The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

New foreword by Margaret Atwood

Widely regarded as a modern classic, The Stone Diaries is the story of one woman’s life; that of Daisy Goodwill Flett, a seemingly ordinary woman born in Canada in 1905. Beautifully written and deeply compassionate, it follows Daisy’s life through marriage, widowhood, motherhood, and old age, as she charts her own path alongside that of an unsettled century. A subtle but affective portrait of an everywoman reflecting on an unconventional life, this multi-award-winning story deals with everyday issues of existence with an extraordinary vibrancy and irresistible flair.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carol Shields (1935–2003) was born in the United States, and emigrated to Canada when she was 22. She is acclaimed for her empathetic and witty, yet penetrating insights into human nature. Her most famous novel The Stone Diaries was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, along with the Governor General’s Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Happenstance was praised as her tour de force, masterly combining two novels in one. The international bestseller Mary Swann was awarded with the Arthur Ellis Award for best Canadian mystery, while The Republic of Love was chosen as the first runner-up for the Guardian Fiction Prize. In 2020, the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, a North American literary award dedicated to writing by women, was set up in her honor. Her work has been published in over 30 languages.

Review

This is a long lingering look at the life of Daisy from her dramatic birth to her passing. It’s not a particularly remarkable life but that’s the point of this novel - it looks at the ordinary and makes it interesting, lyrical and poetic. I can see why this won the Pulitzer Prize as it’s a microscopic inspection into character, desires and disappointments.

The characters are the highlight of this book, I can’t particularly say I took to Daisy as I felt she didn’t have much gumption for life really. But maybe that is the point. People aren’t always adventurer or pioneers, there are millions of people that just plod along in our lives and I feel Daisy was that person. She did crave stability and love but she settled for security. How many people can say that they haven’t done that? I know my mother did and she shouldn’t have done. I did enjoy the section when she became ‘Mrs Green Thumb’ as it felt as if she was being to carve an identity for herself out with that of mother, wife, or friend.

I found it very hard to get behind the marriage between Alice and ‘Uncle’ Baxter, just because of his previous feelings towards her as a young teen. Even though he came across as an adequate father and husband. But then there is again that feeling of Alice just wanting security and something to happen in her life. Life was a series of disappointments and adapting to take an easy route. The most surprising event that occurs on her honeymoon was glossed over quickly.

I do find with books that win prizes like the Pulitzer and the Booker that I don’t particularly love the book (except Shuggie Bain) but it leaves me with lasting memories and impressions. They impart their themes and focuses and they stay with you. I think this is definitely going to be one of those books.