---
title: "Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (2nd Reading)"
description: "Takeaway: Pastoral wisdom like this is rare. Lila (the third of the trilogy that starts with Gilead) came out just over a year ago. I read it immediately and then reread it about a month later. It is..."
url: https://bookwi.se/gilead-a-novel-by-marilynne-robinson-2nd-reading/
date: 2015-12-21
modified: 2024-02-26
author: "Adam Shields"
categories: ["Book Reviews"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (2nd Reading)

[![Gilead cover image](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/9781250784018_p0_v6_s1200x630-195x300.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/Gilead-Novel-Marilynne-Robinson-ebook/dp/B000O76NMS/)**Takeaway: Pastoral wisdom like this is rare.**

Lila (the third of the trilogy that starts with Gilead) came out just over a year ago. I read it immediately and then reread it about a month later. It is in my short list of best books I have read.

It has been three years since I read Gilead, and while I remember enjoying it, I wanted to reread it before I went back and read the second novel of this trilogy ([Home](http://www.amazon.com/Home-Novel-Marilynne-Robinson-ebook/dp/B0018QSNYU/)).

Gilead is a slow novel. I can understand why people would not like it. There is a story, but the action is almost entirely internal. John Ames is a 76-year-old pastor in a small Iowa town. Late in life, he married Lila, and they had a son. John has been having heart problems, and he has been told to prepare for death. So the book is a series of letters (no real chapters, just pauses between letters) to his son about his life and what he thinks is important about the world.

I like novels about ideas, but I am glad I listened to this on audiobook first. This second reading was still mostly audiobook, but I also read about a third of it on Kindle. Because it is first-person narrated, the audio feels right. John is speaking to you (if you don’t mind being the son.)

I read this the first time not too long after reading something by Eugene Peterson, and I remember thinking John Ames is the fictional equivalent of the wisdom I love hearing from Peterson. Unintentionally, I did the same thing again. If you love Peterson, you will likely enjoy this novel.

I had forgotten some of the details about Ames, prodigal godson, who is one of the main characters of the second book of the trilogy. So I am glad I read it as preparation. I still do not think it is quite as good as Lila, but it is good.

**Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson Purchase Links: [Paperback](http://www.amazon.com/Gilead-Novel-Marilynne-Robinson/dp/031242440X/), [Kindle Edition](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O76NMS), [Audible.com Audiobook](http://www.amazon.com/Gilead/dp/B0009AVQ9U/)**

***Related Bookwi.se Book Reviews***

- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/303905937_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/lila-novel-marilynne-robinson/)[Lila: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/lila-novel-marilynne-robinson/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/323448315_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/lila-second-reading/)[Lila by Marilynne Robinson (Second Reading)](https://bookwi.se/lila-second-reading/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/132088595_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/gilead-a-novel-by-marilynne-robinson/)[Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (First Reading)](https://bookwi.se/gilead-a-novel-by-marilynne-robinson/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/331765901_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/practice-resurrection/)[Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/practice-resurrection/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/359113121_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/contemplative-pastor/)[The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/contemplative-pastor/)
- [![](https://bookwi.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/357853320_80_80.jpg)](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson-2/)[The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson-2/)