ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger

 

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE 2014 EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL
WINNER OF THE 2014 DILYS AWARD
A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF 2013

From New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger, a brilliant new novel about a young man, a small town, and murder in the summer of 1961.

“That was it. That was all of it. A grace so ordinary there was no reason at all to remember it. Yet I have never across the forty years since it was spoken forgotten a single word.”

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.

MY THOUGHTS: 

By the author of THIS TENDER LAND. I loved that book and I loved this one also. I have no idea which I could possibly chose as a favorite.

This is one of those books that takes you away. Takes you to a place that you can't seem to leave. It's a hard story. A good story and a very sad story of the summer of 1961 and two young boys as they become men way before their time. A tragic summer. A summer of many deaths. Some by accident, possible suicide and no doubt about it murder. A summer that will stick with you for a while. 

I have a couple of favorite quotes from this book. 1: "Heavenly Father, for the blessing of this food and these friend and our families, we thank you. In Jesus's name amen." That was it. That was all of it. a grace so ordinary there was no reason at all to remember it. Yet I have never across the forty years since it was spoken forgotten a single word. 2: We turn, three men bound by love, by history, by circumstance, and most certainly by the awful grace of God, and together walk a narrow lane where headstones press close all around, reminding me gently of Warren Redstone's parting wisdom, which I understand now. The dead are never far from us. They're in our hearts and on our minds and in the end all that separates us from them is a single breath, one final puff of air. 

William Kent Krueger has a way of writing that keeps you captivated. The words roll smoothly off the pages and straight into your heart. You wrap yourself around this story and don't want to let go. Through all the ups and downs you hold on tight to yourself and hope for the best. It's told in a way that really truly gives you hope. Makes you believe in things you may never have thought you ever would. He has a talent that is a gift from somewhere. Whether it's from God or from some other power I don't know but I do know that I'm very happy that he has it. This book is one that truly made me have some deep thoughts about life. It made me have quite a few weepy moments. Some where I actually had to stop and put it aside for a few minutes because my eyes were so full of tears. My heart broke for the family in this book. For two little boys who had such a tragic summer.

The Drum family, Nathan, Ruth, Ariel, Frank and Jake. Nathan was a minister. His wife, Ruth, daughter, Ariel, were a big part of the choir. Frank and Jake were the boys who grew up during the summer of '61. This family went through a lot that summer. Their faith is tested in many ways and it's a wonder they made it at all. Through it all their dad, Nathan, never gave up. He had a faith that was as fierce as any you could ever read about. The way he dealt with things with such calm was intoxicating. His friend, Gus, was a big part of this family also. They were friends from the military and he had his own demons. But with Nathan's help and his faith they will all survive.

A very touching and beautifully written book with enough sorrow to keep you in tears, yet it's still one you won't want to put down. I honestly don't see how Mr Krueger writes such beautiful stories with such deep sorrow and makes it something that you can't stop reading. This one has a mystery that you may or may not figure out. I did, but it didn't take away from the story in any way. This book is one that I have to say read. Read it and enjoy it. Savor it. 

This was one that I got for myself a good while back and read just for the pleasure of reading a book. It's one that you will love, hate, enjoy and shed many tears over. What these two boys go through in the summer of '61 is something. Frank tells this story in the present as he drifts back to that summer. It will captivate you. It will break your heart. It will even in a couple of places possibly give you a chuckle or two. 

5/5 huge stars and the very highest recommendation I can possibly give a book!