Marilynne_NP1 Robinson_NP1 Known_VVN for_IF her_APPGE lyrical_JJ ,_, precise_JJ language_NN1 and_CC complex_JJ style_NN1 ,_, Marilynne_NP1 Robinson_NP1 is_VBZ regarded_VVN as_II one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT significant_JJ American_JJ novelists_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE generation_NN1 ._. 
Robinson_NP1 established_VVD her_APPGE reputation_NN1 in_II 1980_MC with_IW the_AT publication_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE debut_NN1 novel_NN1 ,_, Housekeeping_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ garnered_VVD both_RR critical_JJ and_CC popular_JJ acclaim_NN1 and_CC quickly_RR became_VVD known_VVN as_II a_AT1 modern_JJ American_JJ classic_NN1 ._. 
Almost_RR a_AT1 quarter_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 century_NNT1 after_II Housekeeping_NN1 ,_, Robinson_NP1 's_GE second_MD novel_NN1 ,_, Gilead_NP1 (_( 2004_MC )_) ,_, won_VVD both_RR the_AT 2004_MC Pulitzer_NP1 Prize_NN1 and_CC 2005_MC National_JJ Book_NN1 Critics_NN2 Circle_VV0 Award_NN1 for_IF fiction_NN1 ._. 
Home_RL :_: A_AT1 Novel_NN1 followed_VVN in_II 2008_MC ._. 
Robinson_NP1 has_VHZ been_VBN called_VVN "_" extraordinary_JJ "_" by_II the_AT Saturday_NPD1 Review_NN1 (_( January_NPM1 1981_MC )_) and_CC "_" a_AT1 consummate_JJ artist_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 scrupulous_JJ scholar_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 believing_JJ Christian_JJ and_CC a_AT1 genuinely_RR radical_JJ thinker_NN1 "_" by_II the_AT Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 Times_NNT2 (_( 12_MC December_NPM1 2004_MC )_) ._. 
Best_RRT known_VVN for_IF her_APPGE award-winning_JJ novels_NN2 ,_, she_PPHS1 has_VHZ also_RR published_VVN two_MC works_NN of_IO nonfiction_NN1 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 short_JJ stories_NN2 ,_, articles_NN2 ,_, book_NN1 reviews_NN2 ,_, and_CC essays_NN2 that_CST have_VH0 appeared_VVN in_II Harper_NP1 's_GE ,_, The_AT Paris_NP1 Review_NP1 ,_, The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 Book_NN1 Review_NN1 ,_, and_CC The_AT American_JJ Scholar_NN1 ._. 
Born_VVN Marilynne_NP1 Summers_NP1 on_II 26_MC November_NPM1 1943_MC in_II Sandpoint_NP1 ,_, Idaho_NP1 ,_, Robinson_NP1 is_VBZ a_AT1 fourth-generation_JJ Idahoan_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, John_NP1 J._NP1 Summers_NP1 ,_, worked_VVD in_II the_AT timber_NN1 industry_NN1 ,_, and_CC her_APPGE mother_NN1 ,_, Ellen_NP1 Harris_NP1 Summers_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ a_AT1 homemaker_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE parents_NN2 raised_VVD her_PPHO1 and_CC her_APPGE older_JJR brother_NN1 ,_, David_NP1 ,_, now_RT a_AT1 professor_NN1 of_IO art_NN1 history_NN1 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Virginia_NP1 ,_, in_II a_AT1 succession_NN1 of_IO towns_NN2 in_II northern_JJ Idaho_NP1 and_CC western_JJ Washington_NP1 ,_, including_II Sandpoint_NP1 ,_, Clarkston_NP1 ,_, Sagle_NP1 ,_, Coolin_NP1 ,_, Spokane_NP1 ,_, and_CC Coeur_FW d'Alene_NP1 ,_, wherever_RRQV her_APPGE father_NN1 's_GE career_NN1 took_VVD them_PPHO2 ._. 
