Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Gilead is a novel written by Marilynne Robinson and published in 2004. It won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award. The novel is the fictional autobiography of the Reverend John Ames, an elderly congregationalist pastor in the small, secluded town of Gilead, Iowa who knows that he is dying of a heart condition. At the beginning of the book, the date is established as 1956, and Ames explains that he is writing an account of his life for his 7-year-old son, who will have few memories of him as an adult.

The other constant in the book is Ames's friendship since childhood with "old Boughton," a Presbyterian minister. Boughton, father of many children, favors his son, named John Ames Boughton, above all others. Ames must constantly monitor his tendency to be envious of Boughton's bounteous family; his first wife died in childbirth and the baby died almost immediately after her. Jack Boughton is a ne'er-do-well, Ames knows it and strives to love him as he knows he should. Jack arrives in Gilead after a long absence, full of charm and mischief, causing Ames to wonder what influence he might have on Ames's young wife and son when Ames dies.

So there ya Go.

AS we had no consensus for a poll I decided to just pick something. As Robinson was one of the suggestions, albeit "Home", I decided to pick her 2cd book Gilead instead.

Why? Because the next book club is the 18th, we are moving into the holidays and Gilead is roughly 250 pages-nice and short. The Master and Margarita is 385, Home is around 340. All The Pretty Horses is a more manageable 300, put after a brutal, emotionally draining novel like we had last month McCarthy wasnt really a go to choice as I wasnt up for brutal two months in a row.. We had one suggestion that was written down for me, but truth be told I lost it.

However, as there was interest in all 3 of these other books I promise all will be coming up shortly. Perhaps All The Pretty Horses can be our December book?

After most of you left Joy let me, Aram, Linda and Chris wander around their new party room which we will be able to use unless a paying customer rents it out, it's beautiful and much more comfy. I guess having the last 30 book clubs or so there get us some sort of special privileges.

Who Knows.

Just head straight to the back on the Wine Bar and into the private room and not into the coffee shop on November 18th.

See ya then.

P.S. Pay careful attention to the sections of Gilead that talk about the Boughton's and especially Jack Boughton as Home, which we will probably read in January or February, is the story of Jack coming home from the Boughton family perspective.

And bring some suggestions for the December book club, try to keep them under 300 pages and we'll vote then. Or we can just read All The Pretty Horses.