Quiet, Gemlike, Perfect

Friends,

Over at the NY Times book page, they run a little online reading discussion group called the Reading Room. Last time out, they spurred that delicious Tom Wolfe vs. MFA discussion, but this time, they are talking about one of my absolute favorite books, one the greatest modern American novels, Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson.

I've never eloquently defended my reasoning for loving this book unconditionally, but Allan Gurganus in his Reading Room post certainly has. Read it here.

Here's two paragraphs worth noting from the essay:

“Every novel must honor its own essential mystery.” So Joseph Conrad insists. And he delivered precisely this in his great short narrative conundrum, “Heart of Darkness.”

I feel certain that the seafaring and metaphysical Conrad would’ve loved “Housekeeping.” And not only for its density of prose, not just for the authority of its aqueous imagery. He would surely respect Marilynne Robinson’s amazing narrative condensation, the clocklike precision of her diction. And yet, throughout this layered inventive work, how humane her very clarity always feels! Though formal, always elegant, forever frontal and even guarded, what a far-reaching voice and quicksilver life our narrator Ruthie evinces page by page.

So if you need something for your summer reading list and you haven't read this? Read this book.

I know I'm coming off a little like Natalie Portman's character in Garden State where she says to Zach Braff that the Shins will change his life...but Housekeeping is brilliant. I promise.

viva la marilynne robinson