The_AT majestic_JJ beauty_NN1 of_IO the_AT Pacific_NP1 Northwest_ND1 had_VHD a_AT1 strong_JJ effect_NN1 on_II Robinson_NP1 ._. 
In_II an_AT1 essay_NN1 entitled_VVN "_" My_APPGE Western_JJ Roots_NN2 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 recalls_VVZ "_" walking_VVG into_II the_AT woods_NN2 by_II myself_PPX1 and_CC feeling_VVG the_AT solitude_NN1 around_II me_PPIO1 build_NN1 like_II electricity_NN1 and_CC pass_VV0 through_II my_APPGE body_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 jolt_NN1 that_CST made_VVD my_APPGE hair_NN1 prickle_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 remember_VV0 kneeling_VVG by_II a_AT1 creek_NN1 that_CST spilled_VVD and_CC pooled_VVN among_II rocks_NN2 and_CC among_II fallen_JJ trees_NN2 with_IW the_AT unspeakably_RR tender_JJ growth_NN1 of_IO small_JJ trees_NN2 already_RR sprouting_VVG from_II their_APPGE backs_NN2 ,_, and_CC thinking_NN1 ,_, there_EX is_VBZ only_RR one_MC1 thing_NN1 wrong_RR here_RL ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ my_APPGE own_DA presence_NN1 ,_, and_CC that_DD1 is_VBZ the_AT slightest_JJT imaginable_JJ intrusion_NN1 --_NN1 feeling_VVG that_CST my_APPGE solitude_NN1 ,_, my_APPGE loneliness_NN1 made_VVD me_PPIO1 almost_RR acceptable_JJ in_II so_RG sacred_JJ a_AT1 place_NN1 ._. "_" 
Robinson_NP1 writes_VVZ in_II "_" My_APPGE Western_JJ Roots_NN2 "_" that_CST "_" the_AT hardest_JJT work_NN1 in_II the_AT world_NN1 --_NN1 it_PPH1 may_VM in_II fact_NN1 be_VBI impossible_JJ --_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO persuade_VVI easterners_NN2 that_CST growing_VVG up_RP in_II the_AT West_ND1 is_VBZ not_XX intellectually_RR crippling_JJ ._. "_" 
As_II a_AT1 child_NN1 ,_, Robinson_NP1 read_VVD a_RR31 great_RR32 deal_RR33 ,_, including_II classical_JJ and_CC nineteenth-century_JJ American_JJ literature_NN1 and_CC the_AT Bible_NN1 --_NN1 her_APPGE favorite_JJ book_NN1 --_NN1 of_IO which_DDQ she_PPHS1 says_VVZ in_II "_" Psalm_NN1 Eight_MC "_" in_II The_AT Death_NN1 of_IO Adam_NP1 (_( 1998_MC )_) ,_, "_" I_PPIS1 believe_VV0 the_AT entire_JJ hypertrophic_JJ bookishness_NN1 of_IO my_APPGE life_NN1 arose_VVD directly_RR out_II21 of_II22 my_APPGE exposure_NN1 ..._... to_II the_AT language_NN1 of_IO Scripture_NN1 ._. "_" 
At_II Coeur_FW d'Alene_NP1 High_JJ School_NN1 ,_, Robinson_NP1 's_GE Latin_JJ teacher_NN1 ,_, Mrs._NNB Bloomsburg_NP1 ,_, exposed_VVD her_PPHO1 to_II Horace_NP1 and_CC Virgil_NP1 ,_, and_CC "_" taught_VVD us_PPIO2 patience_NN1 with_IW that_DD1 strange_JJ contraption_NN1 called_VVN the_AT epic_JJ simile_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ ,_, to_TO compare_VVI great_JJ things_NN2 with_IW small_JJ ,_, appears_VVZ fairly_RR constantly_RR in_II my_APPGE own_DA prose_NN1 ,_, modified_VVN for_IF my_APPGE own_DA purposes_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ Mrs._NNB Bloomsburg_NP1 also_RR who_PNQS trudged_VVD us_PPIO2 through_II Cicero_NP1 's_GE vast_JJ sentences_NN2 ,_, clause_NN1 depending_VVG from_II clause_NN1 ,_, the_AT whole_NN1 cantilevered_VVD with_IW subjunctives_NN2 and_CC weighted_VVN with_IW a_AT1 culminating_VVG irony_NN1 ...._... 
