Το λάτρεψα. This simple phrase holds a world of meaning. It expresses a deep and profound love. It could be the love for a person, an object, a place, or even an idea. Love is a powerful emotion that can consume us, drive us, and make us do things we never thought possible.

When we say "Το λάτρεψα," we are not just uttering words. We are sharing a part of our souls, a part that is filled with passion and tenderness. This love can bring joy and happiness, but it can also bring pain and heartbreak. Yet, despite the risks, we still choose to love, because it is what makes life worth living.

Whether it is a first love, a lasting love, or a love that is lost, "Το λάτρεψα" will always hold a special place in our hearts. It is a reminder of the beauty and power of love, and a testament to the fact that love is truly the most precious thing in this world.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning book was recommended for the Mostly Literary Fiction book group that I lead at the Hayward Public Library, and we read it for our May 2009 discussion.

It presents a poignant and highly creative way of imagining one rather ordinary (yet extraordinary in its portrayal) individual. My reading of this novel happened to align with my 85-year-old mother's illness and hospitalization. I read portions of it while waiting with her in the emergency room and the next day while sitting by her bedside as she rested. It was truly a fitting book to read while reflecting on the life and inevitable death of one's mother.

The ending of the novel brought me to tears, yet it is not a sentimental work. This novel is rich for discussion as there is some ambiguity regarding the narrator, given the changing perspectives. It begins with a first-person account of the narrator's birth in 1905 (as if she were a witness to her own birth) and the death of her mother in childbirth. But then it switches to the third person and at times switches back.

I eagerly anticipate reading more books by Carol Shields. I'm glad this novel was suggested for our book group! (Several years ago, I read and really enjoyed Carol Shields' concise biography of Jane Austen. It was a wonderful introduction to Carol Shields' talent as a writer.)

My mother, Mercy Stone Goodwill, was only thirty years old when she fell ill. It was a boiling hot day, and she was standing in the back kitchen, preparing a Malvern pudding for her husband's supper. A cookery book lay open on the table. The recipe read: "Take some slices of stale bread, and one pint of currants; half a pint of raspberries; four ounces of sugar; some sweet cream if available." Of course, she had divided the recipe in half, as there were only the two of them. And considering the scarcity of currants and Cuyler (my father) being a dainty eater, a pick-and-nibble fellow as she called him, able to take his food or leave it.

A fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt version of The House of the Spirits's dark chocolate Haagen Daz ice cream. That's pretty much all I can say about this book.

Okay, I understand that this book won the Pulitzer prize and is therefore considered amazing. I recognize and appreciate that the writing is wonderfully done. I had no trouble finishing this story and was glad I read it. But for some reason, it just never grabbed me in any meaningful way. It's a story about an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life, and dying an ordinary death. There's nothing earth-shattering about it. It's just a simple tale that, while well-written, failed to truly engage me on a deeper level. Maybe it's because I was expecting something more extraordinary, something that would blow my mind. But in the end, it was just an ordinary story about an ordinary person.

I ended up really liking this one.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe it was the initial impression that made me a bit hesitant. But as I delved deeper into it, something changed.

The more I explored, the more I discovered its unique charm. There were aspects that I initially overlooked, but now they stood out and captured my attention.

It had a certain quality that drew me in and made me want to know more. I found myself getting increasingly interested and invested in it.

Before I knew it, I had developed a genuine liking for this particular thing. It had managed to win me over with its appeal and allure.

Now, I'm glad that I gave it a chance and that I ended up really liking this one.

I have very ambivalent feelings about this book.

On one hand, in some places, I think it's marvelously written and captivating. It contains a number of nice and unusual narrative grips. For example, it tells an entire decade of the main character's life by only random correspondence, and only the incoming letters that are saved and read by the character herself. This unique approach adds an element of mystery and intrigue.

On the other hand, this and similar narrative techniques do not allow the reader to get to know the main character and those around her very well. A lot of actions and choices remain unexplained. Additionally, considering it's a short book, especially when it tells of an entire life close to 90 years, big parts of the book can be less interesting. At times, it's hard to really care very much about what happens to and around the main character.

Overall, the book has its strengths and weaknesses, leaving me with a somewhat conflicted opinion.

Daisy Goodwill's stone memoir is an autobiography that details the chapters of her life, starting from the scene of her birth where that moment witnessed the certain death of her mother and her own birth. Since childhood, she has lacked something, something mysterious that she doesn't understand, and a shadow hovers over her life, strict with herself and others...

It's as if her life has been mapped out for her. And although fate gave her the opportunity to work, writing a weekly article about how to take care of plants and gardens. However, when she entrusted the task to someone else, her passion for writing disappeared and she didn't show any attempt to continue the journey of life...

As I told her that this is a difficult chapter in her life, she can overcome it, and that there is another chapter waiting for her. Know your direction and set off... But unfortunately, she didn't pay me any attention...

I can't tolerate a woman who submits to weakness and gives up her place of strength...

The Stone Diaries is a captivating novel that delves into the tumultuous life of Daisy Goodwill Flett. Her story commences and concludes with elements of sadness and death, painting a vivid picture of a life filled with challenges. This short novel is rich with complex characters and intricate storylines that require careful absorption. I found myself so engaged that I have a strong desire to read it again, and I likely will in the future.

