Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
The novel is a series of reflections written by an elderly dying pastor in 1956 in Gilead, Iowa, as a letter to his young son. The protagonist, John Ames, shares his family history, personal thoughts, and the struggles of his life, including the tension with his namesake and godson who returns to their small town. The book explores themes of faith, regret, and the beauty of existence, providing a profound meditation on life and death.
The 465th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2004
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 247
- Words
- 84,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 2nd on The 100 best books of the 21st century (The Guardian)
- 4th on The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels (BBC)
- 4th on Paste Magazine's Best Books of the Decade(2000-2009) (Paste Magazine)
- 20th on The Millions: The Best Fiction of the Millennium (The Millions)
- 20th on The 50 best books of the past 100 years (The Times)
- 30th on D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels (D. G. Myers)
- 85th on The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 (Entertainment Weekly)
- 94th on Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books (Harvard Book Store)
- 223rd on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Great American Read (PBS)
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- The Best Books of the 2000s (The Onion AV Club)
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Pulitzer Prize)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- The 10 Best Books Through Time (New York Times)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)