And_CC at_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO it_PPH1 all_DB ,_, I_PPIS1 think_VV0 anyone_PN1 can_VM see_VVI that_CST my_APPGE style_NN1 is_VBZ considerably_RR more_RRR in_II debt_NN1 to_II Cicero_NP1 than_CSN to_II Hemingway_NP1 ._. "_" 
After_II graduating_VVG from_II Coeur_FW d'Alene_NP1 High_JJ School_NN1 in_II 1962_MC ,_, Robinson_NP1 attended_VVD Brown_NP1 University_NN1 ,_, in_II Providence_NP1 ,_, Rhode_NP1 Island_NNL1 ,_, where_CS her_APPGE brother_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 senior_JJ during_II her_APPGE freshman_NN1 year_NNT1 ._. 
There_RL ,_, Robinson_NP1 studied_VVD literature_NN1 and_CC religion_NN1 ,_, and_CC during_II her_APPGE sophomore_NN1 year_NNT1 she_PPHS1 took_VVD creative_JJ writing_NN1 with_IW novelist_NN1 John_NP1 Hawkes_NP1 ._. 
Robinson_NP1 maintains_VVZ that_CST she_PPHS1 began_VVD writing_VVG fiction_NN1 during_II that_DD1 time_NNT1 "_" partly_RR in_II hopes_NN2 of_IO making_VVG my_APPGE friends_NN2 there_RL understand_VV0 how_RGQ rich_JJ and_CC powerful_JJ a_AT1 presence_NN1 a_AT1 place_NN1 can_VM be_VBI which_DDQ ,_, to_II their_APPGE eyes_NN2 ,_, is_VBZ forbidding_JJ and_CC marginal_JJ ,_, without_IW population_NN1 or_CC history_NN1 ,_, without_IW culture_NN1 in_II any_DD form_VV0 recognizable_JJ to_II them_PPHO2 "_" (_( "_" Wilderness_NN1 ,_, "_" The_AT Death_NN1 of_IO Adam_NP1 )_) ._. 
While_CS at_II Brown_NP1 ,_, Robinson_NP1 studied_VVD nineteenth-century_JJ American_JJ writers_NN2 ._. 
In_II The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 Book_NN1 Review_NN1 (_( 13_MC May_NPM1 1984_MC )_) ,_, she_PPHS1 points_VVZ to_II Emily_NP1 Dickinson_NP1 ,_, Herman_NP1 Melville_NP1 ,_, Henry_NP1 David_NP1 Thoreau_NP1 ,_, Walt_NP1 Whitman_NP1 ,_, Ralph_NP1 Waldo_NP1 Emerson_NP1 ,_, and_CC Edgar_NP1 Allan_NP1 Poe_NP1 as_II the_AT writers_NN2 who_PNQS have_VH0 affected_VVN her_PPHO1 the_AT most_RGT :_: "_" Nothing_PN1 in_II literature_NN1 appeals_NN2 to_II me_PPIO1 more_RRR than_CSN the_AT rigor_NN1 with_IW which_DDQ they_PPHS2 fasten_VV0 on_II problems_NN2 of_IO language_NN1 ,_, of_IO consciousness_NN1 --_NN1 bending_VVG form_NN1 to_II their_APPGE purposes_NN2 ,_, ransacking_VVG ordinary_JJ speech_NN1 and_CC common_JJ experience_NN1 ,_, rummaging_VVG through_II the_AT exotic_JJ and_CC recondite_JJ ,_, setting_VVG Promethean_JJ doubts_NN2 to_II hymn_NN1 tunes_NN2 ,_, refining_VVG popular_JJ magazine_NN1 tales_NN2 into_II arabesques_NN2 ,_, pondering_VVG bean_NN1 fields_NN2 ,_, celebrating_VVG the_AT float_NN1 and_CC odor_NN1 of_IO hair_NN1 ,_, always_RR ,_, to_TO borrow_VVI a_AT1 phrase_NN1 from_II Wallace_NP1 Stevens_NP1 ,_, in_II the_AT act_NN1 of_IO finding_VVG what_DDQ will_VM suffice_VVI ._. "_" 
The_AT narrative_JJ drifts_NN2 back_RP and_CC forth_RR between_II Ruth_NP1 's_GE story_NN1 of_IO the_AT past_NN1 and_CC metaphysical_JJ musings_NN2 on_II such_DA topics_NN2 as_CSA appearance_NN1 and_CC reality_NN1 ,_, thinking_VVG and_CC dreaming_VVG ,_, life_NN1 and_CC death_NN1 ,_, order_NN1 and_CC disorder_NN1 ,_, conformity_NN1 and_CC nonconformity_NN1 ,_, the_AT seen_VVN and_CC the_AT unseen_JJ ._. 
