Continuum Contemporaries

Carol Shields's The Stone Diaries: A Reader's Guide

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Continuum Contemporaries will be a wonderful source of ideas and inspiration for members of book clubs and readings groups, as well as for literature students.The aim of the series is to give readers accessible and informative introductions to 30 of the most popular, most acclaimed, and most influential novels of recent years. A team of contemporary fiction scholars from both sides of the Atlantic has been assembled to provide a thorough and readable analysis of each of the novels in question. The books in the series will all follow the same biography of the novelist, including other works, influences, and, in some cases, an interview; a full-length study of the novel, drawing out the most important themes and ideas; a summary of how the novel was received upon publication; a summary of how the novel has performed since publication, including film or TV adaptations, literary prizes, etc.; a wide range of suggestions for further reading, including websites and discussion forums; and a list of questions for reading groups to discuss.
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July 15,2025
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What an unusual book indeed!

It tells the story of an ordinary woman in the 20th century, born in 1905 and passing away in the 1990s. It also chronicles the four generations of two families. She serves as the link between the present and the past, as the previous generations have now passed on. It's difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, as there is a family tree at the beginning of the book and also photos of the family. All of it is fictional, yet the book is written in such a way that makes you truly believe you are reading the story of a "real" person named Daisy Goodwill Flett.

The book is beautifully written, with the narrator alternating between Daisy (in the first person) and other people (in the third person). The reader is taken to various places such as the Orkney Islands, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Bloomington, Indiana. At times, the book can be a bit depressing, but when you look back, our lives are also like that as we progress from decade to decade and ultimately face our own end. It is a unique blend of biography, autobiography, and historical memoir, offering a captivating and thought-provoking read.
July 15,2025
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A significant number of people held a great liking for this book. They seemed to be completely engrossed in its pages, finding it captivating and engaging. However, for me, it was an entirely different story. I found it extremely difficult to get into the book. From the very beginning, I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot. The writing style didn't seem to resonate with me either. It felt as if I was constantly fighting an uphill battle to understand and appreciate what the author was trying to convey. Despite my best efforts, I just couldn't seem to find that spark that would make me eager to turn the next page. It was a bit disappointing, considering how much others seemed to enjoy it.

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