Gilead is poetically introspective, an elderly man’s meditation on how fatherhood came to him late in life, and how he regrets that he won’t likely see his young son to adulthood.

This book was the 48th of a series of titles selected by writer Yann Martel to provide to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to encourage an appreciation of the arts and literature in particular in the PM, and to also help him with his stillness and thoughtfulness. Martel has regularly sent books from a wide range of literary traditions to Harper, and has devoted a Web site to the book list and his kind and considered covering letters with each volume. For more on Martel’s noble venture, go to http://www.whatisstephenharperreading.com.