"Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson

I read Gilead as part of this year's reading challenge that included reading a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. I knew absolutely nothing about the book or the author and was pleasantly surprised on both accounts. Set in rural Iowa, Gilead is a letter of an old country preacher to his young son. Reverend Ames feels the approach of death and decides to write a letter to his seven-year old son in an attempt to record instruction, words of wisdom and family lore which he won't be around to share with him as the boy grows older.

Robinson did a wonderful job impersonating an old country preacher. The book is filled with wisdom and historical details about Kansas and Iowa in the late 19th- early 20th century. Biblical quotes and theological issues are also raised and discussed throughout the book. Reverend Ames does not pretend to know all there is about God and religion. He humbly admits his flaws and mistakes. The love he feels for his wife and son and the sorrow about leaving them are palpable and deeply moving. The narrative itself is slow and on the surface not much is going on in the sleepy little town where it is set. But then Reverend's long estranged godson and namesake comes back to town, which seems to threaten the peace of the Ames' household and brings back the memories of long-forgotten past.

Needless to say, I very much enjoyed this short novel. It is a real gem and deserves all the praise and awards it has received. I also discovered that Robinson has written two more companion novels: one focusing on the Reverend's wife and the other on his best friend Boughton. I might check those out from the library.

"Faithful" by Alice Hoffman

During her senior year in high school, Shelby and her best friend Helene get into a car accident. Helene ends up in a coma and Shelby goes through a period of complete emotional breakdown. She is ridden with survivor's guilt and self-loathing. She turns to drugs for escape and is generally set on a path of self-destruction. However, the book overall has a very hopeful message. No matter how bad things are for Shelby, the universe continues to send to her messages of love. Shelby does not recognize them immediately. The only thing she does hold on to are one-liners she receives on anonymous postcards. Only those messages (Say something, Remember something, Want something, etc) give her hope. But as she heals emotionally, she starts recognizing the love that surrounds her: the all-consuming love her mother feels for her, the tender and unrequited love of her boyfriend Ben, the unconditional devotion and adoration of her dogs, the warm regard of her friend Maravelle and her three children. Shelby slowly opens up and starts loving herself and begins to feel warmth toward others. This book made me cry, terrified me, and made me re-think how I view various relationships in my life. Do I show love to those who matter to me the most, or am I so wrapped up in routine, non-essential things, that I forget to say "I love you"?

This book truly surprised me. I enjoyed every second of it and I highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.