A Brief Book Review: Remembering: A Novel

A Brief Book Review: Remembering: A Novel

Author: Wendell Berry

Publisher: North Point Press, paperback, 124 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

Wendell Berry, lived and taught in New York and California before returning to Kentucky, where he has lived for decades, writing and farming on 75 acres in Henry County. He is a social activist, environmentalist, a supporter of sustainable agriculture, advocate of rural communities, and a Christian pacifist. 

Content

The novel begins with two quotes and a prayer. The two quotes are: “...to him that is joined to all the living there is hope...Ecclesiastes 9:4, and “Let the fragments of love be reassembled in you. Only then will you have true courage.” Hayden Carruth Following these quotes, there is a prayer which is reminiscent of at least two biblical texts from the creation narratives in Genesis, and Isaiah’s call in Isaiah 6. The prayer, in part, begins as follows: “Heavenly muse, Spirit who brooded on the world and raised it shapely out of nothing, touch my lips with fire and burn away all dross of speech, so that I keep in mind the truth and end to which my words now move....” This prayer is followed by 7 chapters: 1. Darkness Visible, 2. An Unknown Room, 3. Remembering, 4. A Long Choosing, 5. A Place Known and Dreamed, 6. Bridal, 7. The Hilltop.

Brief Observations

The novel begins with Andy Catlett—the main protagonist—a small farmer near Port William, Kentucky, who is angry and grieving about the loss of his hand in a farming accident, and whose relationships with his wife Flora and their children are strained. Andy leaves the farm for an agricultural conference. At the conference, he is upset with industrialized-large agribusiness farming which, he believes only exploits both the land and human beings. It is too focussed on analysis rather than the importance of relationships with humans and the land, and caring stewardship of the earth. 

The novel mentions several people—past and present, whom Andy knew of, remembered, cared about, and mentored him. One significant encounter he had was with an Amish farmer, who, Andy thought, lived more in harmony with God’s creation than the large industrialized farmers. 

The novel’s final chapter is a kind of vision for all of creation being restored and renewed, perhaps modelled after Isaiah’s vision of shalom. There is beauty and wonder in the natural world, and forgiveness and reconciliation for human beings. 

One critique of the novel for this reader is that there was too much description—albeit sometimes very poetic—and inadequate dialogue and engagement between human beings. 

In light of Berry’s own life, the novel seems somewhat autobiographical.