Like_II the_AT American_JJ Romantics_NN2 ,_, Ruth_NP1 has_VHZ a_AT1 philosophical_JJ questing_NN1 mentality_NN1 about_II her_PPHO1 ;_; she_PPHS1 asks_VVZ deep_JJ questions_NN2 ,_, uses_VVZ metaphors_NN2 ,_, and_CC employs_VVZ all_DB her_APPGE resources_NN2 to_TO help_VVI make_VVI sense_NN1 of_IO the_AT world_NN1 ._. 
Through_II the_AT novel_NN1 's_GE central_JJ metaphor_NN1 of_IO housekeeping_NN1 ,_, Robinson_NP1 contrasts_VVZ the_AT mutability_NN1 of_IO the_AT natural_JJ world_NN1 with_IW futile_JJ human_JJ attempts_NN2 to_TO control_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
The_AT conventional_JJ women_NN2 of_IO Fingerbone_NP1 attempt_VV0 to_TO forestall_VVI the_AT decay_NN1 brought_VVN about_RP by_II nature_NN1 through_II rigid_JJ housekeeping_NN1 ;_; Sylvie_NP1 ,_, however_RR ,_, destroys_VVZ the_AT boundary_NN1 between_II inside_RL and_CC out_RP by_II keeping_VVG the_AT doors_NN2 open_VV0 at_II all_DB times_NNT2 and_CC letting_VVG the_AT elements_NN2 in_RP ,_, while_CS encouraging_VVG her_APPGE nieces_NN2 to_TO play_VVI in_II the_AT woods_NN2 and_CC sleep_VVI outside_RL on_II the_AT ground_NN1 ._. 
The_AT central_JJ issue_NN1 of_IO the_AT novel_NN1 is_VBZ whether_CSW Ruth_NP1 will_VM follow_VVI the_AT norms_NN2 of_IO conventional_JJ society_NN1 or_CC accept_VV0 Sylvie_NP1 's_GE terms_NN2 of_IO reality_NN1 ._. 
Ruth_NP1 is_VBZ drawn_VVN to_II Sylvie_NP1 and_CC begins_VVZ to_TO identify_VVI with_IW her_PPHO1 ,_, while_CS Lucille_NP1 is_VBZ repelled_VVN by_II her_APPGE aunt_NN1 's_GE odd_JJ behavior_NN1 and_CC haphazard_JJ housekeeping_NN1 ._. 
The_AT turning_NN1 point_NN1 comes_VVZ when_RRQ Lucille_NP1 snaps_VVZ on_II the_AT lights_NN2 during_II dinner_NN1 to_TO see_VVI the_AT disarray_NN1 :_: piles_NN2 of_IO tin_NN1 cans_NN2 and_CC newspapers_NN2 ,_, dead_JJ leaves_NN2 and_CC debris_NN1 in_II the_AT corners_NN2 ,_, and_CC burned_JJ curtains_NN2 ,_, still_RR hanging_VVG long_RR after_II Sylvie_NP1 had_VHD beat_VVN out_RP the_AT flames_NN2 with_IW a_AT1 back_NN1 issue_NN1 of_IO Good_JJ Housekeeping_NN1 ._. 
