NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize–winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Olive Kitteridge comes a “superb” (O: The Oprah Magazine) novel that “confirms Strout as the possessor of an irresistibly companionable, peculiarly American voice.” (The Atlantic Monthly) In the late 1950s, in a small New England town, Reverend Tyler Caskey has suffered a terrible loss and finds it hard to be the person he once was. He struggles to find the right words in his sermons and in his conversations with those facing crises of their own, and to bring his five-year-old daughter, Katherine, out of the silence she has observed in the wake of the family’s tragedy. Tyler’s usually patient and kind congregation now questions his leadership and propriety, and accusations are born out of anger and gossip. Then, in Tyler’s darkest hour, a startling discovery will test his parish’s humanity—and his own will to endure the trials that sooner or later test us all. Praise for Abide With Me “Strout’s greatly anticipated second novel . . . is an answered prayer.”—Vanity Fair “Deeply moving . . . In one beautiful page after another, Strout captures the mysterious combinations of hope and sorrow. She sees all these wounded people with heartbreaking clarity, but she has managed to write a story that cradles them in understanding and that, somehow, seems like a foretaste of salvation.”—The Washington Post “Graceful and moving . . . The pacing of Strout’s deeply felt fiction about the distance between parents and children gives her work an addictive quality.”—People (four stars)
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"This was pretty good. I liked "Amy and Isabelle" (her first book) also. The only thing that bothered me was that the ending was a little too neat; while, on the one hand, I wanted some happiness for this poor minister (in fact, I think the book was a little too tragic until the end, which is another reason I took off a star), I thought that the way everyone came through for him in the end was a bit unrealistic. At the same time, I was really moved by some of the events at the end of the book." — Khaya (4 out of 5 stars)
"This was pretty good. I liked "Amy and Isabelle" (her first book) also. The only thing that bothered me was that the ending was a little too neat; while, on the one hand, I wanted some happiness for this poor minister (in fact, I think the book was a little too tragic until the end, which is another reason I took off a star), I thought that the way everyone came through for him in the end was a bit unrealistic. At the same time, I was really moved by some of the events at the end of the book."
" beautiful, as Oliver Kitteridge was. Overall, OK was better but for someone with an interest in personal faith and belief, this was very satisfying. "
" Rather offbeat plot. Not as good as Olive Kittridge but compelling.... "
" This is a beautiful portrait of grief in a small Maine town. I didn't like it quite as well as Olive Kittredge, but it's also really skillfully done. It feels true. "
" Interesting twists and psychology, but wrapped up a little too neatly in the end. "
" Many stories packed into one lovely novel. One might think the story of a minister of a small Maine town during the mid-50s may be a bore, but no, it's brilliant. I gasped, I teared up, I laughed, I highly recommend. "
" Well written, loss and forgiveness and how to be true to yourself. "
" Strout also wrote Olive Kitteridge. She just amazes me with her knowledge of human nature and motivations. "
" One of the best rural novels I've read in awhile. Incredible character development and presentation of human aberration. Will read her other novels as this was beautiful. "
" I read (actually listened on cd) several years ago. It was quite sad and I would really like to read something else this author wrote. "
" Was not what I expected but I truly enjoyed it. "
" I actually didn't read all of it. I started it, but couldn't get through it -- it was too slow. Then I skipped ahead and skipped ahead, etc. I still couldn't get through it. I even read part of the ending. Oh well, I guess I can't like all books. "
" this was a nice book. "
" Decent book in terms of character development, but not much of a plot--read it in one day. I haven't read her other book, but heard it was good "
" Strout's writing is so beautiful! "
" I enjoyed the book -- one that made me think about human behavior. "
" Just finished this one 5/08. The first half I was depressed, but the second half picked up really well, and I enjoyed the overall message of the book after all. The writing is beautiful. "
" i am so frustated i cant remember what the real deal is with the moher tha died and with litle katherine. i am in need of spoilersplease. "
" Young minister faces personal loss and seeks to find himself in a small rural community in Maine "
" a slow moving but ultimately rewarding story. "
" This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. A bonhoeffer quoting preacher struggles with grief and loss on multiple levels. "
" Small-town Maine in the 1950s. Young Reverand Tyler Caskey deals with his wife's death, difficulties with his daughter, and a crisis of faith while trying to minister to his congregation. "
" Well written characters, but such a serious story - I kept hoping for more uplifting moments like in Olive Kitteridge. "
" Liked "Olive Kitteridge" so much I wanted to read more by the author. And this didn't disappoint. "
" This was a difficult book for me to read. I never fully got into it and it took about four times to finally read it in its entirity. A sad story and I never felt a connection with the characters. "
" Unfortunately I can't say this was one of my favorite books. The storyline was very depressing and vulgar and moved like molasses. The story of a New England preacher's life after his wife's untimely demise did not 'grab' me the way it should have, but I would give this author another try. "
" I was fascinated to see how she wrote a novel in a traditional format after I read Olive Kitteridge. She's a keeper, I think, though I wish some of her characters were without deep dilemmas--though maybe none of us are??? Through it all she gives us hope. "
" Depressing, boring, with a stupid ending and full of characters I hated. I resent the time of my life I wasted on this trash and am not getting back. "
" Really enjoying this so far-- love the spot-on description of New Englanders. "
" Was ok. Just something I pulled from the library shelf so it wasn't a recommendation. "
" I expected more, I guess--but it's interestingly paralleling the Godwin book I'm currently reading--Father Melancholy's Daughter--they're quite similar. I liked Strout in person much better than in this book. "
Elizabeth Strout is the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Olive Kitteridge, the #1 New York Times bestseller My Name Is Lucy Barton, and the New York Times bestseller The Burgess Boys, as well as Abide with Me, a Book Sense pick, and Amy and Isabelle, which won the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize. She has also been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize in England. Her short stories have been published in a number of magazines, including the New Yorker and O: The Oprah Magazine.
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