Let's take a look back at the books I read in the month of February…
Read With Us: It’s Gilead Discussion Day
The time has come to share our thoughts and ideas about the Read With Us Winter 2026 book, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. This book fell under our “re-read a classic” category and I know many of us have had mixed reactions to our experience with the book this time around. I expect we’ll spend some time talking about that during our Zoom session tonight at 7pm, but for the blog discussion I’d like to focus on something a little different.
Ames intends his letter to be a guide for his son’s life. But as the book unfolds, the letter wanders through memory, theology, regret, and wonder. In the end, does Ames actually succeed in giving his son guidance? If you were Ames’s son, what would you take from this letter?
I think a case can be made for both sides, and I’m curious to hear your take.
As always, Bonny, Kym and I are grateful to have you Read With Us.
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I have to say that I liked the book a little more on this reread. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in a different place or because I listened rather than reading with my eyes this time. I’m not sure if Ames totally succeeds; I’m not sure it’s possible to completely guide a child’s life via a letter. But I think he does a good job of giving his son a sense of who he is and where he came from — his history, his upbringing, etc. — and perhaps answering some questions that his son would never be able to ask him.
Hmm … interesting question. I think Ames does as well as possible in giving his son some guidance, given that he most likely won’t be around to see him grow up. I don’t think the letter would serve a young child very well, but I think that he might appreciate that his father cared about him enough to write a (really long and rambling) letter. I think it might make a difference to his son as he grew into a young man. If I were his son, I might ultimately take that life is a gift and I should appreciate that gift and look for the good.
Great question, Carole. I actually thought about this a lot while rereading this book… how would I feel if someone wrote a letter like this to me… and for me the answer was… not good. I could not step out from the piousness, how judgmental it is, how sanctimonious. For me, it was a better letter for the son to use as a guide of how not to be. I guess this book is just a very good reflection of how I am really not the same person I was when I first read this book (I originally rated it 4 stars on Goodreads) and where I am now…in my now, this book is full of religion but very little about faith. The later is something I think I have but I have let the religion go. (and I could not stop thinking about this old man having a child with a much younger woman… it really sickened me.)