Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

I started reading this book after I read my first book for the Orbis Terrarum challenge – Lolita. Compared to Lolita this book seemed small and was an easy read. It was an unassuming book I could say. Usually the first few pages of the book give you a feel of how the book will be and I really thought this book will be a easy read. But boy was I wrong. I was so wrong and really could not quite grasp the book so I quit writing its review for the longest time. But here we are, a small review. I admit the book has left me a little unsure and I am planning to read it again soon. But I am quite sure it will leave me unsure as it is a subject that confuses me – impermanence of life.

The story is about two sisters, Ruth and Lucille who grow up in a small town by the lake near Seattle. Their mother abandons them with their grandmother and presumably commits sucide. The sisters grow up with the great-aunts who find it difficult to raise children after their grandmother dies. Finally the great-aunts summon their mom’s sister Sylvie who had left home ages ago. Sylvie lives a life of a wanderer and abandons her life for her nieces. Her way of life is different and she cares for the sisters in her own way. The sisters grow up “different” from other kids. At one stage, Lucille decides she wants to be more like other kids and moves in with another family. Ruth (also the narrator) is sad on losing her sister and this brings her close to Sylvie. She and Sylvie have some strange adventures which makes the residents think Ruth should be sepearated from Sylvie. Finally Sylvie and Ruth find a way to be together.

The book is about how impermanent life is. As you read, you start slowing down because it is a book that cannot be rushed. It is so simple that it is raises so many questions at multiple levels. It is a book that has made no mark on me yet left an impression on me and that is strange. I tried to think it over and then write a review but the more I thought about it the more it became muddled. I guess it is because I still refuse to accept that life is impermenant. Maybe when I read it again I will be more open to accepting life as is.