For Daisy Gountgoul Flett.

For her life.

You are unique, Carol Silnts.

Daisy Gountgoul Flett was a remarkable individual. Her life was filled with countless experiences and memories that shaped who she was. She had a charm and a spirit that was truly one-of-a-kind.

Carol Silnts, on the other hand, also had her own unique qualities. She was someone who stood out in a crowd, with her own set of talents and abilities.

Together, Daisy and Carol's stories intertwined, creating a tapestry of life that was both beautiful and complex. Their individuality added depth and richness to the world around them.

We should celebrate the uniqueness of each person, just as we celebrate the lives of Daisy Gountgoul Flett and Carol Silnts. For in their differences, we find the true essence of what it means to be human.

On a sweltering summer day in 1905 within the province of Manitoba, Mercy Goodwill finds herself in the throes of labor. She is not only extremely obese but also astonishingly naïve, to the extent that she was completely unaware of her pregnancy. By the time her daughter, Daisy, emits her very first cry into the world, Mercy has already passed away.

The remainder of this book unfolds as the story of Daisy and those who are closest to her. For several years, she is raised by a neighbor woman whose desertion of her husband becomes a prominent theme in the narrative.随后, her father re-enters her life. Daisy's first honeymoon comes to a tragic end.然而, the rest of her life is rather ordinary. She remarries, raises a family, makes friends, and even has a late-life career.

The story is presented from Daisy's perspective, yet it is an omniscient one. Daisy catches a glimpse of her mother on the day of her birth and has knowledge about her parents' relationship that a typical daughter would not possess. This unusual use of voice persists throughout the novel. At the outset, Daisy narrates her story in the first person.随后, for a period, the story is told in a combination of first and third person. Later scenes in the book are related solely in the third person. But, regardless of whether it is first or third person, the voice is always omniscient. Some portions of the story are presented in the form of correspondence or Daisy's to-do or shopping lists. We have complete access to all the characters.

For the most part, what we do not have access to is Daisy's feelings. We are never truly inside Daisy's head. Even when she is speaking in the first person, she is usually talking about others or events that are occurring outside of her. This made her an unsatisfactory character for me. She always seems just out of reach. The reader never knows what she desires, and she lacks agency. She appears to drift through life, doing whatever others expect of her.

This is a beautifully written book. The psychological insights are profound, and the language is exquisite.然而, the main character ultimately felt insubstantial to me, so the book was not as satisfying as it seemed to promise. It should be noted that this is a minority opinion – this book actually won a Pulitzer Prize.

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I initially thought this book was truly fascinating. The way it delved into the life of a family of stonecutters was captivating. Moreover, the prose had a certain charm with its slightly off-kilter nature. The author's description of events, though seemingly disorganized, gave the impression that there was a hidden direction.

However, as I progressed further in the book, it began to focus more on the main character and her descent into old age. Sadly, I didn't sense that the author was offering any profound insights into this process. It felt more like a mere recounting of the events, leaving me with the rather unpleasant feeling of waiting for the old woman to pass away so that the book could conclude.

At this point, I'm left wondering whether I failed to grasp the essence of the story or if the author simply struggled to bring a satisfying end to the intriguing premise she had initially set up. It's a bit of a disappointment, as the beginning held so much promise.

I've just completed reading this for the second time, with the first instance dating back several years ago.

The more I delve into the works of Carol Shields, the more deeply I am impressed by her remarkable writing skills.

It seems to me that the structure of this particular book is truly excellent, demonstrating an extremely high level of skill.

Shields has a unique way of weaving the story together, making it engaging and captivating from start to finish.

Her use of language is also值得称赞, as she manages to convey complex emotions and ideas with great clarity and precision.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written literature.

The Stone Diaries is not a story filled with thrilling actions. Instead, it presents a painfully and heartfully realistic portrayal. It cannot be simply categorized as women's literature because emotions and relationships are not the sole driving forces. It is also a piece of beautiful historic prose, set against the backdrop of the 20th century. Moreover, it does not end with hopeful and sappy happy-soul feelings. Instead, it is an exquisite attempt to capture the complexities of one's life, one's family and friends, and one's place and purpose in this crazy, non-linear world.

