Saying Grace

by Beth Gutcheon

Rue Shaw has everything--a much loved child, a solid marriage, and a job she loves. Saying Grace takes place in Rue's mid-life, when her daughter is leaving home, her parents are failing, her husband is restless and the school she has built is being buffeted by changes in society that affect us all. Funny, rich in detail and finally stunning, this novel presents a portrait of a tight-knit community in jeopardy, and of a charming woman whose most human failing is that she wants things to stay the same. Saying Grace is about the fragility of human happiness and the strength of convictions, about keeping faith as a couple whether it keeps one safe or not. Beth Gutcheon has a gift for creating a world in microcosm and capturing the grace in the rhythms of everyday life.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Beth Gutcheon grew up in western Pennsylvania. She was educated at Harvard where she took an honors BA in English literature. She has spent most of her adult life in New York City, except for sojourns in San Francisco and on the coast of Maine. In 1978, she wrote the narration for a feature-length documentary on the Kirov ballet school, The Children of Theatre Street, which was nominated for an Academy Award, and she has made her living fulltime as a storyteller (novelist and sometime screenwriter) since then. Her novels have been translated into fourteen languages, if you count the pirate Chinese edition of Still Missing, plus large print and audio format. Still Missing was made into a feature film called Without a Trace, and also published in a Reader’s Digest Condensed version which particularly pleased her mother. Several of her novels have been national bestsellers, including the most recent, Leeway Cottage. All of the novels are available in new uniform paperback editions from HarperPerennial.

Reviews

[Ensiform · Rating 4 out of 5]

The head of a small private high school that is student-centered and process-oriented in its philosophy, Rue Shaw, is met with a new challenge in the results- and exam-oriented new president of the board. She also deals with uninspired teachers, incensed and irrational parents, and ethically-challenged students. She manages to rally the troops against ever increasing pressures, until two events destroy her personal life, and the professional side quickly follows.

It’s a “year in the life” story, a tragedy, but not quite as dark as the similar The Headmaster's Papers. There’s rich humor here, witty dialogue, and human drama. Events occur suddenly, some things are resolved quickly, some are not. True, many of the characters are not fully developed, but they don't have to be. I think Gutcheon is mirroring real life here: the totally unexpected tragedy, where life takes a U-turn, the people important in your life for brief periods or only at work. It’s an interesting feat, this novel: by turns funny and heartbreaking, a series of vignettes with a large cast, but all centered on Rue, on her strength and hope. Quite enjoyable, especially the clearly informed school anecdotes (“why isn’t he on the honor roll?”).

[Alline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure where I got the idea that I would enjoy a Beth Gutcheon book...wandering through the library I picked this up. Jeez...next time, just shoot me.

A cast of millions, many of whom are introduced and then never heard from again. Parents and children who were difficult, at least for me, to keep track of. A gratuitous list of "cool music" - perhaps to establish Ms. Gutcheon's hip factor? An affair never discussed, a perfect daughter, bla bla bla....

Not recommended.

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed & am finally donating as I need to cull bookshelves before moving.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Original Thoughts (1999):

I liked this book, but didn't love it. There were far too many characters to keep track of and only one that I felt connected to. And, it was sad. Death, affair, separation, child abuse, etc. Not a very upbeat story and a lot of loose ends.

My Current Thoughts:

This was the second book of Gutcheon's that I read in 1999. I don't remember anything about it and no longer own a copy, so it's definitely not one I'm likely to read again. Quite frankly, it sounds dreadful!

[Lainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was assigned this book for summer reading for my new school. What a great choice! Bet Gutcheon has independent schools pegged! Anyone that teaches, sits on the board of, or sends their children to private school should read this book!

