Monday, July 20, 2015

Eight books every father should read

The Telegraph tagged eight books every dad should read, including:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Virago, 2004)

“A little too much anger, too often or at the wrong time, can destroy more than you would ever imagine.” Just one of the wise thoughts the Reverend John Ames shares with his seven-year old son in a letter that he writes on finding out he won’t live long enough to say them face to face. Tender, searching, sad, but ultimately full of hope, Marilynne Robinson’s novel is a beautifully crafted work which doubles as a commentary on our troubled times.
Read about another entry on the list.

Gilead is on Allegra Frazier's top five list of diary novels, Michael Arditti's ten best list of fictional clerics, Ayad Akhtar's list of three notable books on faith in the US, Michael Crummey's top ten list of literary feuds and Geraldine Brooks's five most important books list; it is a book Dalia Sofer would like to share with her children.

--Marshal Zeringue