Books like Home by Marilynne Robinson

Marilynne Robinson brings readers back to the quiet Iowa town of Gilead, where Reverend Robert Boughton’s son Jack has come home after a twenty‑year absence. Cast as the ‘prodigal’ of the town’s eigeneous parable, Jack is a restless, alcoholic drifter whose past is shadowed by decades of unresolved guilt and hidden truths. His arrival forces him to confront not only his own demons but also the fierce, traditionalist stance of his father, to whom he remains the most cherished child, despite their constant discord. Jack’s path to reconciliation intertwines with that of his sister Glory, who has returned home with her own heartbreak and turbulent story. Through their shared struggles, the novel explores the fragile yet enduring ties of family, the interplay of faith and crisis, and the possibility of healing within a community rooted in tradition and hidden sorrow. Blending the contemplative style that earned Gilead its acclaim, Home offers a luminous, introspective portrait of family dynamics, secrets, and faith in the heartland of America.

First publish date: 2008