Lila by Marilynne Robinson

Robinson's epic retelling of the Book of Ruth follows Lila through a turbulent life: beginning with her abduction from an abusive family, through years of wandering with her abductor and parental figure, to her marriage with an elderly preacher in rural Gilead. Lila's reflections throughout evoke an awestruck immersion in nature--each line channels this spirit into a compassionate, lyrical, thoughtful, and melancholic narrative on the meaning of home and exile, motherhood, human connection, and the role of religion in nature and life. Read as a stand-alone or with its companions: Gilead, Home, and Jack.