Beth F
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Gilead – Book Review
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
I know a lot of people really love this book, but man was it SLOW!
The first, oh, half of the book was simply the life story of the elderly, near-death preacher John Ames of Gilead, IA as told in letters to his very young son. His family history was somewhat interesting: grandfather was an ardent Kansas abolitionist who aided and abetted John Brown, his father a pacifist after seeing the reality of war, all of them pastors.
Don’t get me wrong, the book wasn’t badly written. It was very believeable. Nor was the storyline of the first half useless. On the contrary, I would love to listen to my grandfather, or a great-uncle or someone tell me a story like this about his life. My problem was that I had not yet been convinced that I should care about John Ames’ life and what had happened in it, about his obscure family memories.
The second half of the book, once we got into the storyline that was taking place in the ‘present’ (John Ames’ present, which was in the 1950s) revolving around Jack Boughton, was great. I found Jack’s character very compelling and loved watching the evolution of John’s feelings about him. Honestly, though, if I hadn’t had this as an audiobook, I don’t know that I ever would have even made it to Jack’s part of the story, I probably would have set the book down in the first half (with good intentions of continuing later, of course), and simply failed to ever pick it up again.
This book is pretty slow at the beginning, but I think the second half of the book is worth getting to. I suppose if you could pretend this actually IS a relative of yours telling his story the beginning might seem more interesting as well. If you think you’ll have a hard time getting through this, make yourself a captive audience like I did (working on a big, boring mailing, it was the only book on my Ipod).
Buy this book on Amazon.
Buy this audiobook on Amazon.
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I’ve read a lot of good reviews of this one, too, but I have to tell you, I do not like a slow book.
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Yeah, I think I will pass on this one. I can’t stand it when a book is slow going. Maybe a chapter or two but certainly not half of it!
Ti’s last blog post..The Sunday Salon: March 29, 2009
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Thanks for this great review. I do want to read this but now I will go into it pretending that this is a family member talking to me!!
Staci @ Life in the Thumb’s last blog post..Mailbox Monday- my first time!
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devourerofbooks Reply:
March 30th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I really do think that will help. I just kept thinking, “I’d love to hear a story like this from my grandfather!”
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wow, you did better than I did. I listened to this on audio and I was bored (almost) to tears. Honestly I don’t remember much that happened b/c I was so busy being bored.
Heather J.’s last blog post..Sword Song
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devourerofbooks Reply:
March 30th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I couldn’t bear to work on that huge mailing without an audiobook, so between the commute and the mailing I was working on, I got so far into the book that I couldn’t bear to waste all that time and not finish it. Normally I think it would have been ditched, although I’m glad I stuck with it because I really liked the end.
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Thanks for the review! I was wanting to read this book, but now I’ll think twice.
BTW, I presented you with an award on my page.
JessicaLeigh’s last blog post..Musing Mondays ~ March 30 / An Award!
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I have this one on my TBR pile. I don’t normally mind slow books, so I’ll have to see what I think when I get to it.
Meghan’s last blog post..Review: Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark, Donna Lea Simpson
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I’m one of the few readers who gave this one a low rating because it dragged so badly for me that I almost didn’t finish it. Beautiful writing only goes so far. Thanks for the review!
Wendy’s last blog post..Mailbox Monday – March 30, 2009
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I felt the same way about the beginning of this book, but the end did make up for it. I was happy I stuck with it. Have a great night. Wisteria
Wisteria’s last blog post..The Recovery of Ecstasy, by Sandy Krolick, Ph.D.
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yep, I think I will skip this one….I am getting to old to read half a book to get to the good part.
caite’s last blog post..In the Mood to Muse…Musing Monday
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Ugh, not what I want to hear, but I guess that means to the bottom of the TBR mountain it goes…
Amy @ My Friend Amy’s last blog post..Review (with Ali of Worducopia): Etta by Gerald Kolpan
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I’ve been back and forth on this book so many times. I know I’ll read it one of these days, but I think I’ve just moved it down on the list.
Beth F’s last blog post..Where Are You? / Teaser Tuesdays (March 31)
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Hmm, I’ve gone back and forth on this one, but I have trouble with slow books. I might pass on this one.
S. Krishna’s last blog post..A Reliable Wife – Robert Goolrick
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I didn’t make it through the first half – this is the first time I’ve heard the second half picks up. I might have to give it another try.
Elizabeth’s last blog post..Excerpt – A World I Never Made by James LePore
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I absolutely loved this one. The difference may be that I picked it up on audio – it was great for listening to on my commute, when I am stuck in the car anyway and my focus drifts a bit.
lisalynne’s last blog post..Reading fiction helps us understand others
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