Housekeeping

This well-preserved first printing is in good condition. The pages are tight, unmarked, and the book is tight and firm. However, there is a stamp on the page preceding the title page. Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping (1980) is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of loss, isolation, family, and belonging. It tells the story of two sisters, Ruth and Lucille, who are raised in the small, desolate town of Fingerbone. Eventually, their transient and unconventional Aunt Sylvie takes over their care, leading to a quiet but profound conflict between traditional domesticity and a life of drifting solitude. The novel is deeply personal, both in its themes and in the way it resonates with readers. Marilynne Robinson’s own background shaped the novel’s setting and its meditative, poetic prose. It speaks to feelings of displacement, the tension between stability and freedom, and the longing for connection that many people experience.