Hungering_VVG for_IF a_AT1 life_NN1 of_IO conformity_NN1 ,_, Lucille_NP1 abandons_VVZ Ruth_NP1 and_CC goes_VVZ to_TO live_VVI with_IW her_APPGE home-economics_JJ teacher_NN1 ._. 
Ruth_NP1 ,_, however_RR ,_, makes_VVZ the_AT radical_JJ choice_NN1 to_TO flee_VVI the_AT confines_NN2 of_IO conventional_JJ society_NN1 with_IW Sylvie_NP1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 put_VV0 an_AT1 end_NN1 to_II traditional_JJ housekeeping_NN1 by_II burning_VVG the_AT family_NN1 home_RL ,_, and_CC Ruth_NP1 symbolically_RR crosses_VVZ over_II the_AT lake_NN1 on_II the_AT train_NN1 trestle_NN1 and_CC becomes_VVZ ,_, like_II Sylvie_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 self-sufficient_JJ wanderer_NN1 ._. 
Reviewers_NN2 praised_VVD Housekeeping_NN1 for_IF its_APPGE originality_NN1 ;_; lyrical_JJ language_NN1 ;_; vivid_JJ images_NN2 of_IO mountains_NN2 ,_, lakes_NN2 and_CC forests_NN2 ;_; quiet_JJ humor_NN1 ;_; and_CC independent_JJ women_NN2 ._. 
In_II The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 Book_NN1 Review_NN1 (_( 8_MC February_NPM1 1981_MC )_) Le_NP1 Anne_NP1 Schreiber_NP1 described_VVD Housekeeping_NN1 as_II "_" one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT original_JJ and_CC striking_JJ novels_NN2 of_IO its_APPGE time_NNT1 ,_, "_" commenting_VVG that_CST "_" Marilynne_NP1 Robinson_NP1 has_VHZ written_VVN a_AT1 first_MD novel_NN1 that_CST one_PN1 reads_VVZ as_RG slowly_RR as_CSA poetry_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC for_IF the_AT same_DA reason_NN1 :_: The_AT language_NN1 is_VBZ so_RG precise_JJ ,_, so_RR distilled_VVN ,_, so_RG beautiful_JJ that_CST one_PN1 does_VDZ n't_XX want_VVI to_TO miss_VVI any_DD pleasure_NN1 it_PPH1 might_VM yield_VVI up_II21 to_II22 patience_NN1 ._. "_" 
Judith_NP1 Gies_VVZ of_IO the_AT Saturday_NPD1 Review_NN1 (_( January_NPM1 1981_MC )_) called_VVD it_PPH1 an_AT1 "_" extraordinary_JJ first_MD novel_NN1 ..._... sensuous_JJ ,_, funny_JJ ,_, and_CC mythic_JJ ._. "_" 
Anatole_NP1 Broyard_NP1 in_II The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 (_( 7_MC January_NPM1 1981_MC )_) noted_VVD ,_, "_" Here_RL 's_VBZ a_AT1 first_MD novel_NN1 that_CST sounds_VVZ as_CS21 if_CS22 the_AT author_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN treasuring_VVG it_PPH1 up_RP all_DB her_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, waiting_VVG for_IF it_PPH1 to_TO form_VVI itself_PPX1 ...._... 
