Lila    by Marilynne Robinson Order:  USA  Can Picador, 2015 (2014) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch Much praised when it was first released and subsequently awarded the National Book Critics Circle prize, this memorable novel is now available as a less expensive trade paperback. Author Marilynne Robinson returns to Gilead, the setting of her Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name, as she recounts the story of a homeless young woman who, after years of being alone, finds solace as the wife of a minister. Lila was neglected as a toddler but rescued by a drifter named Doll, who brought the child up in less than desirable circumstances. The pair lived life on the run and their marginal existence was punctuated by intense moments of violence and desperation as well as fleeting moments of happiness. Now after years of a homeless existence, Lila meets John Ames, the minister of a church in Gilead, Iowa, and the two fall in love and marry. The challenge now is reconciling her past existence with this new, small town existence and the judgmental worldview of her husband. The list of publications that named Lila a Best Book of the Year is a lengthy one that ranges from The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and the Christian Science Monitor to The Economist and NPR. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews