OMG, the aesthetics of your opening and vloggy interstices are gorgeous and fun! And your thoughts and reactions to all these books are so excellent and really interesting since I had such different reactions to them. But it makes me so happy when you glow over a book. I agree - it's really baffling when readers dismiss books that include characters who are religious and discuss their beliefs. I got so frustrated reading some reactions to Miriam Toews' Women Talking who complained about this. You really make me want to return to Gilead since it just didn't strike me when I read it (not because of the religous content) but I'm betting it'll be one of those books - like I talked about with you - of returning to and getting a totally different experience of it. And, of course, I need to read Home since I haven't yet. But Lila I loved and felt so emotionally connected to. Maybe I'm more naturally drawn to "commercial" texts - haha. Interesting how you spot the way it plays with the bible and actively discusses it. I was just so wrapped into her story and drive for self creation and also the intense way she describes loneliness. I'd be so curious what your reaction to Lila would have been if you hadn't just read Home, but I love how you were able to consider all three books as a set. And yes - reread Housekeeping!
Excellent comments! Yes, I've read the books and concur with your analysis. Robinson is a living legend. Her latest book, Reading Genesis (non-fiction) is a must read for people who grapple with sacred text.
I loved Gilead. And like you, I loved Home more. I’m so eager to hear what others think that I was looking anywhere online. Thanks for sharing your love too.
I loved Gilead. I read it last year. My dad died in 2017 at the age of 99. He was an older father. He was 46/47 when I ( the 1st of 5 children) was born. So the book just made me think about my Dad& cry. It's a great book. I haven't read the rest of the triology yet.
Jacqueline McMenamin I’d be very curious to read Gilead years from now. I feel it would have a more profound effect for me. I hope you get around to the other two books. They are worth reading 💕
This video was great Matthew, I'm one of those few that couldn't bear the theological aspect of Gilead. I think it might have been influenced by the fact that I grew up in, we might say, theology heavy environment. Having said that I was in awe of her writing and had a little crash on Lila since then. I loved Lile when it came out. Now I'm thinking as I own all four novels to go back and read it again.
Read these finally over the last week and just finished Lila today - my god I loved them all so much I feel a bit weepy now. Maybe it's too soon to say something like this but I think all three are now among my "forever" books. I don't know if I'll be emotionally ready for Jack but I can't wait.
So I glad I found this review. Thank you - I loved hearing your thoughts on Gilead. I too thought it was almost perfect but I was focusing more on the way she weaves religion, love, friendship rather than the actual writing - which I agree is extraordinary. I am confidant ( and curious) to proceed with the next 2 - hard to imagine they could exceed Gilead but I may be surprised. Thanks again.
So I'm definitely going to be doing a mini-Marilynne Robinson project when I get around to Gilead in my Pulitzer Prize project. I've been wanting to reread Gilead for a while now anyway (a LOT changes between 22 and 37 years of age). Also, your shots of New York City made me feel temporarily homesick, which hasn't happened in a long time. Now I'm going to spend the rest of the day listening to Neil Diamond's "I Am, I Said" ("LA's fine but it ain't home, New York's home but it ain't mine no more").
Supposedly Fun I am both delighted and upset that I evoked such melancholy! I would love to see what a mini-Gilead project would look like on your channel 🤗 I also forgot to mention! After I watched your Pulitzer video, I downloaded the audiobook of The Magnificent Ambersons from my library. I’ll pop in on a few of the books here and there that intrigue me as you go along 🙂
@@MatthewSciarappa Don't be upset--I like a good melancholy day now and then. Magnificent Ambersons is one of the books I'm really looking forward to, so I can't wait to compare notes!
Hey, Matthew I just discovered your channel. Loved the video though I didn't finish it because I got really excited to read this and I don't want to spoil myself! Keep doing you :)
I’m currently reading Gilead for the first time (about halfway through) and I do agree with a lot of what you said, but I do feel the need to point out this one thing- I moved to the States for college and gathered a lot of information (as one would) about the culture, history, and religion of the country, before which I believe I wouldn’t have been able to engage with Gilead in the same way at all. Even though it explores the human predicament that everyone should be able to relate to, it also does so from a perspective that is so inextricably American that it’s hard to view the text as anything but. I ended up studying religion for a year in college which also aided my understanding of this book immensely so I understand the reviewers who claim to feel that distance because I can easily imagine being in their shoes had I not had some exposure to the country. The book is intrinsically American and the religion probably compounds the distance one feels with the story... again, I love this book but understand all the ways in which it isn’t universal at all.
