Comments from the De Soto Book Discussion Group regarding our May 2015 selection:

Ordinary Graceby William Kent Krueger

Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.

There are books that are good fiction and there are books that are literature. William Kent Krueger’s Ordinary Grace rises to the level of first-class literature that resonates with depth of narrative and character while also providing a genuinely un-put-downable reading experience. It is both a mystery and a coming-of-age tale narrated by a middle-aged Frank Drum as he relates the events of the summer his sister, Ariel, was murdered and the profound effect those events had on his family. Set in New Bremen, Minn. when Frank is just 13 years old,Ordinary Grace examines the heart of friendship and family and the bonds that bind us one to another.

This selection stands out as one of the most popular books among the book group's members. Everyone present expressed the same experience: They loved this book. One member said she had purchased a copy just to have on her own bookshelf. The discussion centered on the characters, their personalities and their relationships to each other. There was also a discussion on the narrative structure and how certain narrative elements—the dual adult/child perspective, background events hinted at but never revealed, the epilogue—made the story stronger and more satisfying. It may be awhile before the group discovers another true gem to compete with Ordinary Grace.