Gilead

A Novel

By: Marilynne Robinson

Narrated by: Tim Jerome

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER• OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER• A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • MORE THAN 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD

“Quietly powerful [and] moving.” O, The Oprah Magazine (recommended reading)

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award, GILEAD is a hymn of praise and lamentation to the God-haunted existence that Reverend Ames loves passionately, and from which he will soon part.

Nearly 25 years after Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations, from the Civil War to the 20th century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. In the words of Kirkus, it is a novel "as big as a nation, as quiet as thought, and moving as prayer. Matchless and towering." GILEAD tells the story of America and will break your heart.

Critic reviews

“There are passages here of such profound, hard-won wisdom and spiritual insight that they make your own life seem richer…Gilead [is] a quiet, deep celebration of life that you must not miss.” —Ron Charles, The Christian Science Monitor

“The long wait has been worth it… Robinson's prose is beautiful, shimmering, and precise… destined to become her second classic.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“There is a lot of pleasure to be had in the novel's probing, thoughtful narrative voice.” —Matt Murray, The Wall Street Journal

“Gilead is a beautiful work… Robinson's words have a spiritual force that's very rare in contemporary fiction.” —James Wood, The New York Times Book Review

“Lyrical and meditative… potently contemplative.” —Michael Orecklin, Time

The wonder of retrospect

I feel that I listened to this book two and one half times due to the many rewinds I made in order to hear again the poetic charm of Robinson's use of our marvelous language. Emotions, concerns and recollections are expressed in a manner that I could feel as my own. Perhaps this is in part due to the wonderful narrator whose voice seemed to be perfect for a story cited on the plains of Iowa and Kansas. His voice had a rawness, a lonliness, a solid mid-american character that brought the words alive. I believe that I shall listen to this book again. It felt that good.

I like a finished work.

I like a book that has an ending. One that lets me know what happens to the characters That I have spent the entirety of the book acquainting myself with. This one left me wondering. Not my style without happy ending. Good twist though.

A good book for every pastor to read

I was assigned this book back in seminary, some 12 years ago. I loved it then. I love it now as I reread it. Robinson captures so much of the kind heart, the anguishing heart, of the pastorate. She also writes beautifully of a father‘s love for a son.

Good but. .

Great story and narration but the folksy parochial religion left me feeling a little empty.

Significance

I love everything about this book. The depth of truth, grace and understanding are beautiful and inspiring.