Take off your watch, put your voicemail on and settle down. ‘Jack’ is not a book to be hurried through. The first scene, where Jack Boughton and Della Miles meet, in the locked gates of a St. Louis cemetery of all places, virtually all in dialogue, seems endless. Don’t fight it; give yourself up to it and go with the flow.

You'll be glad you did. As the story unfolds, we see why these two apparent opposites are attracted. Upright Della is hardworking, conscientious and close to her family, while Jack is an ex-convict, keeping body and soul together by daily minor demeanours and estranged from his family. She has achieved the career of her dreams. He struggles to keep down a job. Meanwhile, they live on opposite sides of the divide in a racist, segregated mid-western post-WWII America.

Yet both come from a preacher-father background. Both are intelligent and love the written and spoken word, especially poetry.

In the elegant, lyrical prose one would expect from Marilynne Robinson, the story gathers momentum and we are soon rooting for this unlikely couple. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Della's family raise their very understandable objections. I can't wait to reread it and wallow in the prose, which one critic has described as 'hymnal'.

This is a deeply moving portrayal of a mixed race romance in America in the aftermath of World War Two. It is a wise exploration of love, identity, religion, morality, family and race. Thought-provoking, with truly compelling characters.

This is beautifully and skilfully written, intense and distinctive, but sadly I struggled to connect with it on an emotional level and didn't quite feel compelled to tear through it as I wish I had been. I think this is more a case of the book not being quite for me than any fault on the book's part.

I feel bad about giving this book such a low score but I just couldn’t connect with it. The first 28% is a rambling conversation between a girl and a boy in a cemetery at night. I had very little clue who each person was for a long time and kept going back thinking I had missed some vital information. I finally found that Jack was the son of a white preacher and that Delia was the daughter of a black Methodist preacher so their friendship would be frowned upon in 1950s America that this is set in. The conversation touched on theology, literature – especially Shakespeare – and many other topics. I found it disjointed and dull.

It was only later that I found this is the fourth of the author’s Gilead series. I wish I had known that before as I wouldn’t have chosen to read it. Having said that, there are other books which I have read as standalone, or out of order, in a series and I’ve never felt quite as sea with the contents as I did with Jack.

The writing is lyrical and intense. I’m sure may will love it but it wasn’t for me. With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A story about a couple who fall in love and the problems that their different races cause. It is an interesting and thought provoking read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

My first Marilynne Robinson! I started my read with an awareness that this is an author with fans in high places including Barack Obama, with a list of literary awards to her name and with a reputation in part carved through having taught at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. I was eager to discover what set her writing apart. Jack is the fourth in four books in the Gilead series. Although I read it in isolation, and it is entirely possible to do so, I would strongly suggest reading in sequence simply to maximise context. It is the love story of Jack who ‘had come into the world trailing clouds’ and Della, a beautiful young black lady. A love between races not encouraged, not permitted at a time when prejudice was laid down in law. The emergent feelings are described beautifully, delicately peeling away in nuanced conversations and encounters. Jack describes himself as ‘without moorings’ - it’s a wonderful concise analogy of a man who is estranged from his father, has spent time in jail, flits between jobs and accommodations. Della is gentle, kind and patient, struggling to reconcile her love for a white man with the love and honour she feels for her deeply religious family. Every obstacle will be in their way and there’s a feeling of hopelessness and futility - as Jack says, ‘How can we do this without, possibly, ruining your life?’ Jack is described as a ‘destructive man in a world where everything can be ruined or broken’, but in Della’s company there is a kind of redemption and peace. I am totally in love with Robinson’s writing - she can pour the world into a sentence. Her writing painstakingly unpicks the nuances of a conversation, of meetings, of thought processes. It is like watching an exotic flower open. For fans of Robinson, for fans of writing where delicate and infinite observation is key this is perfect. It is however not for the impatient or plot driven. With thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for a digital copy of this book.

I tried a number of times to get into this novel but I gave up in the end. I understand it's part of a series and perhaps reading the other books would have helped but the premise did not grab me. I hate giving up on a book because I'm sure it has much going for it. It may appeal to others.

I see Jack has already been highly lauded by reviewers, and I can only come to the conclusion that it just wasn’t for me. I hadn’t realised, either, that it was part of Robinson’s series Gilead, and despite repeated assurances Jack could stand on its own, I really do feel I’d have done better to have read the three predecessors before plunging into this one.

