philstanley

This was a beautiful book, and well-deserving of its Pulitzer. The journal-style was very authentic and I enjoyed seeing John Ames' family's past, his own past and present, and the stories of Jack Boughton and the town of Gilead, all jumbled together (and interconnected) in John's thought process. His love for his wife and son were heartbreaking. The story swept me away, but even if it had not, Robinson's style would have. The prose was realistic and flawless and John's religious ruminations were interesting and confessional - never too long and drawn out or seeming to have an agenda. I have rarely read a novel featuring a character at this point in his life and it made me both joyful and tearful to realize that even someone nearly 80 has more to learn from themself and those around them than there could ever be time for. Themes: religion, love, family, old age, history, race, war, peace, forgiveness, internal struggle

2022-11-14 17:02