You_PPY can_VM feel_VVI in_II the_AT book_NN1 a_AT1 gathering_JJ voluptuous_JJ release_NN1 of_IO confidence_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 delighted_JJ surprise_NN1 at_II the_AT unexpected_JJ capacities_NN2 of_IO language_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 close_JJ ,_, careful_JJ fondness_NN1 for_IF people_NN that_CST we_PPIS2 thought_VVD only_JJ saints_NN2 felt_VVD ._. "_" 
In_II Time_NNT1 (_( 2_MC February_NPM1 1981_MC )_) ,_, Paul_NP1 Gray_NP1 remarked_VVD that_DD1 Housekeeping_NN1 "_" brilliantly_RR portrays_VVZ the_AT impermanence_NN1 of_IO all_DB things_NN2 ,_, especially_RR beauty_NN1 and_CC happiness_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT struggle_NN1 to_TO keep_VVI what_DDQ can_VM never_RR be_VBI owned_VVN ._. "_" 
In_II31 addition_II32 to_II33 receiving_VVG the_AT PEN/Hemingway_FU Award_NN1 in_II 1982_MC for_IF best_VV0 first_MD novel_NN1 and_CC the_AT Richard_NP1 and_CC Hinda_NP1 Rosenthal_NP1 Award_NN1 from_II the_AT American_JJ Academy_NN1 of_IO Arts_NN2 and_CC Letters_NN2 ,_, Housekeeping_NN1 was_VBDZ nominated_VVN for_IF a_AT1 PEN/Faulkner_FU award_NN1 and_CC the_AT Pulitzer_NP1 Prize_NN1 ._. 
In_II 1987_MC it_PPH1 was_VBDZ made_VVN into_II a_AT1 movie_NN1 directed_VVN by_II Bill_NP1 Forsyth_NP1 and_CC starring_VVG Christine_NP1 Lahti_NP1 ._. 
Housekeeping_NN1 was_VBDZ also_RR included_VVN as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 '_GE "_" Books_NN2 of_IO the_AT Century_NNT1 "_" (_( 2000_MC )_) and_CC listed_VVN in_II the_AT U.K._NP1 Guardian_NN1 Observer_NN1 's_VBZ "_" The_AT 100_MC Greatest_JJT Novels_NN2 of_IO All_DB Time_NNT1 ._. "_" 
In_II 2001_MC ,_, the_AT novel_NN1 became_VVD the_AT first_MD book_NN1 in_II a_AT1 statewide_JJ reading_NN1 project_NN1 in_II Idaho_NP1 entitled_VVN "_" What_DDQ If_CS Everyone_PN1 Read_VVD the_AT Same_DA Book_NN1 ?_? "_" 
During_II the_AT 1980s_MC2 ,_, Robinson_NP1 published_VVD essays_NN2 and_CC book_NN1 reviews_NN2 ,_, and_CC she_PPHS1 began_VVD a_AT1 second_MD novel_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 also_RR served_VVD as_CSA writer-in-residence_JJ at_II Washington_NP1 University_NN1 in_II St._NP1 Louis_NP1 ,_, Missouri_NP1 ,_, and_CC held_VVD visiting_JJ professorships_NN2 at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Kent_NP1 in_II England_NP1 ;_; the_AT Fine_JJ Arts_NN2 Work_VV0 Center_NN1 in_II Provincetown_NP1 ,_, Massachusetts_NP1 ;_; Amherst_NP1 College_NN1 ;_; the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Massachusetts_NP1 ;_; and_CC the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Alabama_NP1 ._. 
In_II 2005_MC ,_, Robinson_NP1 was_VBDZ named_VVN F._NP1 Wendell_NP1 Miller_NP1 Professor_NN1 in_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Iowa_NP1 Writers_NN2 '_GE Workshop_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 five-year_JJ renewable_JJ appointment_NN1 ,_, the_AT Miller_NP1 professorship_NN1 not_XX only_RR recognized_VVD Robinson_NP1 's_GE distinction_NN1 as_II an_AT1 American_JJ writer_NN1 but_CCB also_RR her_APPGE teaching_NN1 and_CC mentoring_VVG skills_NN2 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Iowa_NP1 ,_, the_AT appointment_NN1 "_" carries_VVZ an_AT1 annual_JJ discretionary_JJ fund_NN1 to_TO be_VBI used_VVN for_IF scholarly_JJ work_NN1 ,_, professional_JJ travel_NN1 ,_, programmatic_JJ enhancements_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 symposia_NN1 ,_, colloquia_NN1 ,_, or_CC special_JJ visitors_NN2 ,_, or_CC other_JJ initiatives_NN2 ._. "_" 
Robinson_NP1 took_VVD a_AT1 sabbatical_NN1 from_II the_AT Writers_NN2 '_GE Workshop_NN1 in_II 2007_MC to_TO complete_VVI her_APPGE third_MD novel_NN1 ._. 
