Slow Work

by Tim Farrington

"All the gravestone shops in all the towns in all the world, and she walks into mine." Jeremiah Mason learned the stone-working craft from his grandfather, a cathedral mason of the old school," at an early age. But it is not until an old love shows up in his own shop one day, bearing a raw new grief, that Jeremiah begins to understand his grandfather's extraordinary gift with the mourners of those for whom he carved his gravestones with such care, and to fathom the real depths of love and loss, and the human heart. Tim Farrington of the author of the trilogy The Monk Downstairs--- a New York Times Notable Book--- The Monk Upstairs, and The Lazarus Kid; as well as the novels Lizzie's War, The California Book of the Dead, and Blues for Hannah, and the nonfiction book A Hell of Mercy: Some Meditations on Depression and the Dark Night of the Soul. His short stories and essays have appeared in The Sun, Image, Zyzzyva, and San Francisco Magazine.

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2018

Reviews

[Crissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful book. Tim Farrington’s greatest gift is his way with words, how he can describe things with such aching beauty. I love reading his books because they make me want to curl up in the words. This book is no different. It’s a story of loss, but is sprinkled with humor, joy, grief, and tears. Farrington took a truly difficult scenario and gave it honor from start to finish. I loved this book.

[Sandra Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave up waiting for the Kindle edition and don't regret it. This is a lovely, lyrical, wry novel about the kind of holy "slow work" done by those who help us cope with the emotionally fraught border between life and death. The hero is continuing his grandfather's art of gravestone masonry. While I am no fan of geology myself, stone and the art of working it is brought very beautifully to life here. (I couldn't help thinking it also worked metaphorically if applied to writing). The grand question is whether stone mason Eli will do what is expedient and profitable and, ultimately, may get him a second chance with the love of his life, or stick to what he considers beautiful and true and eternal. As a reader, I was satisfied with his choice. SLOW WORK is a Christian novel that shares little in common with the pieties that dominate that genre today. Highly recommended for those interested in the contemplative life, or in watching a sympathetic character wrestle with his own morality, needs, desires, pain, and understanding in the face of truly enormous temptation.
I should probably disclose that I consider Tim Farrington a friend and a fellow writer who has been more than generous to me. That doesn't mean I'll review a book I find significantly frustrating. In this case I have no hesitation in recommending this book to literary readers, especially those with a spiritual bent.

[Sarah Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Latest from Tim Farrington.

SLOW WORK lovely, compassionate book about quiet, ordinary lives; how they fall apart and then come back together again, against the greatest odds, and with the most unlikely grace. It's a fantastic book, just released, not available in e-book format yet, but so engaging you won't want to put it down after you get it in your hands.
https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Work-Tim-...

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Sometimes Farrington's sentences bring me to my knees with their beauty.

That said, this was one of the WORST Kindle versions I've ever seen. Sometimes ten sentences break in the middle into a new paragraph on one page. I've made handsome Kindle books, and I'm going to try to offer to do that for this book.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about being a decent human being.

[Deedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

audible:Excellent book.Moody,lovely,well told. Edison McDaniels was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'