I love and envy your eloquence, dear human boy! I read and adored Gilead, but Home actually broke me. I remember when I finished it that I was so broken I had to miss work. I just sat there in my living room weeping and had to have half a bottle of white wine to calm down and breath. The elegance and heart with which Robinson tackles sibling love, heartbreak and the grief for the fact that sometimes you can never go home again is beyond my limited vocabulary. Home now is my all-time favourite book. I can't wait to read Lila. Btw my Goodreads review is "The saddest book I have ever loved" not the most depressing.
nisreen that was you???? Yes!!!! Hahaha I’m glad I know now! I actively avoided reviews when I finished this book because I didn’t want to hear a single negative thing about it! It wrecked me. I loved it. And I’m glad you love it, because everyone needs to love it!!
Yeah, I read 'Gilead' last year and it subtly blew my mind by how its structure allows the narrative to keep focus. I'm glad this video came around, it reminds me to continue with the trilogy. Even more because of your glowing take on 'Home'.
This is so beautifully made, I aspire to have a vlog this beautiful and a review this eloquent. You've really bumped up the Gilead trilogy on my wishlist.
I have read Gilead and Lila, but haven't read Home yet. Really need to bump that one up the TBR. I read Lila in 2015 when it was longlisted for the Booker. Four years later, I still think about it. Lila is one of those characters that haunts me.
Becky Ford I am very curious as to how I would have perceived Lila not having read the other two books. I feel like it would have had a much greater impact on me. Alas, can’t rewind time. Please read Home though! All of the book tingles!!! 🤗
I hadn't put much thought to reading this series, but now I'm much more interested and looking forward to picking up at least the first two this summer!
Those black and white montages! 😻😻😻 I admittedly have not read any Robinson so this has made me want to remedy that and start with Gilead! I have Lila but need to get a copy of Home still. Really enjoyed this review structure and hearing your comparative thoughts on the three!
Six Minutes For Me I’m so glad you enjoyed this video because I enjoyed making it! Definitely consider picking up Gilead in the near future-it’s worth it 🤗💕
I adored Gilead (read it last year after having it on my shelves for almost a decade, I could kick myself for taking so long to pick it up), and enjoyed Lila. I'm going out later to buy a copy of Home thanks to this video!
Curse you, I've never been interested in Gilead and now I'm curious. Luckily with the speed I get to all the books I want to read it'll be another 10 years till I get around to them.
These books are so wonderful and I loved seeing your responses to each. Robinson has hinted at a fourth possible book (!!!). I find her and these works so fascinating and deeply human, and at times gutting, and I am a thorough atheist. Just one who responds to certain belief- grounded texts like these. Robinson is above all compassionate, empathetic, grounded, which is what shines through and makes me love these books. I read Housekeeping in between Gilead and Home, and was frustrated with its seeming lionization of prose, imagery, and overwhelming metaphor above all else. If I had read it first I would have definitely hesitated to read Gilead. Thanks for this wonderful review and gorgeous video.
This is probably one of the prettiest videos I've seen from you. The gloomy walkes and gloomy coffee-making = pure gold (probably gloomy gold). I've always really wanted to read this trio and now I'm sad that I don't have any of them at home and that I'm generally busy at the moment. Re the negative comments about it featuring a religious character - I don't get those. If I only wanted to read about characters like me I would just stare in the mirror in free time. Literature is the safest place to meet opposing opinions as you can pick them apart at home on your own so when you meet someone who has a similar world-view a good chunk of work on being empathetic and understanding has been done already. If you feel talked down to by a literary character it's not on them being different, it's on them being a possible asshole. Then it's down to author's execution - do you think he/she wanted the character to read like it or not. Lovely video
Gemma Hahaj should I rebrand my channel entirely to “gloomy gold” instead of “dry skepticism”? Haha 🤗 I’m really glad you enjoyed the video, and I really REALLY appreciate your thoughts on character affecting a reading experience. I think about this a lot ✨
Booktube Goddess religion in general makes me skittish 💁🏼♂️ but from what I understand, Marilynne Robinson has a more liberal approach to theology than most. The books deal with religion, yes, but I wouldn’t say they are “about” religion.
That apple cider vinegar take is pretty much the same as mine. Also love the editing and the tunes. Of course the books you discussed are not in my wheel house so I was happy to hear your thoughts.
