The Grace That Keeps This World: A Novel

If it weren't for my bookclub, I probably would never have even heard of this book. But it was chosen, and so I read it. I finished it in less than a day, so it's compelling enough, I'm just not sure I can say exactly why.

This is just the story of a family, the Hazens, trying to make it season by season, year after year, living close to and off of the land, and with faith. They don't work 9 to 5 jobs so that they can go down to the Super Wal-Mart to pick up the things they need. Instead, Susan grows their vegetables, Gary and their sons hunt or fish for their meat, they barter for goods, etc. That's not to say that they are completely cut off from modernity - Gary does odd jobs for money to buy generators and freezers and such, and show more surely to pay taxes, though that wasn't mentioned specifically, but they try to live by an ideal of respect for the land and simplicity.

The two boys, Gary David (24) and Kevin (19) were raised to this life... but Kevin is itching to get out of it. He's the first in their family, ever, to go to college, and hates that he feels trapped by obligation to live a life he's no longer sure he wants. He's got a liberal vegetarian girlfriend who doesn't believe in killing animals for any reason, including meat, and she tries to get Kevin to refuse to hunt in the upcoming season.

Gary David is more accepting of the lifestyle they choose to live and responsible, a role he sees as being necessary as the first born, but in his own way he's rebelling too, by choosing a life with someone not North Country born, and in a position of authority over the Hazens - an Environmental Conservation Officer, investigating the Hazens for a reported hunting violation.

The story begins with a prologue from Susan's perspective, recounting the early morning departure of the three men on hunting season opening morning, and leaves us with a sort of aimless sense of foreboding. The remainder of the book takes us through the weeks leading up to that day, and we get to see how the Hazens live and interact with each other and their community.

Gary and Kevin are drifting apart. They both want life on their own terms, but their terms are completely opposite, and so they butt heads and each resent the other for making things difficult and not understanding the other's perspective. Gary's lifestyle is a tradition based on necessity that's no longer truly necessary in this society of modernity. He doesn't understand how life could be fulfilling in any other way. His lifestyle gives him purpose and a sense of accomplishment, as well as an ingrained respect for the nature around him. Kevin just sees it as a ball and chain holding him back from his own chosen path.

To tell the truth, not very much happens in this book. There's not very much conflict, aside from the familial type I mentioned above. There are a lot of beautiful descriptions of the Adirondacks and the community in which the Hazens live, but for much of the book, what I've written above just about covers it. It's definitely a slowly building story, which makes the end and the resolution feel like it was on super fast-forward, unfortunately.

This book's told in quite a lot of different perspective chapters, all in 1st person narrative except for Kevin's chapters, which are in 3rd person. I honestly do not have any idea why Kevin was singled out for a different narrative style. It really doesn't make sense to me. The only thing I can figure is that we're supposed to associate the difference in narrative with the foreboding from the prologue, and it's supposed to generate some suspense and worry about what will happen to Kevin. And I guess, in a way, there was that, because obviously it came to mind, but mainly it just stood out like a sore thumb. And even now, after finishing the story, I still have no idea why the choice was made to change the narrative for Kevin. His perspective could easily have been written to match the others, and in my opinion, would have worked better that way. Third person created a distance from him that I didn't want. I wanted to know him as I knew everyone else in the story. Why should I get to hear the innermost thoughts of a waitress that is only in the story for a few pages here and there, but be kept distant from one of the main, pivotal characters? Frustrating.

Coming back to the ending, I have to admit it was a bit of a let-down. There was all this build-up, all this manufactured suspense, and then the main event is completely skipped, and we only see the outcome, with an explanation of what apparently happened from those who weren't there. And then the epilogue is just a pat, too conveniently perfect resolution, one that doesn't fit what I know of the characters. Honestly, I wish that the epilogue had been left off. I think the ending would have been better that way, even if it was problematic.

One other note about the writing. Some of the phrasing and sentence structure was a bit awkward, and I'd have to read a line 2 or 3 times to get what was being said. It felt like it was trying too hard to be beautiful prose, and it didn't need to try at all. In fact, considering the stark way of life they chose, less would have been more.

Overall though, I can't say that I disliked the book. I read it in less than a day, and something about it kept me turning the pages. I don't know what that was, but it was there. show less

I enjoyed reading this sad and beautiful tale of life in the cold, remote and stunning Adirondack mountains of upstate New York. Gary Hazen, a good, no-nonsense, man's-man type, is devoted to his wife, sons, hunting, and the natural beauty of their community's challenging lifestyle. While his wife loves him, and his friends trust his strength, steadfastness and genuine goodness, his sons view him as strong-willed, demanding and intransigent. Gary doesn't know how to express his love to his sons and so they both try too hard to show their love for him in different ways. Gary David is quiet and obedient, while Kevin tries to make his own life.

This setting filled with descriptions of breath-taking beauty, powerful love, deep anger and show more frustration, and humor create the foundation or formula for the life-changing events which follow.

Good read! show less

A somber story told in several voices of a family in Adirondack Park, inspired when the author heard the basis for the story on a radio news report. In the book, the Hazen family has two grown sons and live a primtive life, hand to mouth, in this rugged wilderness area. Survival depends on growing and hunting for food, as well as maintaining enough firewood for the long cold season of the region. The story centers around the father's relationship with his two sons who are as different in personality as they are in looks. Much of their relationship is based on impressions of each other since they seem to use action rather than word to express themselves. The book obviously works toward a climax hinted at on the first page, but the ending show more was not at all what I imagined. The story is a tragedy and becomes brooding at times, but it ultimately makes the reader think. Though I think most men prefer nonfiction, I believe this is a novel men would enjoy reading. show less

I read this because it is our One Book, One Community selection this year, and I knew people would come into my library asking me about it. If this were not the case, I easily could have put it down after the "100 page test". But, I trudged on.

The story itself is moving....a family with a very strong father figure who expects a good deal of his sons, both of whom are beginning to find their own ways - one at college and one in secret during the night. People keep saying it's a hunting story, but that's really neither here nor there.

This book is a character study more than anything, and Bailey gives you the opportunity to see this family from the views of many of the townspeople and their friends. Personally, I like a bit more action in show more my books. I found the changing of the narrator every chapter tiresome and annoying instead of enlightening, as I suppose it was to be.

With about 30 pages to go, I was finally invested in the story and wanted to finish it, but most of the time I struggled to force myself to keep going. Just not my style.

Just a note: It's been split so far between library patrons - some absolutely love it and others are like me and having trouble getting into it. show less

Tom Bailey has written a moving, hauntingly lovely book that will pull readers of both sexes into the life of this family and community in upstate New York. One fateful day-- the start of deer hunting season-- is the center of this story told, in turn, by each person involved. Gary and Susan Hazen's two grown sons have responded very differently to the demanding life of the woodsman/hunter that has sustained their family; the bonds of relationship fit or chafe, but are inescapable. Poetry.

The Grace that Keeps This World was the May (5/15/06 @ 2 pm) book discussion choice at the Twinsburg Library and featured a session by phone with the author.

I'm an alumni of Susquehanna University where Tom Bailey is a professor which probably led me to read his book. I found it a very nice read, well written and nice character development. The ending may have been a little predictable and the movie shoot section a little overboard but overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Mr. Bailey's works.