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Home: 02/21/12

cover art

Home by Marilynne Robinson won the Orange Prize in 2009. It's a follow up, or parallel telling of Gilead (2004). Glory and Jack Boughton have returned home to Gilead to live in their father's home. Glory is there to take care of their father and avoid the pain of a broken wedding engagement. Jack is there for reasons unclear to either Glory or their father. Jack's reasons are the crux of the novel.

As with Housekeeping (1981), Robinson builds her characters and her story by the ebb and flow of mundane routine. It's a quiet style that might not be for everyone, but I found it the perfect read over a few breakfasts.

Through the quiet scenes of family meals, the family history is revealed. We learn about Jack's past, his rebellious youth and a tragic loss. Whether or not Jack has grown from his mistakes ends up being the big question of the book.

I now plan to go back and read Gilead to see the other half of the story.

Four stars.

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