Jeez, Matthew, what are you doing to me? I have read Gilead last year and I really agree with everything you've said about it. However I didn't rate it as high as you did, I gave it three stars. But that's a good solid book for me, I'm definitely not a supporter of the delusion that every book has to do something special to me on a personal level or even has to blow me away. So I thought that after I have got the impression of what kind of writer Marylinne Robinson is, what she is capaple of, that this is enough for me to know and I'm not interested in continuing reading two more books about a similar topic. So maybe I have to reconsider this decision now and I certainly know who I could blame for this, because he has done such a great job in reviewing the whole trilogy!
Amelia Reads I’m so glad that others agree that books can have “objective qualities.” People forget that writing is a skill and an art like painting or sculpture, so they can be critiqued as such. I find it funny how much I adjusted my views on each three of these texts having read the next one, so for that reason, yes, I encourage you to try out more Robinson 🤗
@@MatthewSciarappa I hope you can hear my tbr aching and see all my unread books looking a bit strained at you from my shelves. 🤦♀️ If you would only try harder I'm sure you could do less greater review videos! 😘
I've read the first two and loved them. I am waiting to return to Lila because I feel like I need to be removed from the story somewhat. I enjoyed your review and shared the emotional reaction you had to Home.
OMG, the aesthetics of your opening and vloggy interstices are gorgeous and fun! And your thoughts and reactions to all these books are so excellent and really interesting since I had such different reactions to them. But it makes me so happy when you glow over a book.
I agree - it's really baffling when readers dismiss books that include characters who are religious and discuss their beliefs. I got so frustrated reading some reactions to Miriam Toews' Women Talking who complained about this.
You really make me want to return to Gilead since it just didn't strike me when I read it (not because of the religous content) but I'm betting it'll be one of those books - like I talked about with you - of returning to and getting a totally different experience of it. And, of course, I need to read Home since I haven't yet.
But Lila I loved and felt so emotionally connected to. Maybe I'm more naturally drawn to "commercial" texts - haha. Interesting how you spot the way it plays with the bible and actively discusses it. I was just so wrapped into her story and drive for self creation and also the intense way she describes loneliness. I'd be so curious what your reaction to Lila would have been if you hadn't just read Home, but I love how you were able to consider all three books as a set.
And yes - reread Housekeeping!
~*~book tingles~*~
Excellent comments! Yes, I've read the books and concur with your analysis. Robinson is a living legend. Her latest book, Reading Genesis (non-fiction) is a must read for people who grapple with sacred text.
I loved Gilead. And like you, I loved Home more. I’m so eager to hear what others think that I was looking anywhere online. Thanks for sharing your love too.
I loved Gilead. I read it last year. My dad died in 2017 at the age of 99. He was an older father. He was 46/47 when I ( the 1st of 5 children) was born. So the book just made me think about my Dad& cry. It's a great book. I haven't read the rest of the triology yet.
Jacqueline McMenamin I’d be very curious to read Gilead years from now. I feel it would have a more profound effect for me.
I hope you get around to the other two books. They are worth reading 💕
This video was great Matthew, I'm one of those few that couldn't bear the theological aspect of Gilead. I think it might have been influenced by the fact that I grew up in, we might say, theology heavy environment. Having said that I was in awe of her writing and had a little crash on Lila since then. I loved Lile when it came out. Now I'm thinking as I own all four novels to go back and read it again.
Read these finally over the last week and just finished Lila today - my god I loved them all so much I feel a bit weepy now. Maybe it's too soon to say something like this but I think all three are now among my "forever" books. I don't know if I'll be emotionally ready for Jack but I can't wait.
So I glad I found this review. Thank you - I loved hearing your thoughts on Gilead. I too thought it was almost perfect but I was focusing more on the way she weaves religion, love, friendship rather than the actual writing - which I agree is extraordinary. I am confidant ( and curious) to proceed with the next 2 - hard to imagine they could exceed Gilead but I may be surprised. Thanks again.
So I'm definitely going to be doing a mini-Marilynne Robinson project when I get around to Gilead in my Pulitzer Prize project. I've been wanting to reread Gilead for a while now anyway (a LOT changes between 22 and 37 years of age). Also, your shots of New York City made me feel temporarily homesick, which hasn't happened in a long time. Now I'm going to spend the rest of the day listening to Neil Diamond's "I Am, I Said" ("LA's fine but it ain't home, New York's home but it ain't mine no more").
Supposedly Fun I am both delighted and upset that I evoked such melancholy!
I would love to see what a mini-Gilead project would look like on your channel 🤗
I also forgot to mention! After I watched your Pulitzer video, I downloaded the audiobook of The Magnificent Ambersons from my library. I’ll pop in on a few of the books here and there that intrigue me as you go along 🙂
@@MatthewSciarappa Don't be upset--I like a good melancholy day now and then. Magnificent Ambersons is one of the books I'm really looking forward to, so I can't wait to compare notes!
