Hannah Coulter: A Novel Paperback – September 30, 2005

This book made me nostalgic for a time gone by. My grandparents went through a similar period of time in history and I’m the same age as the virgie character. My grandfather was a giant of a man in stature and character whose death and subsequent funeral sent ripples around his small community in the hills of Tennessee. I feel a loyalty to those hills that I never felt for my own birthplace and subsequent growing up years in suburbs of Detroit. Berry opened my eyes in a new way to the “old ways” and what is now becoming lost in the world: Pride of place, the faithfulness of family and the helpers of hope (friendship, enjoying nature and a the virtue of hard work)

There is no way to properly review this work of art that can give an accurate picture of the word-smithing and story-weaving capabilities of Wendell Berry.Just read it.The only thing you’ll regret is never being able to read it for the first time again.

The narrator through the voice of Hannah Coulter ends the first chapter of this novel with the simple line “This is my story, my giving of thanks.” Do not, however, be lulled into thinking you are going to read a book consisting of platitudes on gratitude. Hannah reflects from old age on a full life, but what most would consider a common, ordinary life. She grieves over those she lost whether to sickness or the War. She keeps moving forward because what else is she to do?Wendell Berry, the author of Hannah Coulter is an agrarian, a novelist, a poet, and an essayist. He brings his characters to life with carefully chosen words that reflect their deepest thoughts about difficult subjects as well as their humanity. This is a book that you may want to reread, that may make you tear up, and that will certainly be the cause of reflection as you identify with certain characters or events.Perhaps because I usually prefer linear storytelling and Hannah Coulter strays from that paradigm in its first and last chapters, it will not be one of my favorite books. I do recommend it as a book of depth with passages that are worthy of sharing orally for the way the words delight or for the descriptions meant to be savored for the images they evoke. Hannah Coulter opens the door to her heart, her life, and her community to the reader in an honest and touching manner.I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Counterpoint for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

there was an expression of understandingin the lilt and timbrethe settling of a calm turn of phrasea voice that broughtserenity into an otherwisebleak atmosphereand so- I listenedI believe I heard correctly this voicethe internal emotional fiberof each personality seemed to come throughflavors of mashed potatoes and gravyalong with the raw tenderness of silent despairhowever- within the loss of vibrancyI heard a voice that was within smokey shadowsmixed with a residue of sadness- of loss-the sort that saturates a landscapefilled with pools of a rain drenched landscapegullies becoming muddy and streaming whereverthey must-One waits in hope for the sunlonging for the green of springYet choosing to stand in the rain-gets soaked without caring with tearsfalling unchecked-simply because - who would even know?I heard the voiceI was drawn into this scene that pleaded with meto enter into this placeto walk around these roomssit at the tableand hear their banterfeel the heaviness that saturatesan atmosphere because of another voicean unsuspecting voicebringing grief to those who belongand just when I begin to understandthe heart of this peopleand the desire that seems so prominentso expectant- and yet so accepting tothe reality of loss-I find myself grieving this voicethis singular voicewho has become my own- of sorts-and so she does what she mustshe takes a step forwardand bids me to do the same.

Very interesting. I like old times when things were simple. Hard times brought them together. History and family. Hard times and good times.

Somehow, everything I am reading at the moment relates to our relationship to place. This novel in the voice of an elderly woman, twice married, mother of three, looking back over a long life in a small Kentucky community, has a small frame of reference yet encompasses the big questions about how to live a life - and to let go of attachments - to parents, children, lost loved-ones, hopes, dreams and especially, the past. The protagonist sometimes seems like a ventriloquist for Wendell Berry in her wise observations but stays on the right side of sentimentality. The war, although off-stage - is another theme that underlies the novel - what actually happened and how it reverberates through the lives of those at a distance.

A lovely, thoughtful combination of memory and anecdote and the fruit of community, like all of Wendell Berry's novels, weaving a rich garment of life, which, even as an imagined one, encloses and includes you, giving you a sense of home wherever you are among these rich characters

I loved this book - it tells the life story of one woman, it is happy, sad, reflective, humourous.... While I really enjoyed Jayber Crow and Nathan Coulter, this is my favourite.

I love this writer, who portrays rural America with realistic verve and a strong nod to the future, whilst recalling the past.

This was a wonderful novel, probably the best book I've read in a long time.It's a slow, sweet, sad and happy story of an old woman's life. She talks about what is important and what she learned over the years in regular family life.I felt that even though the book is set a while ago. It's got wisdom for now. That life isn't always perfect. That sometimes it isn't perfect because of the choices we made.It's a book full of wisdom and learning, and I want to read all of Wendell Berry's books now.