Home (Gilead, #2)

Questions About Home (Gilead, #2)

by Marilynne Robinson

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Answered Questions (9)

Was anyone else bothered by the anachronism in "Home"? I mean the television news story about blacks being set on by dogs and having fire hoses turned on them. This novel is supposed to be simultaneous with "Gilead", which seems to take place around 1956, but the TV news story mentioned in "Home" couldn't have aired before around 1963.
Anne Payne I have read "Gilead" but not "Home" so I hope I'm not being an uninformed gratuitous commenter. I just wanted to say that the Montgomery bus boycott t…moreI have read "Gilead" but not "Home" so I hope I'm not being an uninformed gratuitous commenter. I just wanted to say that the Montgomery bus boycott took place in 1956-7, and there was definitely accompanying violence. I don't know whether this addresses the issue you raise completely.(less)
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Do the Gilead books have to be read in order? I haven't read any of them yet. But Home is the one that really caught my eye.
Mary Fusoni I read "Gilead" a while back and didn't remember that much. I also found it slow going, with all of its theological reflections. Now, I've just finish…moreI read "Gilead" a while back and didn't remember that much. I also found it slow going, with all of its theological reflections. Now, I've just finished "Home." It is MUCH easier to get into and I think it stands entirely on its own. The relationship between the family in "Home" and the Reverend Ames, who narrates "Gilead," is perfectly clear in "Home" itself without having read the previous book. I'm going back to check out the passages in "Gilead" that refer to Jack Boughton, the character with whom "Home" is most concerned, and it's fascinating to get Rev. Ames' thoughts about him. But you don't need to know any of that to thoroughly enjoy "Home." Someone here suggested that the perfect order is (1) Home, (2) Gilead, (3) Lila, and I agree.(less)
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Please help me remember how Jack acquired the white scar under his eye?
Amelia I don't think we're told in Home, but we see how it happened in the fourth book in the Gilead series, Jack.…moreI don't think we're told in Home, but we see how it happened in the fourth book in the Gilead series, Jack.(less)
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Should Gilead be read before this?
Rick Hachtel I read Gilead first and found that to be helpful to get a better appreciation for Home. The two novels complement each other and yet tell a similar st…moreI read Gilead first and found that to be helpful to get a better appreciation for Home. The two novels complement each other and yet tell a similar story with all the same characters. (less)
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Diagnosis ofJack's mental problems?
Rick Hachtel It is really hard to say other than he has very known alcohol abuse issues. He is clearly very depressed and this started very early in his childhood.…moreIt is really hard to say other than he has very known alcohol abuse issues. He is clearly very depressed and this started very early in his childhood. (less)
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