Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Dearly Beloved
The Dearly Beloved: A Novel | Cara Wall
A luminous debut novel about two young couples whose lives become intertwined when the husbands are appointed co-ministers of a venerable New York City church in the 1960s, spanning decadesfor readers of Ann Patchett and Nicole Krauss. Charles and Lily, James and Nan. They meet in Greenwich Village in 1965 when Charles and James are jointly hired to steward the historic Fourth Presbyterian Church through turbulent times. Their personal differences however, threaten to tear them apart. Charles is destined to succeed his father as an esteemed professor of history at Harvard, until an unorthodox lecture about faith leads him to ministry. How then, can he fall in love with Lily--fiercely intellectual, elegantly sternafter she tells him with certainty that she will never believe in God? And yet, how can he not? James, the youngest son in a hardscrabble Chicago family, spent much of his youth angry at his alcoholic father and avoiding his anxious mother. Nan grew up in Mississippi, the devout and beloved daughter of a minister and a debutante. James's escape from his desperate circumstances leads him to Nan and, despite his skepticism of hope in all its forms, her gentle, constant faith changes the course of his life. In The Dearly Beloved, we follow these two couples through decades of love and friendship, jealousy and understanding, forgiveness and commitment. Against the backdrop of turbulent changes facing the city and the churchs congregation, these four forge improbable paths through their evolving relationships, each struggling with uncertainty, heartbreak, and joy. A poignant meditation on faith and reason, marriage and children, and the ways we find meaning in our lives, Cara Walls The Dearly Beloved is a gorgeous, wise, and provocative novel that is destined to become a classic.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
Karisimo
post image

A portrait of #marriage x2 that I found surprisingly honest and relatable.

#indeliblemoments
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty cover 💙🧡 2y
13 likes1 comment
review
MelKelsey
post image
Pickpick

Book 128

I listened to The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall. A character-driven, slow-unwinding story of two couples that are mirror images of each other. Beginning with their individual love stories, it moves into their shared career as pastors; it loses focus when it evolves into their children. It's worth the read, though, and I'm curious about other books by the author.

review
Chelsea.Poole
post image
Pickpick

I forgot to post after finishing The Dearly Beloved.
Faith, marriage, enduring love. Two young-ish ministers share a congregation in NYC for decades. They each have spouses who are very different from each other but must form a sort of relationship based on their shared circumstances. A gentle read; comparisons to Crossing to Safety felt pretty spot-on. (Although this one didn‘t touch me as deeply as CtS did.)

84 likes1 stack add
blurb
Chelsea.Poole
post image

Started this #audiobook during my afternoon walk, and spotted some lovely scenes. #audiowalk

88 likes1 stack add
blurb
Kristin_Reads
post image

Just shelved some of my favorite reads from this year... including some re-reads 📚

review
marleed
post image
Pickpick

I reluctantly read this book assuming there‘d be a character created of stereotypical hardline evangelical beliefs. There wasn‘t, and the lives of James and Charles ministries and marriages was very interesting. I was confused when the emphasis focused on marriage and family life. Then I had to laugh at myself... This girl raised in Catholic Churches and schools has no reference point for the spouse and children of ministers.

#DoubleSpin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
72 likes4 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Kangaj1
post image

Seven bingos for #bookspinbingo in July. The tagged book was the one I just finished, and I loved it! 7 books were DNF out of 22. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Awesome progress!! And I love your stickers!!! 4y
Gissy Wow! 📚📚📚📚👏👏👏👏👏 4y
24 likes2 comments
review
mcctrish
post image
Pickpick

The sky last night while I read 💙 this book was so much more than I thought it would be. It follows 4 disparate people who become entwined as husband/wife, neighbours, colleagues, friends and family. It‘s about faith, heartache, family, love, forgiveness, understanding, perseverance and miracles. It made me cry and it made me smile.