[Shawn Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just plain terrible. Too many characters that are introduced once then never again, which made it hard to keep track of who the actual main characters are. There's reference of an affair that's never actually addressed. Plus many other things that were never fully addressed: What was the "ghost" at the Sale house that the kids insisted they heard? Why was the Sale dad so oblivious to the abusive mom with mental health issues? Did Rue ever actually meet Georgia's boyfriend after the terrible death? Where did she go when she quit? Where did Henry go? Why did the author spend so much time trying to have the reader fall in love with this school only to have it fall apart in the end? Totally thought Rue would come back to save it after some healing from her daughter's death. Plus this book just did not age well. Lots of word choices that aren't socially and culturally acceptable any more, especially for something written in the 90s. Plus Mike was clearly described as gay in the beginning. Why in the hell would the author have him marry woman later on?! It was never explained. He was just getting married to a woman all of a sudden. Just poor poor writing.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has ever been connected to a grade school - been a kid in school, had a kid in school, taught in school - will appreciate this book (and perhaps be convicted). What an eye opener!
The main character is the head of a private school with an alternative vision for producing well-rounded people rather than college fodder. She is faced daily with legion individual and family dysfunctions as well as teachers who are fried from years of giving of themselves with little affirmation, reward or respect. Meanwhile her seeming picture-perfect home life is slowly disintegrating. Nevertheless she handles the problems with amazing grace.
Gutcheon writes sharp dialogue that captures quick minds and passionate emotions, rendering truthful characters with three-dimensional personalities, embracing flaws and secrets and brilliance.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked the first part of this book set in a well-described private school with an interesting set of characters and problems to be solved. Life is fragile and while the main character Rue seemed to be on a positive trajectory in life, there are setbacks which cannot easily be overcome, and she doesn't.
The writing is well done throughout but it's almost like the author did not know what to include in the last section, and she put in a huge amount of interesting, but mostly irrelevant description of Native American culture as experienced on a vacation. The last part of the book left me a bit baffled but it was still a good read for me.

[Hannah Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book a LOT up until the ending chapters. It reminded me of a Maeve Binchy set in California. There were so many characters, all of whom intersected, and the plot was kind of slow and very people-driven. Then, about 50 pages from the end, an unexpected craziness happened that made me think “What?!” And following that was the Flagstaff chapter (it felt disjointed and weird) and then a rather fast wrap-up. Ultimately, I DID like the ending… but it was so abrupt!

I don’t know if I recommend this. I’m glad I read it, and there are a lot of things about this novel that I liked, but the ending leaves me questioning whether or not I should encourage others to check it out.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, I loved it, it jumped from one character to another and was often confusing. But maybe it was me. Her writing style is beautiful. It's so descriptive you can hear the silence in the canyon. The people are so real, altho some are so erratic!
At times I'm not sure how it was playing out, and I was often surprised. I loved most of the characters and could really relate, others were just plain wacko. The ending left me hanging, but it might have been impossible to tie up all the loose ends and lost characters. So many events broke my heart, but I still loved the book and made up my own happy ending.

[Jill Ferraresso · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book!

At first I really loved it. It captured so much, beautiful, awful and hilarious, about private school life.

Then the book took a giant turn and EVERYTHING fell apart, irreparably. The school we come to love is ruined.

Rue loses her daughter, her husband, her home and her job in quick succession. She goes through so much trauma. The whole section about the trip through Navajo country was odd. It seemed to take us so far out of the book. Was it Rue’s inner journey?

All I know is that it ended so badly that it left me in ruins. I want to rewrite the ending. At least save the school!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

So-so story -- a bit draggy, but not awful. Except when the main characters headed off to the desert in Arizona and suddenly it was like reading the brochure handed out at the historic sites. Page after page that had nothing to do with the story, but was certainly a lot of history of the Navajo and the canyon lookouts. Seemed like the author had to provide a certain number of pages and filled up her book by copying or paraphrasing from local guidebooks. Added nothing except making it drag even more.

[Dennis Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about Rue Shaw who was the headmaster of a private school. She faces the challenges of children, parents, staff, and board members with issues of discipline, teaching principles and techniques, and the ways she runs the school. Not everyone agrees with her leadership. While she tries to hold it together, in the end, she resigns. Her marriage and family life is also challenging and both result in brokenness and grief. It is a lesson on how not everything can be saved, even when you give you best and try your hardest.

[Ellen Stretlien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written but melodramatic. Rue’s perfect life is so idyllic that it’s a bit hard to take. Then it all comes crashing down in a horrible fashion. The Board head is almost too villainous to be believed. The ending was strange and felt like it belonged to another story. The book was passed along to me and it was a pleasant way to spend time while I recover from a bad cold.

[Suzanne Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s complicated. Rue Shaw has a job she loves and a husband and daughter who make her life complete. Things get complicated and as the story unfolds the school becomes filled with people that create problems for the school and the small town community. Beth Gutcheon keeps the reader involved and turning pages with real world issues and humor as Rue’s world changes, not always for the good.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the books I wish I'd written. Beautifully told story, both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I found a copy on a remainders table...one of my favourite finds.

[Susan LaBarge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable story for me since Rue Shaw is the head mistress of a school! Needing to keep trading it but...,the end left me hanging.