An interracial relationship in the fifties is truly a remarkable thing to write about, and I was interested to read Robinson’s take on this. A destitute white man falling in love with a successful black teacher was something to talk about back then. And yet, we focus almost entirely on Jack, on his flaws and his subsequent overcomings of his past - I’d have loved to have known Della in more detail; why is she risking everything to be with this reprobate?

Robinson’s writing is beautiful, lyrical, and dripping with profundity, perhaps overly so, as it became repetitive and dull pretty quickly for me. The book opens with a long conversation between the pair, and it’s such a slog to remain engaged as they seem to talk about everything and nothing all at once.

This is one best read, I’m sure, if you’ve read the rest of the series; I definitely wish I’d done this before rushing into Jack.

Thank you to Virago Press and to NetGalley for approving me to read the ARC of Jack by Marilynne Robinson, due out September 29th.
-
I didn't realise before I requested this book that it was part of a series - the Gilead series - and so it may be that there is more of a backstory of these characters that I'm not aware of.
-
Overall it was a pretty love story focussed on Jack Boughton, a self professed thief and bum, and Della Miles, an African-American school teacher.
-
I felt the story was interesting, though a little strange. Especially the scene where the two characters are in a graveryard overnight, discoursing in a tête-à-tête manner, and seemingly theologising.
It felt very reminiscent of Waiting for Godot, especially when they were dicussing the thieves alongside Jesus on the cross, their taking off and putting on of shoes, and the general manner of their theologising.
-
I think anyone who likes the Gilead series, or books written in prose, would probably enjoy this book a lot, but while the psychological reflections and poetry were interesting in parts, it wasn't my favourite sort of book personally.

The fourth book in the Gilead series. This is an unusual book and I was not sure about it at first. Jack is a white man on the edges of society who meets a young black woman who is a teacher. The segregation in America at the time slowly draws you in to the shocking situation that face the couple. Jack and Della's characters are revealed. Now that I have finished this book I can see that although there is not really a plot it is a wonderful look at a relationship that persists although everything at the time is against it. Also a bit depressing as so many of the issues in the book poverty. racism still persist.

Jack is a self confessed ne’er do well, who falls for the wrong woman. Although she is the right woman, just not meant for him. The style of writing is unusual, and fairly challenging in its rambling overly wordy introspective style. It is quite compelling in its inevitable ups and downs, and feels like an immersive experience at times, though the reader is as drawn to Jack’s sincerity, if not his life style. The overall picture which is drawn for us is of a precarious existence of a society which is forever on the verge of cruelty, and bigotry, but shows glimmers of irrepressible kindness and humanity when least expected.

I made the mistake of starting this novel late at night. Because I was tired and because the book has a dream-like quality, I missed all the subtle beauty of Robinson's prose and woke the next morning determined to give it my best attention. It deserves it. If you've read Gilead or Home, you will know what happens to Jack and Della, but here we meet them many years earlier. It's 1940s St Louis and a relationship between a white man and a black woman is illegal and punishable by prison. Essentially, it is Della who will lose everything and she has more to lose - a reputation, a good home, a family. Jack tries to keep away from her, knowing that the best thing in his life (his love for her) is harmful. Yet, he's inexorably drawn. Full of self-loathing, set apart from humanity, he finds his soul can rest when he is close to Della. She persists in gently loving him back, sharing his alienation, longing for a world where they can make their own rules.
Robinson is a genius at finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. She writes lyrical, lush prose. She makes you see the world from new angles. Jack is no exception, although it is perhaps more dialogue heavy than her other books and has more of a quiet, contemplative quality. I very occasionally wanted more to 'happen,' although, conversely, when something does (his visit to her house for tea, for instance) it has more impact because it exists in the 'real' world - a place that their long walks and discussions keep them apart from.
A redemptive, beautiful book.

