June H. (wingsgrammy) reviewed on 6/12/2006 + 56 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

An unusual but very effective way to present characters. This book is written as the journal of an older minister to his son. The son was born to him in later life after his second marriage. The second marriage was unexpected and the joy and peace it has brought to his life is made evident by the loving use of language. The book does not lack in well developed characters. They are all delineated in the minister's journal. The book moves from a time that is no more, showing the change subtly in the description of the past and present life of this town small Iowa town called Gilead. This book kept my interest all the way through.

Since I am a resident of Iowa, I am proud of the State, and proud of the work that comes from the participants of the Iowa Writer's Workshop in Iowa City. I have lived some of the changes described in "Gilead" so perhaps this meant more to me. It is in any case a book to be read and enjoyed.

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