Editorial Review
Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson's beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows "even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order" (Slate). In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life.
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Customer Reviews
Extremely Boring 
2008-09-20
I rate this one star only because there are not negative stars. As another reviewer said there is no beginning, no middle, and no end. It is simply a rambling monologue with no plot or purpose; except to make money for the author. This was a gift so at least I did not spend the money; but it is a shame anyone did. I read it all the way through (which makes me more stupid than those that quit at half way), thinking it would get better; it did not.
Another book you can't put down to you finish it. 
2008-09-17
Gilead : A Novel
A man of the cloth who has a child later in life writes a letter to his young son. The father's death is soon and he reviews life by writing this letter. He tells his son about the love he has for his mother, friends and family he has lost and realizations about himself.
Quotes: "The moon actually moves in a spiral, because while it orbits the earth it follows the earth's orbit around the sun."
"It was like on of those dreams where your filled with some extravagance you might never have in life."
A Beautiful Novel, Well Worth Your Time 2008-09-09
I bought this book simply because it won the Pulitzer and I wanted to read something a little deeper than my usual beach read fare.
It took me some time to get into it, after about 50 pages I realized that I had to slow down and read it more carefully. I went back to the beginning and started to read it like a letter and then I got it. Ms. Robinson has a way with words, if you allow them to they can transport you to the time and place she's writing about.
I spent a lot of time reading and re-reading this short book and by the time I was done I felt I was a part of the family. I've since lent this book to several people and received varying reviews from them but everyone loves the use of language.
Sentimental and boring. 
2008-08-26
I guess the title says it all. I liked the writing style. However, this is probably one of the most boring books I have ever read. I couldn't even finish it. So maybe it picks up in the second half. I will never know and have no interest in finding out.
Grace 2008-08-23
This book is full of grace. An old minister, who knows he is dying, writes letters to his young son, telling him who he is, what he observes and believes. The epistlatory format and slow moving narrative might put off some readers who crave overt conflict and action in a novel. For me, reading this book was like spending a summer evening on my grandfather's porch, listening to his stories, and watching fireflies.
Touching but occassionally boring 2008-08-19
Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson's beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows "even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order" (Slate). In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and the often unbearable beauty of an ordinary life.
2008-08-17
The book arrived in excellent condition and in a timely manner. Thanks so much.
Jackie
Being blessed meant being bloodied... 2008-08-02
Such a moving and powerfully sustained reverie. For a long time, when reading it, I thought its narrative voice was of an African American. To me, one of its most intriguing lines is: "He told me once that being blessed meant being bloodied, and that is true etymologically speaking, in English--but not in Greek or Hebrew. So whatever understanding might be based on that derivation has no scriptural authority behind it."
I feel this to be true based on my own dreams. If you care to visit my website, www.eveningsessions.com, I have written about dreams, the bible, and psychoanalysis in my book, Evening Sessions With Dr Priestly, in which I quoted this excerpt from Gilead.
Same pace and tone throughout the book creates a low-key read 
2008-06-09
The entire book, from beginning to end, starts at the same pace along with being kept on the same note. It never intensifies, things never get tense, and it continues at a slow pace throughout. This made the read very dull. There was never a time where I got "hooked" because the book never developed anything.
The thing that did save the book for me was that the main character was a well-rounded one. He had emotions that ranged from all over the spectrum and constantly showed the internal conflicts he had with his religion and philosophy. This made the main character extremely interesting along with the plot of never being able to see his child grow up because of his age.
The other characters, are, well... not there. He talks about them but there isn't any substance in his relationship with them. I expected to see the main character to be further fleshed out by defining the relationships he has. Reading the summary about the abolitionists and pacifism aspects of his father and grandfather made it seem like there was going to be a dynamic relationship between the 3 generations. Instead, it is more of a regurgitation with not enough interaction to really speculate or apply anything.
All in all, a slow-paced, low key read that will raise some questions with the tension in a preacher's life between his religious beliefs and actions in the world. Odd Pulitzer Prize selection in my opinion.
A Book for Reflection 2008-06-05
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson is a novel for reflection. It is not just one of those books that can be read on a whim but must be read in a quiet place, where there are no distractions. I give Gilead, though it was a good book a 4 because it took a little while to get into it.
Once I was in the story I was hooked and actually finished the book within three hours. Recently I have been reading my "teen" novels just for something to read and I have come to the realization that I have outgrown them. They bore me, their problems and ideas are trivial unlike Gilead's, which are real, lifelike and not superficial.
The story is told through a series of letters by narrator Reverend John Ames to his son. He recants about visiting the gravesite of his grandfather and how much he learned about his father while doing so. They are a soft family, kind, resourceful, and always positive. Though Reverend Ames is dying of a failing heart and has lived a hard life he continues to persevere and write in order to guide his son through life. Reverend Ames's first born, a daughter, died when she was a baby and now John Ames who is 76 will die before his sees his 6 year old son grow older.
Gilead, to me is a story about finding yourself through the words of John Ames. It helps a person reflect on their own life and pushes the reader to think about his or her decisions in life. Gilead is inspirational and should be loved until the end of time because Reverend John Ames could be the person living next door. You never know.
