Lila

A masterpiece . . . Lila is a superb creation * Publishers Weekly *
A masterpiece . . . Lila is a superb creation * Publishers Weekly *
One of the greatest living novelists . . . [Lila is] just as wise, moving and genuine as its predecessors * Harper's Bazaar *
One of the greatest living novelists . . . [Lila is] just as wise, moving and genuine as its predecessors * Harper's Bazaar *
Robinson brings [the story] to pulsating life in prose of great and luminous beauty . . . a book that leaves the reader feeling what can only be called exaltation * Independent *
Robinson brings [the story] to pulsating life in prose of great and luminous beauty . . . a book that leaves the reader feeling what can only be called exaltation * Independent *
This superb novel can only add to [Robinson's] already stratospherically high reputation * Daily Mail *
This superb novel can only add to [Robinson's] already stratospherically high reputation * Daily Mail *
Lila is a really beautiful book: beautiful prose, beautiful story; morally beautiful too. After reading it the world seems more dazzling, fuller of wonder and mystery than it did before, as if you were newly in love. I wish I could persuade everyone who ever buys a book to read this one * Spectator *
Lila is a really beautiful book: beautiful prose, beautiful story; morally beautiful too. After reading it the world seems more dazzling, fuller of wonder and mystery than it did before, as if you were newly in love. I wish I could persuade everyone who ever buys a book to read this one * Spectator *
Deeply moving, almost transformative . . . frank and direct, but occasionally moved to ecstasy by the spirit * Sunday Times *
Deeply moving, almost transformative . . . frank and direct, but occasionally moved to ecstasy by the spirit * Sunday Times *
Tinged with heartbreaking beauty * Scotsman *
Tinged with heartbreaking beauty * Scotsman *
Although Lila revisits the characters of Robinson's previous books, Gilead, a Pulitzer prizewinner, and Home, a finalist in the American National Book Awards, and brings a certain completeness to their journeys, the book stands well on its own as a powerful search for the meaning of life as well as a touching and unlikely story of love and, ultimately, hope * The Times *
Although Lila revisits the characters of Robinson's previous books, Gilead, a Pulitzer prizewinner, and Home, a finalist in the American National Book Awards, and brings a certain completeness to their journeys, the book stands well on its own as a powerful search for the meaning of life as well as a touching and unlikely story of love and, ultimately, hope * The Times *
Robinson is a glorious writer . . . This novel, different in tone from its predecessors, stands beautifully alongside them * Financial Times *
Robinson is a glorious writer . . . This novel, different in tone from its predecessors, stands beautifully alongside them * Financial Times *
There is no one quite like this American writer, or quite as good as her . . . extraordinarily fluent and pitch perfect prose * Tablet *
There is no one quite like this American writer, or quite as good as her . . . extraordinarily fluent and pitch perfect prose * Tablet *
Measured and lyrical; the sound of this book is akin at times to the Cormac McCarthy of The Road . . . Robinson writes brilliantly about the way people dance warily around each other, never quite coinciding, stricken with longing and love * Literary Review *
Measured and lyrical; the sound of this book is akin at times to the Cormac McCarthy of The Road . . . Robinson writes brilliantly about the way people dance warily around each other, never quite coinciding, stricken with longing and love * Literary Review *
This third novel in the sequence is, in many ways, the most adventurous of all . . . Lila is the work of an exceptional novelist at the peak of her capacity * New Statesman *
This third novel in the sequence is, in many ways, the most adventurous of all . . . Lila is the work of an exceptional novelist at the peak of her capacity * New Statesman *
Lila is a deeply affecting exploration of existence, love and the inevitability of loneliness. And although enriched by the two preceding books, it has the strength, beauty and originality to be read, enjoyed and appreciated as a standalone work. Written in beautiful, poetic prose, it's a remarkable achievement * List *
Lila is a deeply affecting exploration of existence, love and the inevitability of loneliness. And although enriched by the two preceding books, it has the strength, beauty and originality to be read, enjoyed and appreciated as a standalone work. Written in beautiful, poetic prose, it's a remarkable achievement * List *
A sumptuous, graceful, and ultimately life-affirming novel * Independent on Sunday *
A sumptuous, graceful, and ultimately life-affirming novel * Independent on Sunday *
Robinson has made a world so palpable and full that each book can stand alone...Taken together, these books will surely be known as one of the great achievements of contemporary literature * Observer *
Robinson has made a world so palpable and full that each book can stand alone...Taken together, these books will surely be known as one of the great achievements of contemporary literature * Observer *
Told with measured and absorbing elegance, this account of the growing love and trust between Lila and Reverend Ames is touching and convincing. * Scotland on Sunday *
