God's Grace
God's Grace
Book Brief
240
Novel • Fiction
Pacific Island • Post-apocalyptic
1965
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
God’s Grace by Bernard Malamud follows Calvin Cohn, the sole human survivor after a nuclear war and accompanying flood. Isolated, he discovers a young chimpanzee, Buz, with whom he forms a bond. Together, they find an island inhabited by other primates. Calvin educates the chimpanzees, striving to create a new society, exploring themes of survival, faith, and the nature of humanity.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Dark
Challenging
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
551 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Bernard Malamud's God's Grace is a unique blend of fantasy and religion, eliciting both admiration and criticism. Praised for its imaginative and thought-provoking narrative, the novel explores profound themes with originality. However, some readers find its allegorical approach and moralistic tone heavy-handed. Overall, it remains an intriguing, albeit polarizing, read.
Who Should Read God's Grace?
Readers who appreciate God's Grace by Bernard Malamud will likely enjoy novels that explore existential themes and moral dilemmas. Fans of Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat's Cradle or George Orwell’s 1984 will find a similar blend of satire, speculative fiction, and profound philosophical questions. Ideal for those intrigued by post-apocalyptic narratives and ethical quandaries.
551 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Bernard Malamud originally explored the theme of a post-apocalyptic world and one survivor's quest for redemption in some of his earlier short stories before expanding it into the full-length novel God's Grace.
God's Grace is unique in Malamud's bibliography as it stands as his only foray into science fiction, mixing religious allegory with futuristic elements.
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The novel was published in 1982, marking it as one of Malamud's final works, having been released just four years before his death in 1986.
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240
Novel • Fiction
Pacific Island • Post-apocalyptic
1965
Adult
18+ years
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