Recently Read Books: Abide With Me

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout  (fiction)

I read this because the reviews were good. J Although it was not an amazing read, I did enjoy the story of a small town preacher who is struggling with grief over the death of his young wife. What impressed me about Strout’s writing is how she was able to weave the preacher’s subconscious thoughts through the story in an authentic way, which enabled me to see into his soul. Strout chose Dietrich Bonhoeffer as the preacher’s hero and “mentor” (although the preacher had only known the German writer through books), and she must have done a ton of research on Bonhoeffer's life and writings, since she wove them seamlessly and constantly into the preacher’s thought processes. This story helped me catch a glimpse of grief’s inner struggle, and reminded me that most people carry inner burdens. (The preacher is not the only one in the story who is undergoing emotional struggle.) I appreciated Strout’s commitment to her main character's development and to the story: she makes her character go through the entire process of grief, doubt, hurt, anger, and the beginning of healing. Some writers create a great problem but have no idea how to bring it to a conclusion without cheap shortcuts. This book is a good exercise in empathy, reminding the reader that under a brave or caustic exterior often lies a hurting heart.