Review: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
1995 Pulitzer Prize Winner
And the question arises: what is the story of a life? A chronicle of fact or a skillfully wrought impression?
“I wanted to have a lot of other voices filtering in and out, representing Daisy’s fantasies of what other people imagined about her. We all wonder how other people see us, and Daisy is no exception.”
The author has chosen to use both methods. For example, here is Daisy writing about “Daisy”:
The acts of her life form a sequence of definitions, that’s what she tells herself…Sometimes she looks at things close up and sometimes from a distance…Still, hers is the only account there is, written on air, written with imagination’s invisible ink.
She enlarges on the available material, extends, shrinks, reshapes what’s offered; this mixed potion is her life. She swirls it one way or the other, depending on…the fulcrum of desire, or of necessity.
For me, this is a book about exploring one’s life, and self, in order to determine the meaning behind both. And even though I could not connect with the person of Daisy Goodwill – her story and the way in which it is written, challenges me to think of my own life, and more importantly my place in it. I am giving this book 3 Stars and a strong recommendation.
wow. thanks for referring me to your review.
i wonder–since so long has passed since you read the book–do you feel (now, in retrospect) that it made a strong impression? i think it's really funny how books can do that–you might find all kinds of flaws with them as you're reading, and then be totally unable to forget them.
1I also just finished reading it and give it a 2 rating. It started as a 5, but soon turned to a 1 (it lacked thoughts and intimate details in the middle part of the book). Gradually worked its way back up to 2. I don’t think it was prize worthy at all.
2I actually just finished reading this book this morning. I agree with your thoughts, and I’m still trying to collect mine so that I can write about it on my blog.
3