Published_VVN in_II 2008_MC by_II Farrar_NP1 ,_, Straus_NP1 and_CC Giroux_NP1 ,_, Home_NN1 :_: A_AT1 Novel_NN1 was_VBDZ nominated_VVN for_IF the_AT 2008_MC National_JJ Book_NN1 Award_NN1 for_IF Fiction_NN1 ._. 
The_AT book_NN1 's_GE setting_NN1 and_CC time_NNT1 frame_NN1 are_VBR the_AT same_DA as_CSA Gilead_NP1 's_GE ,_, and_CC characters_NN2 from_II the_AT Pulitzer_NP1 Prize-winning_JJ novel_NN1 also_RR appear_VV0 in_II Home_NN1 ._. 
The_AT scene_NN1 ,_, however_RR ,_, shifts_VVZ to_II the_AT home_NN1 of_IO Reverend_NNB Robert_NP1 Boughton_NP1 and_CC focuses_VVZ on_II Jack_NP1 Boughton_NP1 's_GE relationship_NN1 with_IW his_APPGE father_NN1 and_CC sister_NN1 ._. 
Like_II Gilead_NP1 ,_, Home_NN1 deals_VVZ with_IW themes_NN2 of_IO family_NN1 ,_, loss_NN1 ,_, love_NN1 ,_, loneliness_NN1 ,_, history_NN1 ,_, spirituality_NN1 ,_, faith_NN1 ,_, and_CC forgiveness_NN1 ._. 
The_AT story_NN1 is_VBZ told_VVN in_II third_MD person_NN1 from_II the_AT point_NN1 of_IO view_NN1 of_IO thirty-eight-year-old_JJ Glory_NN1 Boughton_NP1 ,_, the_AT youngest_JJT of_IO Reverend_NNB Boughton_NP1 's_GE children_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS returns_VVZ to_II the_AT family_NN1 home_RL in_II Gilead_NP1 after_II a_AT1 failed_JJ relationship_NN1 to_TO care_VVI for_IF her_APPGE widowed_JJ ,_, ailing_JJ father_NN1 ._. 
Shortly_RR thereafter_RT ,_, Jack_NP1 ,_, the_AT family_NN1 's_GE prodigal_NN1 son_NN1 and_CC source_NN1 of_IO much_DA1 worry_NN1 ,_, shame_NN1 ,_, and_CC grief_NN1 ,_, also_RR comes_VVZ home_RL seeking_VVG refuge_NN1 after_II a_AT1 twenty-year_JJ absence_NN1 ._. 
The_AT plot_NN1 follows_VVZ Glory_NN1 's_GE memories_NN2 of_IO the_AT past_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE thoughts_NN2 and_CC observations_NN2 in_II the_AT present_NN1 ._. 
Through_II Glory_NN1 's_GE loving_JJ eye_NN1 a_AT1 complex_JJ picture_NN1 of_IO Jack_NP1 unfolds_VVZ ._. 
Glory_NN1 and_CC Jack_NP1 slowly_RR develop_VV0 a_AT1 close_JJ bond_NN1 ,_, and_CC Jack_NP1 reveals_VVZ to_II Glory_NN1 that_CST a_AT1 woman_NN1 named_VVD Della_NP1 in_II St._NP1 Louis_NP1 ,_, with_IW whom_PNQO he_PPHS1 hopes_VVZ to_TO live_VVI in_II Gilead_NP1 ,_, helped_VVD him_PPHO1 to_TO turn_VVI his_APPGE life_NN1 around_RP ._. 
