Saying Grace
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1995
312
Novel • Fiction
New England • 1990s
1995
Adult
18+ years
In Saying Grace by Beth Gutcheon, head of a progressive private school Rue Shaw navigates her professional life amid pressures to adopt a competition-driven educational model while managing personal crises that include her daughter's unexpected choices and eventual death, leading to the collapse of her marriage and her forced resignation from the school she devotedly built. Contains descriptions of potentially sensitive content related to emotional trauma, child abuse suspicions, and a fatal accident.
Contemplative
Emotional
Melancholic
538 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Beth Gutcheon's novel, Saying Grace, has received mixed reviews. On the positive side, readers appreciate Gutcheon's sharp wit, engaging prose, and complex characters. However, some critics find the plot predictable and the pacing uneven. Overall, the book is praised for its insightful examination of relationships and social issues but critiqued for its occasional lack of suspense.
Ideal for readers who relish complex character studies and emotionally driven narratives, Saying Grace by Beth Gutcheon captivates fans of Anne Tyler’s Breathing Lessons and Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge. It appeals to those who appreciate nuanced exploration of family dynamics and small-community life.
538 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
312
Novel • Fiction
New England • 1990s
1995
Adult
18+ years
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