book review: "Ordinary Grace"...

... another written by the author William Kent Kruger. This guy is one I have read quite a bit in recent months, but even though it is by someone I have really enjoyed, it is vastly different from all the previous books I've reported on. Different characters formed by the same author, living lives that made me think this book is possibly more autobiographical. I have not googled Kruger to know about his personal life, or actually read any of his work in print, in true black-and-white book form. As I was listening to this story, I had to wonder if this story was based somewhat on his life: telling of a son of Methodist minister, raised in a small rural community in Minnesota, with an older sister and younger brother

The way this man writes is so 'readable' even though as I said, I have not actually literally put my hands on any of his published novels. He has the ability to imbue his imagined families and communities with such detailed, ordinary, unremarkable but believable, life-like-us characteristics, those individuals seem to be here, walking around, breathing humans. This tale is about the Drum family, with the father being the shepherd of three small churches as his 'charge', preaching the word, ministering to the needs of the people, comforting those in pain, offering advice and support to all who ask for guidance.

The story is told in retrospect by Frank, who lives in the (probably fictitious) town of New Bremen, Minnesota in 1961. Frank is a young teen, relaying the events of one summer: starting with the death of a small child who is killed by a train. There are several other tragic events that have devastating effects on the Drum family, in the weeks prior to his dad being relocated to a different church and the family moving away. A sweet story, even in the distressing parts of loss and grief, as Frank learns to accept things he cannot change, as well as realize he will have little control over the actions of other people who impact his life. He grows into teenager-hood, learning some difficult life lessons, including the uselessness of revenge and the gentle blessed relief of forgiveness.