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beautiful and graceful Calm, gentle, graceful. Lovely. This book will reaffirm your belief in the meaning of life, whatever it is that you cling to during the rough moments. There is not much "story" here, but what there is revolves around a prodigal son format. John Ames is an elderly minister who has lived most of his life in the small town that his grandfather settled in immediately before the civil war. His best friend is another minister (called by his last name, "Boughton") whose middle son was baptized John Ames Boughton as a surprise and not toally wanted gift to John Ames. The boy is a difficult child, becomes a difficult young man, and then leaves the town. At his life's end, John Ames' thoughts on his own childhood, his relationship to Boughton's son, his own very young son and multiple other related father/son relationships are what weaves through the book. Mr Ames loves life and all its complexities, both beautiful and ugly. The father/son relationships are delicately nuanced and complete. Recommended.