Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson
Published by Picador on January 10, 2006
Pages: 247
Format: Audiobook

Publisher’s Description: 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. [Note: All links are to the 2006 Reprint edition]

I first became aware of Gilead while in seminary at TEDS. I was part of a “Formation Group” on campus, where a small group of students would meet regularly together with a faculty member for spiritual formation, discussion, and prayer. My Formation Group leader was Dr. Phil Sell, and at some point he asked us to read Gilead together and discuss it. More reading wasn’t exactly what I thought I needed as a seminary student. I think I only read a couple of chapters, as did most everyone else in the group…but I enjoyed what little I read and I always meant to come back to it. I don’t think I knew at the time that Gilead was the winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. I also didn’t know that, had I made the effort to read the whole book, it would have been a great benefit to my preparation for ministry.

In any case, I recently had occasion to drive from Tucson to San Diego, and decided to give an audiobook a try (something I’ve never attempted before). I’m not given to reading much fiction, but I’d like to explore that rich territory more than I have up to this point in life. As I was looking at the options online, I saw on my bookshelf my now 5 year-old copy of Gilead and chose to finally come back to it, albeit in a different format.

I’m glad I did. The story is ordinary, yet compelling. The language is beautiful and smooth. I remembered these things from reading the first portion of the book years ago, but I think the masterful narration by Tim Jerome added another layer to it. This book is not really “entertaining” in the normal sense. It made me stop to pray, to reflect, and had a very real emotional effect on me. I won’t rehash the plot…I’ll merely say that it’s an extended look at the thoughts and remembrances of an elderly minister in Iowa in the middle of the 20th century. A general sense of the author’s style can be gained by simply reading the publisher’s description. What’s remarkable in it all is the story’s true-to-life feel. That’s particularly true of the main character, Reverend John Ames.

And that’s probably where I’ll focus: The book’s uncanny feel for the life of a minister. I don’t know how the author, Marilynne Robinson, was able to get “inside” the pastoral life. Sure, the role and daily life of a pastor has changed some since the time in which this book is set (1956, with rabbit trails leading back several generations beforehand). But the internal life of the pastor, and the feel of what it means to undertake “soul care” was very realistic. And challenging. In addition, everyone ought to be able to relate to the desire to leave a strong legacy. That’s a main thematic element in the novel that is worth much thought after reading the book.

I’d highly recommend Gilead to anyone who likes a good story and has a love of beautiful language. But I’d particularly commend it to those who are interested in the internal life of those engaged in Christian ministry. Especially those who are interested in pursuing ministry as a vocation. I can see why Dr. Sell wanted us to pick this up. It’s good preparation, and provides ample opportunity for heartfelt reflection. I look forward to reading and making some notes very soon on Marilynne Robinson’s companion work, Home: A Novel.

[UPDATE 10.15.14: Marilynne Robinson has just recently published a third related book, Lila: A Novel]

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars