Gilead: A Novel

by: Marilynne Robinson

Published by: Farrar, Straus, Giroux

Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart

The critics hailed Marilynne Robinson’s second novel, Gilead, when it was released in 2004. However, everyone I talked with about the book confessed that it was a total snoozefest. The novel came up in conversation with a new friend recently who was sure I would enjoy this character-driven novel.

I had a little trouble getting into the story as it a letter from the 76/77-year-old John Ames to his six/seven-year-old son. I think the problems results because the letter does not begin with “Dear…” The son’s name is never given, which I found irritating. Why keep it a secret? The novel starts by stating “you” and that always makes me squirm. I felt as if Reverend Ames was addressing me, and I hate that in a novel. Still.

The letter that John writes flows smoothly, relating stories about his grandfather and father, and the child’s much younger mother. The stories are peppered with family history and John’s best friend and colleague Don Boughton. Like Ames, Old Boughton is nearing the end of his life but seems to be in much worse shape.

Boughton’s son Jack, has returned to Gilead. To Ames, he is a godson and a potential threat to become his wife’s new lover after Ames dies. Jack, however, has other problems he is trying to resolve, the nature of which is quite surprising.

It may seem that the letter rambles a bit, but it is carefully constructed. Gilead is reminiscent of William Faulkner’s Absalom! Abaslom! in that the same story may be told repeatedly, but with each telling, a new information is gleaned. I got a bogged down on Ames’ interpretation of the Fifth Commandment. Ames descends from a long line of preachers so his comments and thoughts are not unexpected.

One thing I did find surprising and am hopeful that Robinson will give us in the future is the text to the thousands of sermons Ames has written and are now stored in the attic. I find myself wishing I could take a peek in the boxes.

Gilead isn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed the read.

Armchair Interviews agrees.