Carol Shields' epic novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1994. It is called "epic" due to its extensive coverage of years and depth of detail. The story chronicles the life of a "cursed" young woman, Daisy Goodwill. Her simple mother died in childbirth, and she later experiences another of life's tragedies. We follow Daisy's journey from the plains of rural Canada to the bustling new town of Bloomington, Indiana, back to Canada, and finally to a nursing home in Florida. We learn about Daisy from everyone else's perspective rather than her own. We seem to know this pitiful character, who is both strong and stoic yet also detached. We love her for her dutiful approach to life, yet we also long for her to feel, to love, to act out, and to react to the relentless toll that life takes on her soul. We know about her life, but we want her to truly live.

The brilliance of The Stone Diaries can be summed up by Shields' final chapter, which is the "Death" of Daisy. We do not hear Daisy's voice; instead, we only hear her children's voices, as well as her personal notes and memoirs. Through a list of Daisy's past addresses, a seemingly trivial thing that could be archived or forgotten, we, as readers, nostalgically travel back through Daisy's long life, envisioning her homes, friends, loved ones, triumphs, and tolls, as revealed through The Stone Diaries.

It is a beautiful book, a work of literature to be treasured. The life of a woman is hardly a new topic, but to meet, understand historically, empathize with, and cheer for a rather normal woman maneuvering through everyday life - that is literary writing at its best.

I’m the kind of person who absolutely adores looking at people’s family albums. However, it’s not the 400 photos of your grandchildren that catch my eye – sorry about that. It’s not that they aren’t cute; it’s just that there’s something truly enchanting about the past. There’s so much space and mystery within those old pictures. Show me your great aunt Elsie who was married to that guy – no one can remember his name, but there he is in the corner of the picture, looking a bit sheepish and wearing his farming overalls. I can’t help but wonder what his story is?

Carol Shields has masterfully woven together a tale that is filled with these ordinary yet utterly captivating family members. By the time I reached the end, I felt as if I knew each and every one of her characters on a personal level.

It all starts with a mother (naturally), and we are completely mesmerized by the account of this particular mother, Mercy Stone Goodwill. Every character that is introduced has a story to tell, and Shields provides us with just the right amount of detail about their lives – especially the odd bits – to keep us thoroughly fascinated and to bring the family photographs to vivid life.

We follow Mercy’s daughter Daisy through her entire, often frustrating life. But in the same way that a photograph taken on an overcast day can still show the brightness of colors, Daisy’s somewhat dreary existence offers us vivid insights into the human condition.

I was particularly drawn to these passages:

“…the houses of the newly married, she senses, are under a kind of enchantment, the air more tender than in other households, the voices softer, the makeshift curtains and cheap rugs brave and bright in their accommodation.”

“Your mama’s inside you. You can feel her moving and breathing and sometimes you can hear her talking to you, saying the same things over and over, like watch out now, be careful, be good, now don’t get yourself hurt.”

“How can so much time hold so little, how can it be taken from us? Months, weeks, days, hours misplaced--and the most precious time of life, too, when our bodies are at their greatest strength, and open, as they never will be again, to the onslaught of sensation.”

“It surprises Grandma Flett that there is so much humor hidden in the earth’s crevasses; it’s everywhere, like a thousand species of moss.”

This is a truly wonderful saga. Shields has given us a novel that delves deep into the essence of life: the way we perceive ourselves, the way others view us, and how we might feel about all of that. It explores what is fleeting and what endures. And what I found most fascinating was the inherent unreliability of it all. What is the real story? What is our real story? Will anyone ever truly know?

Wow, this novel is truly the perfect illustration of what occurs when you least anticipate it.

I had absolutely no prior knowledge about this book. I had never even heard of it or its author. Moreover, I found the cover rather unappealing.

And yet, despite all these initial impressions, it turns out to be one of the best and most meaningful stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

It won the Pulitzer Prize for 1995, and that was the sole reason I decided to pick it up. However, once I started reading, I simply couldn't put it down.

This is one of those life-altering novels, a story that presents a big picture, being both upsetting and wonderful simultaneously.

I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has truly left a lasting impact on me and I believe it would do the same for many others.

I expected this to be dull, and yet I embraced it with the gratitude the reader feels when the book turns out not to be dull at all. There were numerous elements that I liked. It began with the rare first-person omniscient point of view, transforming this into a ‘fictitious autobiography.’ Usually, one has to be dead (as in The Lovely Bones) or death itself (as in The Book Thief) to successfully pull off that point of view.

The book contains parts with input and letters from other characters, and there are also parts that really seem to be in the third person. However, an ‘I’ is sometimes slipped in, revealing the true nature of the narrative. Just look at the first page.