blurb
mcctrish
post image

What time is it? My sister treated me with this awesome sign ( it also says wine 🍷) celebrating my birthday with more iced coffee and opening cards and some gifts ❤️thx to @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego for the lovely card and bookmarks #poutinepenpals

Beatlefan129 Happy Birthday 🎁🎂🎊 4y
Prairiegirl_reading Happy birthday! I love the sign! 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Happy bday! 🥂 4y
See All 10 Comments
mcctrish Thank you @Beatlefan129 😘 4y
mcctrish I love that it is multi purpose for whatever my needs are 🤣 @Prairiegirl_reading 4y
GloVerdino Mine would be on wine all the time! 4y
mcctrish @GloVerdino 🤣🤣🍷🍷🍷 4y
Tamra Happiest Birthday Wishes! 4y
mcctrish Thank you so much @Tamra 4y
46 likes10 comments
blurb
mcctrish
post image

I started this yesterday and it has me thinking of Normal People ( not as weird ) with its college aged characters from disparate backgrounds

52 likes1 stack add
blurb
jnichole
post image

Listening to this on my walks. So far I really like it.

3 likes1 stack add
review
Beatlefan129
post image
Mehso-so

Something about the writing style made it difficult for me to connect with this story. The tone just seemed too detached and impersonal for such intimate things as faith and grief. The whole book encompassed just 4 people with little connection to the outside world. Aside from a few mentions of the Vietnam War, I would not have been able to tell you when the story took place. It was not a bad book, but I do think something was missing.

review
Nitpickyabouttrains
post image
Pickpick

Two couples, who share a pulpit. They have to learn to be as families and as a shared group to lead a community.

blurb
ElishaLovesBooks
post image

An even better view today. Really loving this book.

#vacation #idontwanttogobacktoreallife

Cinfhen By any chance are you staying at Sea Coast Towers??? 5y
ElishaLovesBooks @Cinfhen We‘re at the Diplomat. 5y
Cinfhen Oh, it looks just like the pool area at Sea Coast where my parents live 😁Glad you‘re having good weather!!! My kids were in Miami the week before and it rained EVERY SINGLE DAY 5y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen Shabbat Shalom xx Have fun 5y
ElishaLovesBooks @Cinfhen We have been so lucky with the weather!! Warm and mostly sunny! We‘ll see how Shabbos goes-I expect to get lots of reading done! Shabbat Shalom ♥️ 5y
Cinfhen Hi!!!!!! I was thinking of you!!!!! Hope all is well with you, Yitz and the kids. 4y
62 likes6 comments
blurb
ElishaLovesBooks
post image

My view today. 🌴☀️

cariashley 😍 amazing! 5y
wanderinglynn What a lovely view! 😍 5y
50 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
ElishaLovesBooks
post image

Vacation books. Happy 2020! 🎉🎉🎉

alisiakae Enjoy your vacation! 5y
55 likes2 comments
quote
ElishaLovesBooks
post image

What a great passage to read as we start 2020. With all the current events happening recently these words are especially timely: “Only empathy allows us to see clearly. Only compassion brings about lasting change.”

I can already tell this book is going to be great.

blurb
RobinGustafson
post image

The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall is going on my best reads of 2019. It is a quiet, beautiful novel.
#bestbooksof2019 ##dearlybeloved

10 likes1 stack add
review
Redwritinghood
post image
Mehso-so

The writing style here didn‘t work for me. It reminded me a lot of a Wolitzer novel, so if you enjoy her books this may be a pick for you. The story is mainly about faith - religious faith and faith in family and friends. 3⭐️

EKonrad Agreed!! 5y
65 likes1 comment
review
Jenken1998
post image
Pickpick

Second book down for #readathon #deweyoct #deweysreadathon

I enjoyed this well written book about complicated people with complex lives and faiths. Charles and James are hired to pastor the same church in Ny in the 60s. They bring with them not only two very different wives but strengths that compliment one another. As their lives face turmoil you see them question their calling and faiths and they learn to face trials together as a team.

