Ordinary Grace

 

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
307 pages; 3/26/13
Atria Books

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger is an exceptional, very highly recommended domestic drama/historical fiction set in 1961 when several deaths leave characters questioning the terrible price of wisdom and the nature of God's grace. 

“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.”   

Frank Drum is looking back on the summer of 1961 in New Bremen, Minnesota, when he was 13. Bobby Cole, a young contemporary of theirs was killed on the train tracks. This started a summer where four more deaths would occur. Frank's father Nathan Drum was going to be a lawyer, but WWII changed him and now he is a minister for three local Methodist churches. His mother Ruth has a beautiful voice and handles the church music, sister Ariel, 18, is a gifted pianist and musician who is headed to Julliard in the fall, and his younger brother and almost constant companion, Jake is 11 and has a stutter. 

This is a beautifully written novel that covers a myriad of topics as an adult looks back at the boy he was when he encountered some very adult lessons, and everyone's faith is tested as tragedy strikes. This is not a murder mystery as it is much more concerned with the in-depth character development of everyone, but especially that of Frank and Jake as they are being suddenly thrust into maturity while noticing adult failings, lies, and secrets all around them, some of which are still beyond their complete understanding. And all of the characters have to deal with the question of the awful grace of God and what that means.

The setting is also part of the novel and a small town in rural Minnesota during the early 1960s is perfectly captured. The kids in the neighborhood are walking to the train tracks, down to the river, and walking all over town. They can freely overhear discussions between adults that they are perhaps not ready for and watch adults do some questionable actions. Some of what Frank believes is true based on his limited knowledge and experience is later proven false. He also has to watch the adults around him struggle with their own faith during the challenges they face. 

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger is an excellent, must-read novel and it is clear why it is so very highly recommended.  This is another winner as I continue to take a break between advanced readers copies and read some novels I own and have been planning to read for years.