A Bit Bookish

The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Gilbert has said this book is "a thoughtful, beautiful multigenerational novel about love, God, jealousy, and friendship." In the 1960s, copastors at a New York City church work and clash. Charles is a blueblood and a firm believer. Yet he is married to Lily, who is a fierce atheist. James, the youngest son of a hardscrabble Chicago family, wants to right the world's wrongs from the pulpit. His wife Nan, however, is comfortable with church traditions. We follow these two couples through decades of love and friendship, jealousy and understanding, commitment and forgiveness against the backdrop of turbulent changes in their city and congregation. A meditation on reason and faith, as well as the ways we find meaning in our lives. This amazing debut should spark many meaningful conversations and be an excellent book club selection. I thought it was a wonderful book. Thoughtful. Beautifully written. Literary fiction at its finest. Its exploration of faith, marriage, and love against a changing social backdrop...wow. A nice read at any time, but especially in these days of virus, lockdown, and social upheaval.


View all my reviews