Despite its somber tone, this 1995 Pulitzer Prize winner does manage to sprinkle in a few laughs and even a shocking moment. However, I was somewhat frustrated by the abrupt halts in the storyline at crucial junctures throughout the narrative. Fortunately, by the end, most of the missing puzzle pieces come together, creating a powerful and impactful conclusion.

The last words from Daisy, "I AM NOT AT PEACE", are truly poignant. It makes one wish that Cuyler had been more forthcoming with his feelings for Daisy's mother, shown her more affection, and perhaps given her Mercy's engraved 18k wedding ring as he had once planned, instead of burying it in the time capsule under the pyramid.

The ordinary life of an ordinary lady is told in an extraordinary way. The story unfolds beautifully, with the characters developing and the scenes coming to life. The language is nuanced, shifting smoothly from the first person to the third person and back again. In one instance, the main character is describing her feelings, and then the reader gets to read how her family and friends interpreted the same thing. This unique narrative style adds depth and complexity to the story.

The publisher has accurately described the book as "seductive prose." The writing is so engaging that it draws the reader in and keeps them hooked until the very end. It's no wonder that this book won the 1995 Puitzer prize. It's a masterpiece of literature that will be enjoyed by readers for years to come.

This novel takes us on a journey through the life of one character.

She starts as a surprise baby in a small town in Manitoba, tragically losing her mother at birth.

She is then raised by an "aunt" (who is actually her mother's friend and former neighbor) in a slightly larger town.

Later, she meets and lives with her father in Indiana.

Her life unfolds with marriage, the arrival of children, widowhood, illness, and finally, death.

Once I adapted to the slow and descriptive pace and style of the writing, I found the first two-thirds or so of the book highly enjoyable, worthy of a 4-star rating.

However, the last two chapters didn't quite work for me.

Although I could understand what Shields was attempting with the writing, I craved more actual information as there had been in the earlier chapters.

Is it worthy of the Pulitzer? I can't say for sure without reading more books from that year.

Nevertheless, I can see the reasons why it was chosen.

This book vividly narrates the life journey of a woman in the 20th century.

She was born in Canada in 1905 and lived through to the 1990s. Daisy Goodwill's story begins with her birth in Canada, where her mother unfortunately passes away during childbirth.

She grows up with a neighbor and the neighbor's grown son. Then, at the age of eleven, she returns to live with her father.

The narrative style of this book is quite unique. At times, it reads like a fictional autobiography, as if the woman herself is sharing her life experiences.

At other times, it seems as if those close to her are contributing their perspectives.

Her life is rather uneventful, yet it is punctuated by a few significant decisions and events.

What makes this book remarkable is the author's ability to transform an "ordinary" life into something that captivates the reader's interest.

It includes snippets of information, such as recipes and photos, which give it the feel of a family album of memories.

This book is sure to appeal to those who have a penchant for reflective, quiet, and well-written stories.

It offers a glimpse into the life of an ordinary woman, yet manages to find the beauty and significance in the mundane.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Stone Diaries" presented a real challenge for me when it came to writing a review. I deliberately waited a few weeks after reading it to gain a bit more objectivity and better parse what Ms. Shields was truly aiming for in her birth-to-death life story of Daisy Flett Goodwill.

One of the major issues I had with this fictional biography/autobiography was the constantly shifting perspective, from first person to third person omniscient narrator. This change often occurred from one paragraph to the next, almost as if Ms. Shields, in the middle of the narrative, forgot who she had designated to tell the story at that particular moment. However, some passages were written with absolute clarity and beauty, resonating like poetry. So, I attributed my confusion to my own shortcomings and continued reading, following Daisy's journey. She went from the stone quarries and prairies (and extreme poverty) of Manitoba to relative wealth and prosperity in Indiana (thanks to her stonecutter father, who abandoned her at birth when his wife died during Daisy's delivery and then reclaimed her a decade later after establishing himself in the States). She then moved to Ontario, got married, set up a family, and finally settled into old age in Sarasota, Florida. With perseverance, I was able to obtain a somewhat complete picture of Daisy, albeit indirectly through the stories of the rest of her family. There were a few instances when Ms. Shields completely deviated from narration by using letters, newspaper articles, and (towards the end) cute and twee recipes and other artifacts from Daisy's life in an attempt to round out her life story, with varying results.

Overall, I thought it was a really good effort. Although the narrative structure had its flaws, Ms. Shields compensated for it with profound pools of wisdom that shone and glowed, and (albeit inconsistently) served to provide a more complete picture of Daisy.

A beautiful story about the whole life of the character Daisy, from her birth until her death...

I wished that the house had preserved the arrangement of the paragraphs and their order as in the original, and if they had preserved the picture file of the book in the Arabic version...

But the lack of these two elements has lost the story a great deal in many aspects...

This story seems to be a touching account of Daisy's life journey. We can imagine the various experiences and emotions she went through. However, the mention of the problems with the preservation of the text and picture file in the Arabic version is quite concerning. It's important to ensure that the integrity of a work is maintained during translation and reproduction. These details can significantly impact the overall reading experience and the ability to fully appreciate the story. Perhaps efforts should be made to correct these issues and present the story in its best possible form for readers to enjoy.