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 337th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2004
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 247
- Words
- 84,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 25 lists:
- 2nd on The 100 best books of the 21st century (The Guardian)
- 4th on Paste Magazine's Best Books of the Decade(2000-2009) (Paste Magazine)
- 4th on Ezra Klein Show's Most Recommended Books (Ezra Klein Show)
- 4th on The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels (BBC)
- 10th on 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 15th on Truelit's 100 Best Books of the Quarter Century (/r/truelit)
- 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)
- 25th on Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 30th on D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels (D. G. Myers)
- 47th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 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)
- 142nd on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- The Best Books of the 2000s (The Onion AV Club)
- The Great American Read (PBS)
- 100 Novels That Shaped Our World (BBC)
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Pulitzer Prize)
- The 10 Best Books Through Time (New York Times)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- Potter, Pi, and Pilgrim: What any library of the aughts ought to contain (Honorable mention not from Canada) (The National Post (newspaper))
- Elena Ferrante Names her 40 Favourite Books by Female Authors (The Guardian)