HomeHome
Score Modern
What it's about
Glory Boughton, thirty-eight and disappointed in life, comes home to Gilead, Iowa, to look after her dying father, an old minister. Then her brother Jack, the family's prodigal son, comes home too, after twenty years away, troubled, charming and full of secrets. Over a summer, brother and sister slowly become friends, while their father longs for Jack to be the son he hoped for.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Orange Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award. It's a companion to Gilead, telling the same months from the Boughtons' side.
You'll love it if you liked
Gilead
Crossing to Safety
Olive KitteridgeGood to know
It's very quiet and slow. It's richer after Gilead but can be read alone.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics77 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller40 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #74 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #324 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #646 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Marilynne Robinson
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Americanah
The Help
Pachinko
Shuggie Bain
Half of a Yellow Sun
Infinite JestExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Home worth reading?
Yes. It won the Orange Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award. It ranks #646 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Home about?
Glory Boughton, thirty-eight and disappointed in life, comes home to Gilead, Iowa, to look after her dying father, an old minister. Then her brother Jack, the family's prodigal son, comes home too, after twenty years away, troubled, charming and full of secrets. Over a summer, brother and sister slowly become friends, while their father longs for Jack to be the son he hoped for.
How long does it take to read Home?
About 8 hours (334 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Home won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2009).
What should I read after Home?
If you liked it, try Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner or Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.