I consider this story a daytime read, that is, it's not appropriate for a few pages before nodding off, but rather a book to think about. Left off reading it for a while as all the religious contemplations were getting too dull for me. My tepid reaction to this book surprised me as I loved her other books I've read and after finishing Home I really was looking forward to Gilead.
Picked it up again today at page 58 and I was awed by the beauty, clarity and sentiment of her description of the honeysuckle episode between father and son. As I have written before her prose can be like poetry.

My second attempt at reading Gilead, and I'm glad I tried it again, although I had help by following the 'Close Reads' podcast. I listened to six episodes, where the hosts discussed sections of the book (about 30-40 pages) in-depth; which helped me understand much of the text that had me a bit confused on my first attempt.

I'm interested in reading the Home, Lila and Jack, which gives the backstory for a few of the other characters.

Highly recommend the Close Reads podcast, the hosts have amazing discussions and offer several different perspective of the book. ( )

Pastoral, for both the discussions about faith, God, and the Bible, and for its meandering reflective style. With one old man looking back on his life and recording his history so his very young son will have something of his father after the old man's death, the letters go back to the old man's grandfather and father, not fully chronologically, but woven into the old man's reflections of what he observes in the moment and of his own life. Thus the book is almost like four stories woven into one but truly woven, because they merge into one another and are never wholly separate. It's a slow-paced novel, so you need to be in the right mindset, but well written and very reflective. Iowa and Kansas, going back to the early 1900s (and earlier, I believe).

This book has been on my "to be read" list forever. I'd heard it was good, the sort of thing one must read, but that didn't prepare me for the quiet goodness of the book, the way it wormed itself into my mind with the story of a good man, trying to do good things.
In a time when all we seem to see around us is rampant self-interest and greed, it's nice to wallow a little in a well-written narrative about a man who tried to do the right things, based on his creed. It's encouraging. Maybe we humans aren't always so bad after all.
The writing is inviting and I'm looking up more books by this author.
Like a warm cup of tea.... ( )

I loved Housekeeping. My dad died when I was young. I grew up Christian, in Iowa, child of Kansans. I thought this would be a slam dunk for me, but maybe I'm too close in, and have spent too much time wondering what my dad would say to me, etc. ( )