Basically, this is the life story of Daisy Goodwill, who was orphaned at birth, and it is a story about the lonesomeness at the core of life. Despite the cast of characters, the encounters, and the reference points, as well as the collective experience of history and culture as it passes by (such as the Lindbergh flight, the Kennedy assassination, WWII, Johnny Carson, etc., not necessarily in that order), one gets the feeling that life has simply happened to the protagonist, as it does to everyone, with little or no navigation. What I found touching near the end was how seeing her name on the hospital bracelet, minus the married name, gave Daisy a sense of purity.

The loneliness for me is best embodied by Daisy’s mother’s wedding ring, which should have one day landed in her hands but is instead buried in her father’s backyard project, a muddled pyramid. As you can guess from the title, stone is a major motif in the book, hard and intact.

I also loved the structure, with its letters, ‘versions,’ family tree, and photographs, which help you pretend this is a fiction that actually happened. Of course, it could have happened. And of course, it happens all the time.

Mercy Stone, a woman of unexpected circumstances, found herself the object of Cyler Goodwill's adoration. Growing up in the Stonewall Orphans’ Home, having been left as a baby in a flour barrel, she developed a unique set of skills. Her love for eating, cooking, and more eating was her idea of heaven. Despite her ungainly appearance, Cyler was deeply moved by her presence. Her rippling flesh, clean floury arms, and innocent look all contributed to his infatuation.

Cyler, a local mason, was short of shank and narrow of shoulder, but his small dark face was full of urgency and force. The contrast between them was striking, yet their connection was undeniable. Daisy, their daughter, tells their story in a unique way, alternating between first and third person.

This biography-cum-autobiography not only looks back at the 20th century but also explores the complex personalities and events within the family. The author adds a family tree and photographs, perhaps to make the story seem more real. It's a fascinating read that keeps you guessing about the truth. The unlikely liaisons and individual characters make it a great study of human nature. Overall, it's a worthy winner of the 1995 Pulitzer Prize.

I read this when it first came out in paperback in 1994. In fact, it still has the Dillons sticker on the back. However, I couldn't remember anything about it, except that I'd loved it.

This time, I read it as a writer. Although I found some faults with the story, which is about the whole life of Daisy Flett. There are too many extraordinary things that happen, and yet not enough seems to occur.

Nonetheless, I also truly appreciated how well written it is. Shields keeps us in suspense by skillfully using backstory. She seamlessly flits around in time, which adds an element of intrigue. Moreover, she uses memory to great effect, making the story more engaging and complex.

Overall, despite its flaws, the book has many redeeming qualities that make it a worthwhile read. It shows the power of good writing and how a skilled author can create a captivating story, even with a few imperfections.

4.5 stars rounded up

I am an avid Canadian reader, and yet I'm not quite sure how I managed to overlook this multi-award-winning Canadian novel that was published over 30 years ago. However, I'm glad that I have now rectified that oversight.

The protagonist, Daisy Goodwill, is born in 1905 and lives well into her 90s. Her life thus essentially spans the 20th century, offering an everywoman's perspective on that tumultuous era. But she is also a vividly unique character. Shields has brought to life a fully fleshed-out and living individual.

Daisy is an ordinary woman who does the things expected of women in her time. She gets married, has children, creates a home, and raises a family. However, she has a quietly inquisitive spirit and desires to find something for herself. She creates a beautiful garden and becomes a highly consulted local expert. This knowledge eventually leads her to become the gardening columnist for the local newspaper, a career that gives her great pride and satisfaction. But then, when it is taken away from her, she experiences heartbreak and despair.

Nevertheless, life goes on. There is a bit of an attempt to unearth her roots in Scotland (though much remains a mystery), and eventually, she retires in Florida. Everything unfolds gently until the end, making for a very satisfying read.

This is a very powerful reading that has a uniqueness I have never encountered before. The protagonist speaks while being absent and shines through her absence. Isn't it special?

This is also the central axis of the book, those invisible women who lived their lives in a secondary role. They only observed and accepted everything stoically and passively. In many places, I felt that the interest was fading, and this was due to the writing style. However, the story is excellent.

The author manages to bring to life these forgotten women and their experiences, making us think about the role of women in society and how their voices have often been silenced. It is a thought-provoking and engaging read that I would highly recommend.

Overall, despite the minor flaw in the writing style, the book is a great achievement and a must-read for anyone interested in women's history and literature.