Tuesday, June 11, 2019

This Week's Read: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Prologue 
All the dying that summer began with the death of a child, a boy with golden hair and thick glasses, killed on the railroad tracks outside New Bremen, Minnesota, sliced into pieces by a thousand tons of steel speeding across the prairie toward South Dakota. His name was Bobby Cole. He was a sweet-looking kid and by that I mean he had eyes that seemed full of dreaming and he wore a half smile as if he was just about to understand something you'd spent an hour trying to explain. I should have known him better, been a better friend. He lived not far from my house and we were the same age. But he was two years behind me in school and might have been held back even more except for the kindness of certain teachers. He was a small kid, a simple child, no match at all for the diesel-fed drive of a Union Pacific locomotive.
Ordinary Grace
by William Kent Krueger

I added this title to my goodreads list in 2014 on the recommendation of several trusted blogging friends. Five years later I'm finally  going to read it, thanks to my book club. I borrowed the ebook from the library, but also seem to remember praise for the audio version. If that's the case, I may see if that's available, too. Either way, I'm looking forward to starting this book!

Here is the goodreads summary:
New Bremen, Minnesota, 1961. The Twins were playing their debut season, ice-cold root beers were selling out at the soda counter of Halderson’s Drugstore, and Hot Stuff comic books were a mainstay on every barbershop magazine rack. It was a time of innocence and hope for a country with a new, young president. But for thirteen-year-old Frank Drum it was a grim summer in which death visited frequently and assumed many forms. Accident. Nature. Suicide. Murder.  
Frank begins the season preoccupied with the concerns of any teenage boy, but when tragedy unexpectedly strikes his family— which includes his Methodist minister father; his passionate, artistic mother; Juilliard-bound older sister; and wise-beyond-his-years kid brother— he finds himself thrust into an adult world full of secrets, lies, adultery, and betrayal, suddenly called upon to demonstrate a maturity and gumption beyond his years.
Told from Frank’s perspective forty years after that fateful summer, Ordinary Grace is a brilliantly moving account of a boy standing at the door of his young manhood, trying to understand a world that seems to be falling apart around him. It is an unforgettable novel about discovering the terrible price of wisdom and the enduring grace of God.

What do you think? Would you continue reading? Have you already read this book?


First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intro is hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.

32 comments:

  1. I have already read it and thought it was very well done. Enjoy!

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    1. Kay - I've just read the first chapter... think I'm going to enjoy it, too!

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  2. I too was told by many reader friends that this was great. It is on my lists because also it won the Edgar in 2014. I understand the author has written quite a few books. Looking forward to your review.

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    1. Judy - I think his other books are primarily series. This one is a rare standalone. So far, so good!

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  3. I read it five years ago and thought it was outstanding! I read it in print, but hope to listen to it someday for a re-read. I've only read one of the Cork O'Connor mysteries, but I'm thrilled Krueger has a new standalone (This Tender Land) coming out in September. He's a wonderful writer. Click here for my review of Ordinary Grace.

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    1. Les - Thanks for linking to your review. I forgot that you'd compared it to The Homecoming of Samual Lake - I just loved that book! Wonder whatever happened to Jennie Wingfield. She was writing the screenplay for Samuel Lake last I knew, but hasn't written anything else as far as I can tell.

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    2. I wonder what happened to Wingfield, too. I loved audio of The Homecoming of Samuel Lake and have a print copy for re-reading. One of these days... :)

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    3. Les - I'd like to reread that book, too! For a while I was even exchanging emails and twitter messages with her, then everything stopped. Think I'll poke around on google and see whats going on....

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  4. It's been on my list to read for years too. Maybe I'll get to it soon.

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  5. That's quite a poignant beginning. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by Girl Who Reads.

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    1. Girl Who Reads - It's off to a very strong start!

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  6. We read this for our book group a couple of years ago; it made for a good discussion.

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    1. Diane - Hope my book club finds a lot to discuss, too. We're on a roll after Crawdads!

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  7. I read a couple of William Kent Krueger books years and years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them but haven't picked anything up by him in close to 20 years. This sounds really good and is definitely reminder to find his books!

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    1. Katherine - I'm glad for the book club push... have been wanting to read him for years!

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  8. Read and liked very much. He's a local writer and well-regarded in the community here.

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    1. Amy - Happy to hear that. I read the first chapter last night and am hooked!

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  9. I read this on holiday two weeks ago. Yes, yes, ys again - do keep on reading It's really quite beautiful.

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    1. Debbie - I will! The first chapter pulled me in. Good to hear from you... hope all is well.

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  10. Yes I think I've picked this book up a couple of times but haven't read it either. I'd go for it especially with a book group. Enjoy!

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    1. Susan - It's starting slowly, but I like the writing and characters.

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  11. This was on my list and oddly enough, I downloaded another Krueger book just yesterday. I've read a few of his mysteries and loved them, so I've been wanting to read this, which I understand is a standalone.

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    1. Beth F - Yes, this is a standalone. I only recently learned that he mostly writes series.

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  12. I remember not being too excited about this book at first but totally enjoyed it. I hope you'll enjoy reading this and I think it'll be a great choice for a book discussion!

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    1. Iliana - I'm about 20% in now and am finding it slow, but not minding that too much yet.

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  13. I loved, loved, loved this book. It is so beautifully written.

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    1. Anne - I'm impressed with the writing so far!

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  14. That blurb sounds a bit morbid. Sliced into pieces! Ack.

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    1. Ti - I'm finally past the 50% mark and can't put it down!

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