I’ve just put back Abide with me by Elizabeth Strout on my little bookshelf. It has been a very interesting experience. I have to say, if I read a lot, it’s not really the kind of fiction I usually enjoy. My feelings are quite mitigated, not because of the quality of the narrative nor Strout’s writing… and frankly, it’s the first time I feel so confused over a book that I don’t even know where to start. So, I will play it safe and give a quick summary of the story.
Tyler Caskey is a reverend in the small town of West Annett during the 50s. Facing the loss of his wife, Lauren, he is struggling to not only raise his daughter Katherine, but also to keep his foothold in a community he feels more and more alienated from. Overwhelmed by his duty, tired he’s trying to pick up the remaining pieces of his life to start anew.
