Ordinary Grace by William Kent
Krueger was a surprise. It was a surprise not only because of the writing,
which was terrific, or the story, which was deceptively simple, but because I
had never read anything by Krueger before. It’s always a pleasure to discover a
new (to me) author.
The
story takes place in small town, New Bremen, Minnesota. The narrator is a
middle aged man looking back on the summer of 1961 when he was thirteen and
living there. During that summer, several deaths and the mysteries surrounding
them changed the life of everyone in the town, some personally, some
peripherally. The narrator was a pastor’s son, living what some would
characterize as an idyllic life. He was the middle of three children, an older
sister and younger brother. It was a seemingly simpler time.
One
of the most interesting facets of the story was the dynamic of the small town.
It is a microcosm of anywhere, any size town, USA. There are the same passions,
prejudices, kindnesses, unfairness and drama that you find everywhere in any
time period. Human beings, doing what they do. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad.
Sometimes with tragic consequences.
The
story also examines the dynamic within several families and how each person
navigates their circumstances and how that shapes how they navigate their communities
and their lives.
Winner
of several awards including The Edgar Award for best novel, this is a beautiful
story.
Highly
recommend.
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