then and seemed to me now an unfathomable grace.

I knew nothing about this book, had heard 1 positive review (which I didn't even remember what was said) which was why I picked it up. I didn't realise I would be struck with so much beauty.

This book is a series of letters from an elderly priest, who is nearing the end of his life, to his young son. He writes about his life, his own father and grandfather who were also priests, his Christian faith. He writes about existence, death, loneliness, community, resentment and grace, grief and love.

He writes to leave guidance for a son who will have to grow up without a father for most of his life. He writes to impart wisdom about life and faith. He writes so his son can learn about who his father was. And he writes with so much love. So much love.

The writing is simply stunning. It is quiet and thoughtful. It's not preachy at all. It's funny. It is incredibly moving. Marilynne Robinson has injected within the prose the kind of fatherly love that squeezes your heart and makes you want to weep. The tenderness with which the Reverend talks about his wife, about his son, and to his son, it's just abundantly clear how much he loves them and how grateful he is for their mere existence. That is so beautiful to see. I think I teared up a couple of times.

I also appreciated the little musings on God and religion, even though I'm not a Christian. It did get a bit philosophical in the middle which took me out of it (skill issue on my part). This shouldn't deter non-religious people from picking up this book, because it's not a book about Christianity or religion. It's about the beauty of life, of nature, humanity, existence. 

I absolutely loved it. It's something that I will come back to again and again, and I'm convinced I'll love it even more as I get older.