"At a moment in cultural history dominated by the shallow, the superficial, the quick fix, Marilynne Robinson is a miraculous anomaly: a writer who thoughtfully, carefully, and tenaciously explores some of the deepest questions confronting the human species. . . . Poignant, absorbing, lyrical...Robinson manages to convey the miracle of existence itself." –Merle Rubin, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Incandescent . . . magnificent . . . [a] literary miracle." –
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly (A) "Rapturous . . . astonishing . . .
Gilead is an inspired work from a writer whose sensibility seems steeped in holy fire." –
Lisa Shea, Elle "Lyrical and meditative . . . potently contemplative." –
Michele Orecklin, Time "Perfect." –
Jeremy Jackson, People(four stars) "Major." –
Philip Connors, Newsday "You must read this book. . . . Altogether unlike any other work of fiction, it has sprung forth more than twenty years after
Housekeeping with what I can only call amazing grace." –
Anne Hulbert, Slate "So serenely beautiful and written in a prose so gravely measured and thoughtful, that one feels touched with grace just to read it." –
Michael Dirda, The Washington Post "There are passages here of such profound, hard-won wisdom and spiritual insight that they make your own life seem richer. . . .
Gilead [is] a quiet, deep celebration of life that you must not miss." –
Ron Charles, The Christian Science Monitor "
Gilead is a refuge for readers longing for that increasingly rare work of fiction, one that explores big ideas while telling a good story. As John Ames might point out, it's a remarkable thing to consider." –
Olivia Boler, San Francisco Chronicle