nuttybuddy10's review
boring. the writing is not good in my opinion. the summary makes it sound wayyyy better than it is.
nate_meyers's review
5.0
Is it possible Home was even better than Gilead? Ranking aside, this book was incredibly moving and the end almost brought me to tears. It reflected on "home" not as a source of warm fuzzy feelings and belonging, but of exile. Home is written from the perspective of Glory, the Boughton daughter who returns home in her late 30s after a long & failed engagement to what turned out to be a grifter. She hates being home, has always felt she's gotten the short shrift in the family, but needs to care for her dying family. Also coming home is Jack, the runaway son returning home after 20 years. As we know from Gilead, he's hear to see if his father will warm to the news that he has a colored wife and son. But he can't actually bear himself to bring up the news to his father, as every attempt at conversation ends with his father losing his ability to forgive the past.
It's a beautiful book and it was so easy to get lost in it for long stretches. You felt that every character carried their own burdens that they couldn't open up about even to their own family.
It's a beautiful book and it was so easy to get lost in it for long stretches. You felt that every character carried their own burdens that they couldn't open up about even to their own family.
kissingtinyflowers's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Read this for a class I did not end up taking, but I had a fun time with it anyway.
kaileycool's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read this for my independent study. What I love about Robinson’s novels is they sound so boring and they are utterly riveting. She makes every small domestic drama feel world-changing, just like they do in real life.
reader_cheryl's review against another edition
5.0
"Home" is a prodigal son story. Glory Boughton has returned home to Gilead to take care of her dying father. She has secrets of her own she can't share with anyone in her family--until her alcoholic brother, Jack, returns home after a twenty-year absence. During those twenty years, no one knew where he was or if he was alive.
This novel is the story of a prodigal son returned home; a son who has caused much pain to his family while growing up, and continues to cause pain in spite of his best efforts. It's a story about relationships. Glory didn't really know Jack when she was growing up because of the difference in their ages. Now he's returned home, and she has a chance to get to know him, but he is more than reluctant to share his past, his thoughts, or his future plans. Jack wants to make amends, but it seems the harder he tries, the more of a mess things become. It's not all of his fault, though. Gilead is a small town, populated by people with long memories.
Jack and Glory do establish as relationship, but are never quite comfortable or completely trusting with each other. Both mess up, which has ramifications that are never quite overcome. Each tries and succeeds, but fails, the other. What really binds them together is love for their father, who has spent most of his life grappling with his feelings for his wayward son.
Jack is the prodigal son. Glory is the child at home. Reverend Boughton is the father of both, but in this prodigal son tale, there is no killing of the fatted calf, no party, and a father who both rejoices that his son is home, but also struggles with his feelings for this wayward son who has made life for the Reverend and his late wife more difficult than it should have been.
"Home" is the story of the prodigal son with all of the complex and human aspects left in.
This novel is the story of a prodigal son returned home; a son who has caused much pain to his family while growing up, and continues to cause pain in spite of his best efforts. It's a story about relationships. Glory didn't really know Jack when she was growing up because of the difference in their ages. Now he's returned home, and she has a chance to get to know him, but he is more than reluctant to share his past, his thoughts, or his future plans. Jack wants to make amends, but it seems the harder he tries, the more of a mess things become. It's not all of his fault, though. Gilead is a small town, populated by people with long memories.
Jack and Glory do establish as relationship, but are never quite comfortable or completely trusting with each other. Both mess up, which has ramifications that are never quite overcome. Each tries and succeeds, but fails, the other. What really binds them together is love for their father, who has spent most of his life grappling with his feelings for his wayward son.
Jack is the prodigal son. Glory is the child at home. Reverend Boughton is the father of both, but in this prodigal son tale, there is no killing of the fatted calf, no party, and a father who both rejoices that his son is home, but also struggles with his feelings for this wayward son who has made life for the Reverend and his late wife more difficult than it should have been.
"Home" is the story of the prodigal son with all of the complex and human aspects left in.
davehershey's review against another edition
5.0
I recently re-read Gilead. This story takes place during the same timeframe as Gilead, told from the perspective of Glory Boughton, daughter of Reverend Boughton who is the lifelong friend of the protagonist of the previous book. Like Gilead though, this book centers on the prodigal son Jack Boughton and his return to Gilead.
Written in a different style, it took me a while to get into this. Of course, it took me a while to get into Gilead when I first read it and I devoured it the second time through. But once I got into it, I adored this book nearly as much as the first. It is beautiful and moving and incredibly sad.
For good fiction that tells a good story but also makes you think about relationships, family and God, read this.
Written in a different style, it took me a while to get into this. Of course, it took me a while to get into Gilead when I first read it and I devoured it the second time through. But once I got into it, I adored this book nearly as much as the first. It is beautiful and moving and incredibly sad.
For good fiction that tells a good story but also makes you think about relationships, family and God, read this.
counterfeitnickel's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ielerol's review against another edition
5.0
Have you heard? Marilynne Robinson is real good at this writing thing.
I don't love Home quite as much as I did Housekeeping, but I really, really loved Housekeeping. The writing here is still full of characteristic beauty and thoughtfulness and grace.
I don't love Home quite as much as I did Housekeeping, but I really, really loved Housekeeping. The writing here is still full of characteristic beauty and thoughtfulness and grace.