Reggie This sounds good. 5y
51 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Jenken1998
post image

Book 2 for #readathon.. its a lovely night on the patio.

review
MicheleinPhilly
post image
Pickpick

Achingly lovely writing. YMMV depending on how you feel about religion but I found this reminiscent of Marilynne Robinson‘s writing. It is a gentle exploration of marriage and faith spanning several decades. It is a “quiet” novel so those looking for something plot heavy will be disappointed but I thought this was just bursting with humanity. 4.5 ⭐️.

LeahBergen What a lovely review. ❤️ 5y
MicheleinPhilly @LeahBergen Thanks love! 😘 5y
Christine This has moved from “on my radar” to “definitively stacked” since I love everything about your review. 5y
See All 11 Comments
AvidReader25 Sounds wonderful! 5y
Cinfhen Great review 🤓#stacked 5y
Reviewsbylola Wow girl, you sure know how to make me stack a book! 😍 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Christine I hope you love it! 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Avidreader25 It is! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. ☺️ 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Cinfhen If I didn‘t want to keep it I would send it to you. But it is too special to give away. 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Reviewsbylola Awwww shucks, Steph. 😘 5y
Cinfhen You‘re so sweet but I might just buy my own copy 😘 5y
64 likes6 stack adds11 comments
blurb
MicheleinPhilly
post image

May I blow off work for the rest of the day? #currentread

LeahBergen Pickles says, “Yes, please”. 5y
Redwritinghood It‘s Friday afternoon, so I think it‘s required! 5y
valeriegeary I did so....a resounding yes! 🤗 5y
kspenmoll I hope you did/could!!! 5y
Reviewsbylola Gorgeous cover! 5y
67 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
LauraBeth
post image

Pretending its Fall and making pumpkin bread - because I need for Fall to hurry up and get here and cool things off in the south.

Listening to All The Books podcast. The tagged book was discussed and seems to be gaining a lot of momentum lately. Lots of very positive reviews. I can‘t wait to read it!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-the-books/id993284374?i=1000447321219

OrangeMooseReads Fall needs to get here in the north too. But we can skip winter 5y
TrishB Sounds lovely 💕 5y
See All 15 Comments
BookNAround I need fall too. I hate feeling like I live in a swamp every time I walk out the door. Blech! (edited) 5y
wanderinglynn Yum, pumpkin bread. 😋 But I‘m not ready for fall. It‘s only been in the low 70s here in the Pacific Northwest this week. So I‘m okay with that. 5y
LauraBeth @orangemoosereads and @melissa_j I agree about winter - it's a terrible season!
(edited) 5y
LauraBeth @trishb the book or the pumpkin bread? 😃 5y
LauraBeth @booknaround It's the worst! I love summer until mid-August hits. 5y
LauraBeth @wanderinglynn oohh low 70s sounds in the Pacific Northwest sounds heavenly! 5y
saresmoore Hey, it was only like 85 out tonight for our family walk! 😅 I‘ve been craving Fall things, too. 5y
LauraBeth @saresmoore Only 85! At what - like 8:30? 😂 It‘s too hot 🥵 5y
TrishB The bread 🍞😁 5y
Cathythoughts Love the Autumn too ... really ready for it & winter too 5y
LauraBeth @Cathythoughts I‘m ready for it! 🍁🍂 5y
LauraBeth @TrishB it made for a delicious breakfast! 5y
101 likes15 comments
review
Lauren.Archer
post image
Pickpick

I really enjoyed reading this story and found this easy to read. I wanted to savor this wonderful writing and this story and was just a little bit sad when it was over.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for and Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

For my full review visit: http://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/08/06/the-dearly-beloved/

review
EKonrad
post image
Mehso-so

Gorgeous writing but it missed the mark for me. Not enough action in the plot and repetitive thoughts about belief in God. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Netgalley

Full review on Goodreads