Hey, Matthew I just discovered your channel. Loved the video though I didn't finish it because I got really excited to read this and I don't want to spoil myself! Keep doing you :)
Really digging the black and white blues vibe, my kid loves pigeons, and I’m super excited to get to the Gilead trilogy soon with Charlotte and Jo.
I’m currently reading Gilead for the first time (about halfway through) and I do agree with a lot of what you said, but I do feel the need to point out this one thing- I moved to the States for college and gathered a lot of information (as one would) about the culture, history, and religion of the country, before which I believe I wouldn’t have been able to engage with Gilead in the same way at all. Even though it explores the human predicament that everyone should be able to relate to, it also does so from a perspective that is so inextricably American that it’s hard to view the text as anything but. I ended up studying religion for a year in college which also aided my understanding of this book immensely so I understand the reviewers who claim to feel that distance because I can easily imagine being in their shoes had I not had some exposure to the country. The book is intrinsically American and the religion probably compounds the distance one feels with the story... again, I love this book but understand all the ways in which it isn’t universal at all.
I love and envy your eloquence, dear human boy!
I read and adored Gilead, but Home actually broke me. I remember when I finished it that I was so broken I had to miss work. I just sat there in my living room weeping and had to have half a bottle of white wine to calm down and breath. The elegance and heart with which Robinson tackles sibling love, heartbreak and the grief for the fact that sometimes you can never go home again is beyond my limited vocabulary. Home now is my all-time favourite book.
I can't wait to read Lila.
Btw my Goodreads review is "The saddest book I have ever loved" not the most depressing.
nisreen that was you???? Yes!!!! Hahaha I’m glad I know now! I actively avoided reviews when I finished this book because I didn’t want to hear a single negative thing about it!
It wrecked me.
I loved it.
And I’m glad you love it, because everyone needs to love it!!
Yeah, I read 'Gilead' last year and it subtly blew my mind by how its structure allows the narrative to keep focus. I'm glad this video came around, it reminds me to continue with the trilogy. Even more because of your glowing take on 'Home'.
I really hope you enjoy Home even half as much as I did 🤗
Ah! The one and only Saint Robinson. May she continue to bless us all.
Kendra Winchester ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Came back to re-watch... totally here for the Home praise!! It’s definitely one of the best sibling depictions I’ve ever read, so much nuance!
This is so beautifully made, I aspire to have a vlog this beautiful and a review this eloquent. You've really bumped up the Gilead trilogy on my wishlist.
Bookish Shenanigans I’m so glad! Thank you very much 💕❤️
I have read Gilead and Lila, but haven't read Home yet. Really need to bump that one up the TBR. I read Lila in 2015 when it was longlisted for the Booker. Four years later, I still think about it. Lila is one of those characters that haunts me.
Becky Ford I am very curious as to how I would have perceived Lila not having read the other two books.
I feel like it would have had a much greater impact on me.
Alas, can’t rewind time.
Please read Home though! All of the book tingles!!! 🤗
Matthew I have a video request. I would love a "How to Get Started on Booktube" video. I want to know about cameras, lighting, video editing, etc.
This whole video was a work of art - I must read Gilead now
Harriet Rosie I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! 📚✨
I hadn't put much thought to reading this series, but now I'm much more interested and looking forward to picking up at least the first two this summer!
the librettist yes!! Read all the good books!
I really hope you enjoy them, but it’s okay if you don’t 🤗
Those black and white montages! 😻😻😻 I admittedly have not read any Robinson so this has made me want to remedy that and start with Gilead! I have Lila but need to get a copy of Home still. Really enjoyed this review structure and hearing your comparative thoughts on the three!
Six Minutes For Me I’m so glad you enjoyed this video because I enjoyed making it!
Definitely consider picking up Gilead in the near future-it’s worth it 🤗💕
I enjoyed Gilead. Now I want to read Home much sooner!
I adored Gilead (read it last year after having it on my shelves for almost a decade, I could kick myself for taking so long to pick it up), and enjoyed Lila. I'm going out later to buy a copy of Home thanks to this video!
Chloe Giordano yay!!!! I’m so glad ❤️
I’ve read Gilead and adored it. I am 100% going to continue this trilogy now. Loved this video and your love for these books!
Loved your clips before each book. Now I need to go out and purchase Home and Lila.