As the title suggests Jack is the main character if this novel. A character study, intricate and detailed with his inner most thoughts detailed on the page for us, the reader. We gather his back story through his musings and join with him in his heart searching after he has met Della and becomes obsessed by her. The relationship us fraught with difficulties as she is coloured and he is white but Jack persists, cleans himself up and gets a job of sorts, although he convinced himself numerous times that she would do better without him. She is smitten by him just as much and the sweet understanding they share is soul wrenching. His family are from Gilead, and he choises to distance himself from them as he knows he is a disappointment to them, but they feature in a lot of his thoughts even so. His father is a minister and Jack's childhood revolved a lot around church life. He still returns to church buildings for the comfort and familiarity he finds there Dellas father is also a preacher but his disapproval of the relationship shows little forgiveness or acceptance of a mixed race union.
.Marilynne Robinsons other novels( Home, Gilead and Lila) feature Jacks family back in Gilead and although they stand alone nicely, there is a satisfying completion in the different viewpoints and perspective that each book shows. Her writing is dense. It is thoughtful and deeply felt, reflecting the character of Jack himself, and although the story moves slowly we are invested in both Jack and Della's characters and need to read on to the conclusion. It's well worth the investment in time!

I gave up at 10% as the writing was dreary, the conversation boring and the charatcers acted in a bizarre way with each other. I found out from other reviews that this is part of a series and reading previous books might have helped with the understanding and enjoyment of this one. Thanks to Netgalley and the oublishers for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title - but I do wish that it was made clear that books were part of a series when they are offered for review.

This is the story of Jack and Della, a mixed-race couple in 1950s America when such relationships were illegal and considered morally wrong by the majority of both white and black people that populate the rest of the novel. It fills in some of the background of Jack, who appears in Robinson's other books as a broken man with a shady past.

The book is a mournful lament that fills out Jack's background and offers his story from his point of view. Jack is down on his luck, a complex character who is affected by his upbringing as a pastor's son in a way his more successful siblings weren't. He brings his empathy, knowledge and understanding, with a love of poetry to his relationship with Della, which begins with a chance meeting and a series of misunderstandings and swift attachment.

Jack is such a complex character, his inner thinking is exposed as the narrative goes from him trying to save Della from his influence and to preserve her reputable life, to his seemingly inevitable attraction to her and the difficult life they might have together. Less clear are the motives and intentions of Della, who is a less realised character - we never really find out why she is so set on giving up family, friends and respectability for Jack's sake.

The tone of the novel is so touching, the longing and the torture of Jack's complicated character draw the reader in so much, and you really feel his dilemma growing as the tension in the book builds, rooting for a happy resolution even when it seems hopeless.

Jack by Marilynne Robinson is a book I really am struggling to review. I started the book and was totally confused. I knew that my son in law had recently read Gilead so I decided I’d backtrack and read it as well as Home (the 2nd in the series) before attempting Jack again. Gilead was hard going but a great scene setter for Home (which I loved). So .... on to Jack- I’m now thinking that this will fill in the blanks! Beautifully written, as with Marilynne’s previous books, but boy was this a tough read on many levels. It’s somewhat depressing and bleak and since the book is totally from Jack’s perspective there’s no let-up or light relief. I think my favourite bit was the final part when Della took some of the focus. Overall this is the type of book I read at university for my English degree. In that respect it most definitely lends itself to analysis (and Marilynne certainly knows her scripture and her theology). I know my Bible fairly well and I loved the portrayal of the outworking of faith by the various clergy and their denominations overall. I got a strong sense of forgiveness, forbearance and practical support. Obviously the interracial taboos are shocking. For me, however, this theme actually served to detract a little from Jack’s journey -does the “relationship” (which seems to amount to a couple of weird dates and straight to sex) help Jack settle his demons or is it the forbidden nature of the liaison that satisfies his desire to continue his apparent lifelong choice to opt out of any social responsibilities. To be honest my harsh assessment of the book isn’t leaning towards the intended one focusing on predestination and redemptive grace so much as on a spoilt, indulged child who won’t grow up!
In short, not a book I can say I enjoyed but, as you can see, it had an impact. Not too sure if this is a satisfactory result or not?
I think I need a slightly lighter novel now after such an intense and potentially thought-provoking read
Four stars for the writing and exploration of theology but just three for enjoyment and engagement.

This is the first book I have read by Marilynne Robinson and whilst it is one of a series, it also works as a stand-alone novel. Set in the early 1950’s, it tells the story of Jack, the itinerant son of a white Presbyterian minister and Della, an African-American high school teacher and also the child of a preacher, with whom he falls in love at a time when such a relationship would have been illegal in the USA.