Told with measured and absorbing elegance, this account of the growing love and trust between Lila and Reverend Ames is touching and convincing. * Scotland on Sunday *
Searching and full of grace * Daily Telegraph *
Searching and full of grace * Daily Telegraph *
Robinson explores eternity, and she does so in a quiet, ruminative style that takes over your heart as well as your head. Once you've fallen under her spell, she's not just mesmerising but indispensable * Intelligent Life (The Economist) *
Robinson explores eternity, and she does so in a quiet, ruminative style that takes over your heart as well as your head. Once you've fallen under her spell, she's not just mesmerising but indispensable * Intelligent Life (The Economist) *
Robinson's writing can light up consciousness, and make even the most passing thoughts feel indelible. Her older sister in American literature is Emily Dickinson * Prospect *
Robinson's writing can light up consciousness, and make even the most passing thoughts feel indelible. Her older sister in American literature is Emily Dickinson * Prospect *
Lila is a deeply affecting exploration of existence and love * List *
Lila is a deeply affecting exploration of existence and love * List *
The Gilead novels provide insights into a people whose fates are bound to the land they live on. Iowa must be proud to have such a chronicler among them * Sunday Express *
The Gilead novels provide insights into a people whose fates are bound to the land they live on. Iowa must be proud to have such a chronicler among them * Sunday Express *
As a reader you feel very well looked after by Marilynne Robinson: you are knocked out by the weight of thought, the care, the worry she puts into her work. You find yourself wandering into vast new rooms, as if you're in a fabulous museum you've dreamt up for your own pleasure. There's really no one else writing like this today . . . Lila is just so damnably beautiful * Herald *
As a reader you feel very well looked after by Marilynne Robinson: you are knocked out by the weight of thought, the care, the worry she puts into her work. You find yourself wandering into vast new rooms, as if you're in a fabulous museum you've dreamt up for your own pleasure. There's really no one else writing like this today . . . Lila is just so damnably beautiful * Herald *
Lila has a power beyond words * Stylist *
Lila has a power beyond words * Stylist *
Mesmerising . . . reminiscent of the great Victorian novelists . . . Robinson's exquisitely wrought prose resonates * Mail on Sunday *
Mesmerising . . . reminiscent of the great Victorian novelists . . . Robinson's exquisitely wrought prose resonates * Mail on Sunday *
Her questioning books express wonder: they are enlightening, in the best sense, passionately contesting our facile, recycled understanding of ourselves and of our world * Guardian *
Her questioning books express wonder: they are enlightening, in the best sense, passionately contesting our facile, recycled understanding of ourselves and of our world * Guardian *
Subtle shifts of loyalties, strange moral priorities make [Robinson's] books compellingly powerful * New Statesman *
Subtle shifts of loyalties, strange moral priorities make [Robinson's] books compellingly powerful * New Statesman *
The giant themes and big questions that sit beneath the surface of Lila's incredibly moving story are compelling * Observer *
The giant themes and big questions that sit beneath the surface of Lila's incredibly moving story are compelling * Observer *
My novel of the year can only be Lila by the inimitable Marilynne Robinson . . .my favourite living author and this once again demonstrates her remarkable gift for psychological depth * Observer *
My novel of the year can only be Lila by the inimitable Marilynne Robinson . . .my favourite living author and this once again demonstrates her remarkable gift for psychological depth * Observer *
Exquisitely observed, an ultimately optimistic journey through the corrosive power of shame to divide and distort * Observer *
Exquisitely observed, an ultimately optimistic journey through the corrosive power of shame to divide and distort * Observer *
Lila by Marilynne Robinson is the heartbreaking conclusion to her Gilead trilogy * Observer *
Lila by Marilynne Robinson is the heartbreaking conclusion to her Gilead trilogy * Observer *
Lila was the book of books this year, an amazing achievement * Sunday Herald *
Lila was the book of books this year, an amazing achievement * Sunday Herald *
One of the finest writers in America * The Economist *
One of the finest writers in America * The Economist *
Intricate and beautiful * Evening Standard *
Intricate and beautiful * Evening Standard *
The novel of the year for me was Lila by Marilynne Robinson, revisiting the fictional Gilead of her three previous novels. The prose, as always, is magnificent, pitch-perfect, carrying a moral authority, a gravitas and a spiritual depth. There really is nobody else writing like this * Herald *
The novel of the year for me was Lila by Marilynne Robinson, revisiting the fictional Gilead of her three previous novels. The prose, as always, is magnificent, pitch-perfect, carrying a moral authority, a gravitas and a spiritual depth. There really is nobody else writing like this * Herald *
Robinson writes beautifully and, as a sophisticated religious thinker, asks searching questions about faith and doubt * Independent *
Robinson writes beautifully and, as a sophisticated religious thinker, asks searching questions about faith and doubt * Independent *