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A quiet novel that unfurls its sad story slowly, but eloquently, leaving its mark on your heart.
Found this book on Goodreads, thanks to my friends here! It's truly a beautiful melancholic story about a boy growing up, the grief of a family tragedy, the love and the unbreakable bonds of a family, the strong bond of young brothers... beautifully written, the book radiates a 'quiet beauty'. Reminded me of The Round House (Louise Erdrich). Dark and warm at the same time. About the Ordinary Grace o ...more
Found this book on Goodreads, thanks to my friends here! It's truly a beautiful melancholic story about a boy growing up, the grief of a family tragedy, the love and the unbreakable bonds of a family, the strong bond of young brothers... beautifully written, the book radiates a 'quiet beauty'. Reminded me of The Round House (Louise Erdrich). Dark and warm at the same time. About the Ordinary Grace o ...more
5★
“Jake drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them and stared at the river. ‘So what do we do?’
‘We tell Gus,’ I said.”
Gus is their father’s disreputable friend of whom their mother doesn’t approve. But he saved their father’s life in the war (WWII), and Dad lets him stay in a room in the church basement, across the street from their house. Dad is the local Methodist minister, and this is one of ‘his’ three churches.
Frank Drum is remembering his childhood, and the story is to ...more
“Jake drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them and stared at the river. ‘So what do we do?’
‘We tell Gus,’ I said.”
Gus is their father’s disreputable friend of whom their mother doesn’t approve. But he saved their father’s life in the war (WWII), and Dad lets him stay in a room in the church basement, across the street from their house. Dad is the local Methodist minister, and this is one of ‘his’ three churches.
Frank Drum is remembering his childhood, and the story is to ...more
Trite.
Boring.
Predictable.
Soppy.
Implausible.
Stereotypical characters.
Excessive foreshadowing.
The worst dialogs I have come across in a long time.
The audiobook narration by Rich Orlow was fine.
I thought just maybe I would come to understand what is meant by "the grace of God". No, the book failed me here too. ...more
Boring.
Predictable.
Soppy.
Implausible.
Stereotypical characters.
Excessive foreshadowing.
The worst dialogs I have come across in a long time.
The audiobook narration by Rich Orlow was fine.
I thought just maybe I would come to understand what is meant by "the grace of God". No, the book failed me here too. ...more
What a special treat to win and read this wonderful book from goodreads First Reads!! Loss of innocence, coming of age stories always seem to simultaneously break my heart and strengthen my belief in human kindness. Ordinary Grace has at its heart a typical middle class Minnesota family in the early 60’s. The father fought in the war, which changed him from a man who wanted to do battle in a courtroom as an attorney, to a man who wanted to provide guidance as a minister. In this summer when two
...more
The middle aged narrator of this book recounts the events of one summer in 1961 when he was a 13 year old son of a Methodist minister in a small Minnesota town, a summer with death at its center, a summer that would dramatically shape the emerging adult. Although this story held potential, the author submitted to the allure of the cliché, in the characters, in the setting, in the easy resolution. At first, I thought that, despite the obvious reliance on the clichéd, this was a comfortable book t
...more
Excellent mystery told by the main character reflecting back to events that changed the lives of many in a small town in Minnesota in 1961. I would have given it a 5 except I figured out the mystery 50 or 60 pages from the end (I am so hard to please :)! Well written as told through the eyes of a child who has his stuttering brother at his coat tails throughout without complaint. Reflecting I should have given it a 5 or at least a 4 1/2!
Reread this excellent book for Athen's Book Club, and I enj ...more
Reread this excellent book for Athen's Book Club, and I enj ...more
This book kept me engaged from the beginning. Great story with great writing and wonderful lessons. I have never heard of this author before and would definitely read him again.
Really good coming of age story set in Minnesota in 1961. Krueger is one of my favorite authors.
Beautiful and bittersweet exploration of grace.
Jan. 2017 - Library book group read.
I would give this book 4.5 stars. I really liked it. Kept my interest.
Set in Minnesota in 1961. It's about growing up, going for motorcycle rides, having fun, drinking soda, going fishing, and doing all the things kids do. But, it also about thirteen yr. old Frank Drum who spends the summer with his brother, whom stutters trying to solve the murder of his sister.
Frank's father is a Methodist minister. Frank tells the story from his perspective forty years aft ...more
I would give this book 4.5 stars. I really liked it. Kept my interest.
Set in Minnesota in 1961. It's about growing up, going for motorcycle rides, having fun, drinking soda, going fishing, and doing all the things kids do. But, it also about thirteen yr. old Frank Drum who spends the summer with his brother, whom stutters trying to solve the murder of his sister.
Frank's father is a Methodist minister. Frank tells the story from his perspective forty years aft ...more
what a phenomenal book. still resonating and soaring within. a truly gifted look at grief,growing up, small town,life in an era before modern tech.
Jan 01, 2013
Suzanne
added it
Mar 26, 2013
Brenda
marked it as to-read
Jun 26, 2013
Elena
marked it as to-read
Oct 24, 2014
Diane Browne
marked it as to-read
Apr 11, 2015
Lindsay
marked it as to-read
Jul 02, 2015
Stephanie
marked it as to-read-eventually
Sep 30, 2016
Colleen
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
continental-challenge
Apr 02, 2016
Bridget
marked it as to-read
Jul 09, 2016
Jules
marked it as to-read
Sep 19, 2016
Amy
marked it as to-read
