Monday, May 25, 2015

Gilead (Marilynne Robinson)

I've been wanting to read the Pulizer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award winner Gilead for years, but I never got around to it.  I was excited to finally pick it up, but I'm sorry to say that this is one of those books that I just understand the hype about. At. All.

Reading a simple synopsis of Gilead, you'll probably think that it's going to be a wonderfully inspirational novel. Reverend John Ames, slowly dying from a heart condition, is an elderly pastor who is putting an account of his life into writing for his young son. The inherent problem with Gilead is that it seems like one big stream of consciousness at times, with Ames's rambling going on for pages and pages.  I found myself reading a page and then losing my train of thought, only to find myself a few pages later not knowing what I just read.

Judging by the amount of four- and five-star ratings on Goodreads, my review seems to be in the minority.  But Gilead just didn't stick with me when it was over, and to be absolutely honest, I couldn't wait for it to be done.

MY RATING - 2