Lindsey Reads please do 🤗
“I rated Gilead 5 stars, until I read Home” 😎😎😎yes😎😎😎
I love this series so much and loved this video
whatpageareyouon Home gives me the book tingles ✨
We always make it to the end of the video :) I have only read Gilead and really liked it - now you've set my expectations very high for Home.
Kay I really hope you enjoy Home! 💕
Great reviews! I haven't read these but Gilead has been on my list for a long time. Maybe I'll move it closer to the top of the pile!
Jennifer Nash that would be lovely 🤗
Curse you, I've never been interested in Gilead and now I'm curious. Luckily with the speed I get to all the books I want to read it'll be another 10 years till I get around to them.
1book1review haha it should be read at some point in one’s lifetime. But a lifetime can be a long time 🤷🏼♂️
These books are so wonderful and I loved seeing your responses to each. Robinson has hinted at a fourth possible book (!!!). I find her and these works so fascinating and deeply human, and at times gutting, and I am a thorough atheist. Just one who responds to certain belief- grounded texts like these. Robinson is above all compassionate, empathetic, grounded, which is what shines through and makes me love these books. I read Housekeeping in between Gilead and Home, and was frustrated with its seeming lionization of prose, imagery, and overwhelming metaphor above all else. If I had read it first I would have definitely hesitated to read Gilead. Thanks for this wonderful review and gorgeous video.
Marian Ryan thank you so much for this kind and thoughtful comment. I’m very glad you enjoyed the video.
A FOURTH BOOK THOUGH?! I’d pass out!!
This is probably one of the prettiest videos I've seen from you. The gloomy walkes and gloomy coffee-making = pure gold (probably gloomy gold).
I've always really wanted to read this trio and now I'm sad that I don't have any of them at home and that I'm generally busy at the moment.
Re the negative comments about it featuring a religious character - I don't get those. If I only wanted to read about characters like me I would just stare in the mirror in free time. Literature is the safest place to meet opposing opinions as you can pick them apart at home on your own so when you meet someone who has a similar world-view a good chunk of work on being empathetic and understanding has been done already.
If you feel talked down to by a literary character it's not on them being different, it's on them being a possible asshole. Then it's down to author's execution - do you think he/she wanted the character to read like it or not.
Lovely video
Gemma Hahaj should I rebrand my channel entirely to “gloomy gold” instead of “dry skepticism”?
Haha 🤗
I’m really glad you enjoyed the video, and I really REALLY appreciate your thoughts on character affecting a reading experience. I think about this a lot ✨
Yes, Yes, Yes!
curious hmm THANK YOU!
Wow, your review makes me want to pick them up! In all honesty though, the religious aspect does make me a bit skittish.
Booktube Goddess religion in general makes me skittish 💁🏼♂️ but from what I understand, Marilynne Robinson has a more liberal approach to theology than most. The books deal with religion, yes, but I wouldn’t say they are “about” religion.
That apple cider vinegar take is pretty much the same as mine. Also love the editing and the tunes. Of course the books you discussed are not in my wheel house so I was happy to hear your thoughts.
Gwendolyn Kensinger I’m glad that you still enjoyed the video ✨ thank you so much for watching!!
Jeez, Matthew, what are you doing to me? I have read Gilead last year and I really agree with everything you've said about it. However I didn't rate it as high as you did, I gave it three stars. But that's a good solid book for me, I'm definitely not a supporter of the delusion that every book has to do something special to me on a personal level or even has to blow me away. So I thought that after I have got the impression of what kind of writer Marylinne Robinson is, what she is capaple of, that this is enough for me to know and I'm not interested in continuing reading two more books about a similar topic.
So maybe I have to reconsider this decision now and I certainly know who I could blame for this, because he has done such a great job in reviewing the whole trilogy!
Amelia Reads I’m so glad that others agree that books can have “objective qualities.” People forget that writing is a skill and an art like painting or sculpture, so they can be critiqued as such.
I find it funny how much I adjusted my views on each three of these texts having read the next one, so for that reason, yes, I encourage you to try out more Robinson 🤗
@@MatthewSciarappa I hope you can hear my tbr aching and see all my unread books looking a bit strained at you from my shelves. 🤦♀️
If you would only try harder I'm sure you could do less greater review videos! 😘
I've read the first two and loved them. I am waiting to return to Lila because I feel like I need to be removed from the story somewhat. I enjoyed your review and shared the emotional reaction you had to Home.
I absolutely love all these three novels by Marilyn Robinson. I thought you did a great job at articulating some of what make these books great.
Bookish Islander I’m so glad! For both that you love these novels and that you think I did a great job! 🤗✨🤗