First published 2008
Jack Boughton, the black sheep of the Boughton family, returns to his small Iowa hometown after 20 years of self-imposed exile. Welcomed back by his aging father and sister Glory, who has her own troubles, Jack wrestles with a lifetime of mistakes and regrets. As he tries to make amends, old wounds are reopened and his faith is tested. In this poignant family drama, Robinson crafts an intimate portrait of forgiveness, second chances, and the unbreakable bonds of home.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: prodigal-son, redemption
Setting: Iowa
Period: 20th-century
325 pages · Hardcover · Farrar, Straus and Giroux