GREAT new book!

[kima]

I was so thrilled when the library had Carol Shield's new book Unless in for me a couple of days ago. Once our company left and things eturned to "normal" I dove into it!
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The main character is a 44 year old woman (my age!!!!) and Shields has captured the experiences of this not quite middle age time in our lives perfectly.
The book is about a perfect family in Ontario -one of their daughters disappears, only to be found a week later, mute, sitting on a Toronto street corner with a sign around her neck that says GOODNESS. I won't say much more- I haven't finished it yet, but if you are looking for something to read pick this up!!!
I would like to quote one passage from the book, which so perfectly describes how I feel in a library. There are so many passages in this book that make me want to cry out Yes, that's how I feel, that's it exactly!! I am so thrilled that Shields has recently moved to Victoria. She is battling breast cancer-through all that she writes her finest book! Wow!

I glance around at my fellow citizens as I deposit the books in my sack, and I feel a surge of love for the arbitrariness of our arrangements, that we should be assembled here together in this particular compartment of time, sharing public space, at one with each other in our need for retreat and for the printed word

Perfection!:)

[Chris415]

Thanks for the tip, Kima! I really enjoyed Larry's Party, so I'll have to look for this at the library! :)

And thank you for the quote. It's lovely!
Chris

[tbear1923]

thanks for the tip! I have my BA in English and am an AVID book reader -since i am still in school (nursing now- don't ask...long story) I can't read very much so I get those books on tape/CD to listen to while I drive my 20-30 min to school! I will have to check it out!

[Natasha]

Thanks, Maureen! This sounds WONDERFUL - and that passage you quoted is terrific! I too have felt like that on more than one occasion.

Question for you: I take it you have read other Shields books? How about The Stone Diaries? If so, what did you think? I was so looking forward to it, and it sounded fantastic in the abstract, but for some reason I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would. I haven't read any of her other books, so I don't know if I would experience the same thing with them. Anyone with any insights or opinions on Shields' writing and on whether "Diaries" was typical writing for her - please share! Thanks in advance, and happy reading!

Natasha

[kima]

Hi Natasha!
I liked but did not love The Stone Diaries and could not finish Larry's party. I think you will like Unless but I am older than you and so the main character really resonates with me! You younguns might not relate!:D It is definately written from a feminist's perspective-although there isn't alot of male bashing. As the main character is a female writer I can't help but think Shield's is using this book to share her own experiences with book tours, journalists etc. The writing is wonderful- I will buy it when it comes out in paperback as I am so tempted to underline passages such as the one above. My por Dh has had heard most of the book!
The hard cover price is 36.00- alot in my opinion- of course it will soon be on the bestsellers list and so it will get a discount at you know where!
Anyway for what it is worth I like it alot better than any other Shields book!:)

[Natasha]

Thanks, Maureen, for the well-thought-out review and comparison. It really helps, and I will pick this book up and have a gander (though I'll wait until I see it at the library or at least until it comes out in trade paperback, most likely). And thanks ESPECIALLY for calling me a youngun! :p

Natasha

[HRJ]

Thanks for the recommendation, Maureen. Interestingly enough, I just checked on Barnes and Noble.com, and they have "Unless" listed as a "pre-order" -- says it's not released yet. Could it be out in Canada, but not yet in the US?

I liked "The Stone Diaries" quite a bit -- I found the writing really interesting. Did not like "Larry's Party" nearly as much -- I basically skimmed through the last half of that book.

Another Carol Shields' book that I read and enjoyed very much was "The Republic of Love" -- I read it a while ago, so I can't recall all the details of the plot, but it was about the theme of comittment, within relationships -- if you haven't read it, you might want to give it a try. I'd be curious what you think.

Helene

[Alisa]

I am anxiously awaiting my copy of "Unless" from the library, but I have to second Helene's endorsement of "The Republic of Love". It's my all time favorite Shields book.

[Jessica]

I'm another Carol Shields fan and I thought The Republic of Love was better than the Stone Diaries in many respects. I've reread RoL several times but never picked up SD again.

Happenstance is another good one. The story is set during the 1979 blizzard in Chicago, and she relates the events of one weekend in the lives of a married couple. Half the book tells the story from the husband's perspective and the other half from the wife's. I know it sounds like some weird gimmick but it works really well, and the weather background is fun if you are from Chicago and remember the blizzard.

[Chris415]

I dug out this several-month old thread to also add my kudos to this book! After Maureen's glowing recommendation, it was on my list of must-reads and we finally just got it at my local library. I finished it last night, but it was one of those books that I wondered throughout the day, "what is going on with everyone?"

I closely identified with the main character, although she was a decade older and with children. Just her thought patterns reflected mine and her feeling about her current family crisis. What struck me was when she was having a dinner party and everything was "normal" for the moment, she had to sort of shake herself to remind herself of what is really going on in her life. I identified with this so clearly, as I somewhat felt that same way this summer with my own family situation. And I loved her feminist views! Wow! I felt it had been a long time since I've read someone stand up for women and I thought it was great!

Thanks, Maureen, for the recommendation! :) Another winner!
Chris

[HejazSunKat]

Originally posted by Natasha
Question for you: I take it you have read other Shields books? How about The Stone Diaries? If so, what did you think? I was so looking forward to it, and it sounded fantastic in the abstract, but for some reason I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would. I haven't read any of her other books, so I don't know if I would experience the same thing with them. Anyone with any insights or opinions on Shields' writing and on whether "Diaries" was typical writing for her - please share! Thanks in advance, and happy reading!


I felt the same way about 'Stone Diaries'. I was looking forward to reading it because it had gotten such great reviews and I don't know if I even finished it. It didn't engage me. I don't think that's enough to give up on her though. How many times have you found an author and loved a couple of their books then you read the next one and say to yourself 'Where did that come from?' After Maureen's great review of this book I'd be willing to give it a go (especially if I enjoy the ones she recommended to me for the book swap! :D )

[foodfiend]

I read the Stone Diaries and felt unsatisfied after reading it. I know she was trying to portray the inner life of an ordinary woman, but in a way that shows us she was not at all ordinary. But that left me unsatisfied. I really enjoyed The Republic of Love -- it has the same themes, but I enjoyed the characters and story more.