Congratulations to Marilynne Robinson for winning this year’s Orange Prize for fiction.
I did enjoy Home, but to fully appreciate this novel I think one would have to have read Gilead first. (The novels’ narratives run parallel to each other). However, the Pulitzer-winning Gilead stands alone in its greatness, in my opinion. Gilead is more philosophical, while Home is more of a traditional narrative…
If your book club is interested in tackling both of these novels, I have full discussion guides available for each novel (as well as just discussion questions, too, if the full guide is more than you need).
Anyone read both of these novels yet?
Impressions?
Did you like one more than the other?
I’ve read both because I read all of Robinson’s books when they come out. Gilead is outstanding in my view for its spiritual depths. Home is just as well written but is a different kind of story. I loved them both.
And I follow the Orange Prize because I find many good reads among the nominees. I’m doing an ongoing reading challenge of them. Thanks for writing about it.
Hi Sandra — I completely agree with your assessment… I loved how spiritual and philosophical Gilead is. I think Home would be best appreciated in tandem with Gilead, too.