[LK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, shocking, sad, but hopeful.

[Terica Meador · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Poorly written with a weird, too quick ending.

[Anna Reimink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Interesting to see inside the life of a principal at a school and all they have to deal with.

[Lorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disjointed - not sure how last third connected to first. Unnecessary death and worst possible ending. But ... some beautifully written sentences

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good depiction of what educators are saddled with.

[Heather Hopper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the characters and character development. Even the story until about 3/4 way through… then? Ugh. Who ENDS a story with a child dead in his bed?!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saying Grace Gutcheon, Beth Richardson 4 F drama head of progressive school deals w/ outrageous students & parents as develop appropriateness- until crisis of own derails her life 2014 6/18/2014

[Beth Kaminske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story, except I thought it ended to abruptly. Though, I wasn’t surprised, I knew that would happen, almost from the beginning of the book.

[Janel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember loving her book Five Fortunes but not this one. Too many points of view and I couldn’t figure out if there was a plot for a while.

[Ms. B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Rue Shaw has everything—a much loved child, a solid marriage, and a job she loves. Saying Grace takes place in Rue's mid-life, when her daughter is leaving home, her parents are failing, her husband is restless and the school she has built is being buffeted by changes in society that affect us all. Funny, rich in detail and finally stunning, this novel presents a portrait of a tight-knit community in jeopardy, and of a charming woman whose most human failing is that she wants things to stay the same.
Saying Grace is about the fragility of human happiness and the strength of convictions, about keeping faith as a couple whether it keeps one safe or not. Beth Gutcheon has a gift for creating a world in microcosm and capturing the grace in the rhythms of everyday life.

My Opinion:
This book was a hard read for me. It had lots of godly references. It felt like I was reading someone's journal that really didn't have anything all that interesting to say. For three quarters of the book I felt like it was boring and I was reading nonsense. Then the last quarter was real interesting and devastatingly sad! I didn't expect it and I couldn't believe it! It was so horrifying that I kept reading just to finish the book. Then it got real boring again and ended. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone because I really didn't like it very much at all, even when it was getting interesting.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rue was head of a school called Country. She had been there for 20 years. Everyone loved her.
She took care of her teachers and had a wonderful second in command, Mike. They worked great together.
There were the kids who got into trouble but she always worked through it. But teachers were being complained about and the Board president, Chandler, was also complaining to her.
She husband, Henry, was a doctor. They had been married for 25 years. Their daughter, Georgia, had graduated and gone to NY to go to Julliard, I think. She had a beautiful voice.
They had Christmas together with Georgia. Then she announced she had a boyfriend and was going to drop out of school and sign in a band. Both Henry and Rue were upset but she was trying to let Georgia make up her own mind about her life.
When they are called and told Georgia had been in an accident, hit by a car and drug down the road, they were devastated. This was their baby.
They were torn apart. They went on a trip to get away and hopefully put things back together. Instead, they had problems and he left. She went back to school but was unable to get things to settle down. She quit.
The teachers were all torn and were quitting or moving somewhere else to work.
When Henry came back to their home at the school, he found out Rue was not there. Mike had told him where Rue was.
I did not care for the ending. With losing their only child, I really wanted things to work out better than this for them.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was doubtful about this book with its pastel cover and religious-sounding title. Of course, we should not judge a book by its cover.

Beth Gutcheon clearly knows the characters that inhabit the private school universe. Anyone who has worked in a private school has met real-life counterparts for all of the outrageous individuals walking the pages of Saying Grace. Many of the characters are not fully developed, but I can forgive this. There are too many characters to keep in mind, especially at the beginning of the book, but I can forgive this, as well. After all, when one works in a school, the number of people in daily contact is immense. I think my main issue with the book is the depressing second half. I suppose there had to be a climax somewhere, but I would have made other choices.
Nevertheless, this was a good story.

[Bonny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book years ago, and had remembered it as one of my favorites. Sadly, my memory didn't stand up to present-day reality. Saying Grace is an interesting story about a private school head, Rue, and the people around her, but important characters and plot strands are abruptly dropped and never developed. Any one of the storylines (Rue's daughter, the school/teacher/board turmoil, Rue's marriage, child abuse) would have made a better book, but all of them together constitute a soap opera. The ending was both abrupt and creepy.

There is a beautifully written section about saying grace at Thanksgiving, and I love the cover, but those are the only things that saved me from giving this 2 stars.