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It's been a little while since I read both. I can't give much more of a review than: liked 'em.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson is a letter (a long one!) from a 70ish preacher, John Ames, to his young son. John Ames is dying and is writing his history, his thoughts on life, being a parent, etc to the child that will know little of him. The book is about father son relationships (John's to his father and his father to his grandfather) and also that of his best friend, a fellow preacher, and troubled son. The thing I liked most about this book was the language -- it is beautifully written. At the same time, it took me quite a while to finish. I think this book is better suited to winter reading and would more enjoyable with a bowl of warm soup than iced tea. Make sense? Maybe not. My great-grandfather was a preacher and this book made me curious about what his life was like and how he saw things. Probably quite different from the character in the book, but made me curious.
Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr is the story of a couple in their 40s who decide to move from California to rural Mexico to re-establish his family's old copper mine. From the beginning, you know that the husband will die but that doesn't really hang over the book as they go about their daily life and experience the clash of two different cultures. Again, beautiful writing.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson is a letter (a long one!) from a 70ish preacher, John Ames, to his young son. John Ames is dying and is writing his history, his thoughts on life, being a parent, etc to the child that will know little of him. The book is about father son relationships (John's to his father and his father to his grandfather) and also that of his best friend, a fellow preacher, and troubled son. The thing I liked most about this book was the language -- it is beautifully written. At the same time, it took me quite a while to finish. I think this book is better suited to winter reading and would more enjoyable with a bowl of warm soup than iced tea. Make sense? Maybe not. My great-grandfather was a preacher and this book made me curious about what his life was like and how he saw things. Probably quite different from the character in the book, but made me curious.
Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr is the story of a couple in their 40s who decide to move from California to rural Mexico to re-establish his family's old copper mine. From the beginning, you know that the husband will die but that doesn't really hang over the book as they go about their daily life and experience the clash of two different cultures. Again, beautiful writing.