Lila (Oprah's Book Club)
By Marilynne Robinson
- Release Date: 2014-10-07
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award
National Book Award Finalist
A new American classic from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gilead and Housekeeping
Marilynne Robinson, one of the greatest novelists of our time, returns to the town of Gilead in an unforgettable story of a girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe, and wonder.
Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church-the only available shelter from the rain-and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. She becomes the wife of a minister, John Ames, and begins a new existence while trying to make sense of the life that preceded her newfound security.
Neglected as a toddler, Lila was rescued by Doll, a canny young drifter, and brought up by her in a hardscrabble childhood. Together they crafted a life on the run, living hand to mouth with nothing but their sisterly bond and a ragged blade to protect them. Despite bouts of petty violence and moments of desperation, their shared life was laced with moments of joy and love. When Lila arrives in Gilead, she struggles to reconcile the life of her makeshift family and their days of hardship with the gentle Christian worldview of her husband which paradoxically judges those she loves.
Revisiting the beloved characters and setting of Robinson's Pulitzer Prize-winning Gilead and Home, a National Book Award finalist, Lila is a moving expression of the mysteries of existence that is destined to become an American classic.
Reviews
Lila
2By Perky tooDisappointing. Rambling and repetitive. I even skipped a few paragraphs from time to time and I almost never do that. Fortunately it is a short novel. I was glad when it was over.Lila
5By EkacnapA lovingly told tale with a powerful reminder that God is love and those who dwell in love dwell in God and God dwells in them.Lila
3By MissionGal11Slightly dark and depressing but a good read for the most part. An interesting life, I'm glad to have invested in, discouraging in a way, but understandable. It was always on the verge of breaking through all the negativity and the past, but she never let herself.Hard to read
1By HaliejhLots of things didn't make senceAn endurance test.
2By B.H. VruxThe plot is intriguing, but the narration is endless nearly incomprehensible rambling and irrelevant theological reflections.Such a gift
5By LaurawbWhat a wonderful surprise this book is, I did not want it to end.Wonderful read!
5By Looeez1I love the author's stream of consciousness style. Very unique delivery. Only discloses small bits of information at different junctures so that the reader may feel they are assisting in patching together the events of this character's life. The Lila character is very intelligent and ponders life's enormous questions with integrity.