Gilead

High 5.5 Beautiful prose. The epistolary reflections of an aged preacher concerned he’ll die before he can bestow all his fatherly and ministerial wisdom upon his young son. He reflects on his life, thoughts, grievances, lessons.. A life that just happens to him. He is frustratingly passive in all things, in contrast to everyone else. Again, it is beautiful meditation. But it’s not for me. I don’t resonate with the deeply rooted Calvinist Puritanism and Old Testament teachings. And it’s not something I shy away from in a character necessarily. But I want the book to think critically through that character about this religious influence on our country - from the early days to the alt-right co-opting it for “The Dark Enlightenment” or neo-reactionary movement. The author’s sincere beliefs clouds my ability to enjoy the text.