The first thing to say, is that the book is beautifully and sensitively written and infused throughout with religious significance. The first third of the book takes place at night in a graveyard where Jack is deliberately sleeping and Della is accidentally locked in. It consists almost entirely of a verbatim conversation between the two protagonists and there were times when I found myself admiring the writing rather than becoming engaged with the novel. However, as the story progressed and the plot developed, I became totally immersed in this poignant saga of impossible love between two disparate human beings and determined to read the previous books in the series.

Although Jack is set 70 years in the past, sadly the prejudices it highlights and which form the backdrop to the story, are still clearly prevalent in the USA and in many ways, this makes the book particularly timely. It is not an easy novel to read as it explores issues that are difficult and unsettling, but it is one where perseverance will be hugely rewarded.

My thanks to Little Brown Books and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Now a man in his forties, Jack is drifting aimlessly around St. Louis when he meets Della the daughter of an important black family and herself the child of a preacher. The two fall in love. Given the time and the place this is illegal. For any suspicion of cohabitation, they risk not only condemnation from both sides of the divide, but prison.

This fraught but somehow beautiful relationship kicks off in the unlikely setting of a cemetery at midnight with a discussion about predestination. He believes in it being of Presbyterian stock. She doesn’t being Methodist.

“Well she said, this is all very interesting. But don’t quote Scripture ironically. It makes me very uneasy when you do that.”

“I am the Prince of Darkness.”
“No you’re a talkative man with holes in his socks.”

For the full text of this review please go to:

https://volatilerune.blog/2020/09/04/miracles-leave-no-trace-a-review-of-jack-by-marilynne-robinson/

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre,  however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for  opening up my mind to something totally different. Characters were so well developed that I felt as though I knew them. I love when a book draws you into the story and it feels like you are living it with them.

I would rate all three of the previous books in this series amongst my all-time favourites so it was a privilege to be able to read this one early. Even though years have gone by since I read the earlier ones I thought I could remember them quite well. I was intrigued to read how Jack’s life had gone during his ‘wilderness’ years and how he came to meet Della, but was itching to hear about the rest of the family. This is Jack’s story, though, and he is estranged from them so not to be. I found the first quarter? third? of the book laboured but once Jack and Della leave the cemetery I was entranced as I knew I would be.

Della is not really a character I could engage with (perhaps a fifth book beckons). I couldn’t quite understand why she felt so attracted to the soul she thought she saw beyond Jack’s unprepossessing outward appearance. She seemed to me to be there, if not to redeem him, then to force Jack to consider his actions and his way of life, also to recognise the talents he had been squandering and maybe start to appreciate and use them. I am thinking here of his short interlude in Chicago, working in the bookshop and feeling how it might be to live as others do. But inevitably Jack is his own worst enemy.

‘He felt his doom, that old companion who knew the worst about him long before he knew it himself, settle into him, however that happened. But it did.’

Marilynne Robinson is such a subtle and delicate writer, wringing every shred of poignancy out of Jack’s predicament and his harsh, unforgiving judgement of himself, especially heartbreaking if you have read (or just re-read in my case) ’Home’ and already know where he is headed.

‘There were times in his youth when his imaginations of destruction were so powerful that the deed itself seemed as bad as done. So he did it. It was as if the force of the idea were strong enough that his collaboration in it was trivial.’

‘He had never been good at explaining things he did. It was just alarming to him to consider how much sense they always made at the time, or in any case, how unavoidable they seemed. He suspected that he drank to give himself a way of accounting for the vast difference between any present situation and the intentions that brought him to it.’

‘I’m a gifted thief. I lie fluently, often for no reason. I’m a bad but confirmed drunk. I have no talent for friendship. What talents I do have I make no use of. I am aware instantly and almost obsessively of anything fragile, with the thought that I must and will break it. This has been true of me my whole life. I isolate myself as a way of limiting the harm I can do. And here I am with a wife! Of whom I know more good than you have any hint of, to whom I could do a thousand kinds of harm, never meaning to, or meaning to.’

Wonderful writing. As with all her books, she gives me so much to think about in terms of social dysfunction and self-determination, different ways of living, keeping apart from one’s family yet comforting oneself with its continued existence, just out of sight.

Such a treat for me. With thanks to Little, Brown/Virago via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.