Jack_NP1 becomes_VVZ a_AT1 productive_JJ family_NN1 member_NN1 ,_, doing_VDG chores_NN2 around_II the_AT home_NN1 and_CC helping_NN1 take_VVI care_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE father_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB when_CS his_APPGE letters_NN2 to_II Della_NP1 are_VBR returned_VVN unopened_JJ ,_, Jack_NP1 's_GE hopes_NN2 are_VBR dashed_VVN ;_; he_PPHS1 reverts_VVZ to_II his_APPGE former_DA bad_JJ habits_NN2 ,_, and_CC their_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS constantly_RR judges_VVZ Jack_NP1 as_CSA he_PPHS1 struggles_VVZ to_TO forgive_VVI him_PPHO1 ,_, suffers_VVZ as_II a_AT1 result_NN1 ._. 
Booklist_NP1 (_( 1-15_MCMC June_NPM1 2008_MC )_) called_VVN Home_RL a_AT1 "_" powerfully_RR spiritual_JJ novel_NN1 of_IO anguish_NN1 and_CC prayer_NN1 ,_, wisdom_NN1 and_CC beauty_NN1 ,_, penance_NN1 and_CC hope_NN1 ._. "_" 
Publishers_NN2 Weekly_JJ (_( 30_MC June_NPM1 2008_MC )_) characterized_VVD it_PPH1 as_CSA "_" an_AT1 elegant_JJ variation_NN1 of_IO the_AT prodigal_NN1 son_NN1 's_GE return_NN1 ,_, "_" noting_VVG that_CST Robinson_NP1 ,_, "_" in_II giving_VVG an_AT1 ancient_JJ drama_NN1 of_IO grace_NN1 and_CC perdition_NN1 such_DA a_AT1 strong_JJ domestic_JJ setup_NN1 ,_, ..._... stakes_VVZ a_AT1 fierce_JJ claim_NN1 to_II a_AT1 divine_JJ recognition_NN1 behind_II the_AT rituals_NN2 of_IO home_NN1 ._. "_" 
A._NP1 O._NP1 Scott_NP1 in_II The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 Book_NN1 Review_NN1 (_( 19_MC September_NPM1 2008_MC )_) noted_VVD that_CST most_DAT of_IO "_" what_DDQ might_VM be_VBI called_VVN the_AT action_NN1 "_" in_II the_AT novel_NN1 consists_VVZ of_IO Glory_NN1 ,_, her_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, and_CC her_APPGE brother_NN1 Jack_NP1 moving_VVG around_RP their_APPGE house_NN1 ,_, "_" from_II kitchen_NN1 to_II living_NN1 room_NN1 ,_, from_II garden_NN1 to_II porch_NN1 ,_, "_" speaking_VVG to_II one_PPX121 another_PPX122 "_" with_IW sometimes_RT strained_JJ politeness_NN2 "_" and_CC doing_VDG mundane_JJ household_NN1 chores_NN2 ._. 
Scott_NP1 praised_VVD Robinson_NP1 for_IF her_APPGE ability_NN1 to_TO make_VVI "_" quotidian_JJ facts_NN2 "_" feel_VV0 "_" like_II vessels_NN2 of_IO the_AT terrible_JJ ,_, the_AT sublime_JJ ,_, the_AT miraculous_JJ "_" and_CC summarized_VVD the_AT novel_NN1 as_CSA "_" unsparing_VVG in_II its_APPGE acknowledgment_NN1 of_IO sin_NN1 and_CC unstinting_VVG in_II its_APPGE belief_NN1 of_IO the_AT possibility_NN1 of_IO grace_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ at_RR21 once_RR22 hard_JJ and_CC forgiving_JJ ,_, bitter_JJ and_CC joyful_JJ ,_, fanatical_JJ and_CC serene_JJ ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 wild_JJ ,_, eccentric_JJ ,_, radical_JJ work_NN1 of_IO literature_NN1 that_CST grows_VVZ out_II21 of_II22 the_AT broadest_JJT ,_, most_RGT fertile_JJ ,_, most_RGT familiar_JJ literary_JJ tradition_NN1 ._. "_" 
Home_RL won_VVD the_AT 2009_MC Orange_JJ Prize_NN1 for_IF Fiction_NN1 ._. 
