Stone Heart

by Luanne Rice

From New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a long-awaited opportunity for readers to discover an acclaimed early novel–one of this cherished storyteller’s most powerful and complex portraits of the fragile bonds of family and home.

STONE HEART

Nomadic archaeologist Maria Dark is returning home again to the Connecticut shore–a magical place where she, her sister Sophie, and their brother Peter spent their childhood on the banks of Bell Stream. After fifteen years away, Maria hopes that she can rediscover the joy and optimism of her youth in the arms of her family. But things have changed. Maria’s siblings and her mother have weathered difficult times...and Sophie and her children are not as happy as they seem. Now Maria will embark upon an emotional journey–navigating the memories of a tender past–toward the truth at the heart of her family and the chance for a new beginning.

A remarkably graceful and intuitive novel, Stone Heart reveals the depths of faith and love that can mend life’s most fragile and precious ties. As never before, Luanne Rice inspires us all to look love squarely in the eye and never let it go.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Book Club, Family, Adult

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, translated into thirty languages. Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. Most recently she has written thrillers, including one based on a murder that affected her family. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.

Reviews

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am getting so old and decrepit I was about a quarter way through this before I realized I'd read it before. This is why I need to get rid of books after finishing them. But since my memory is shot, I barely remembered anything about it so ended up reading it anyway. This one was good because it had an unvarnished message about domestic abuse.

[Jyoti Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

dont bother reading...kinda left a bad taste in my mouth...not the best!

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read many of this author's books so I was very disappointed in this one. I'm not really sure what it was that made this so difficult. Some may be due to the fact that this was one of the author's first novels - the edition I have is actually a 2005 reissue of her original 1990 book - so maybe she was still honing her style. The main themes in this book are very difficult. Maria is dealing with the end of her marriage while her sister Sophie is dealing with domestic violence and its aftermath. These are both very emotionally laden topics and it was hard to read about this family's dysfunction, so very sad. I guess the end gave some hope that the children would be okay, but even that was in doubt for much of the book. Domestic violence does need to be discussed but this was just too dark, too emotionally fraught for me.

Also part of Summer at the Shore mini-challenge.

[Mariana Verissimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite captivated by this book. I really identified with the longing of the main character to be with and understand her family in deeper ways, and I was pleasantly surprised by how the author expressed the perspectives of characters in the story. The conversation about abuse that this book brings seems to me helpful in that it reveals some of the complexities felt by both those directly and indirectly affected by the abuse. I'm not sure I've ever finished a book within a week, so it was good!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abuse is never an easy subject to read about--or to write about--but as usual, Luanne Rice does it in a way that sees the human point of view rather than a melodramatic, black-and-white narrative. Not to say there aren't good guys and bad guys per se; its more that she sheds a light on small positive aspects and basic causality in a way that makes the antagonists more human and therefore more tragic. It's easier to hate the actions of someone with a kernel of humanity in them than it is an almost cartoonish super-villain--and that's what makes this story so good. Sometimes it's difficult to decide who to root for, and isn't that the case often enough in real life? It's a familiar storyline, the passing of abuse down from one generation to the next until one way or another, someone finds a way to end it. Poignant and relatable--more so for some of us than others--this is a story worth spending a weekend on, if you can handle the feelings it brings up.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

From what I could take away from the book's description on the back, I assumed this would be about a woman coming home after years away and having to fit back into her family. It was about that but just as much about her sister's family. I almost cried a few times - when Sophie saw her kids for the first time in months, at the end when Maria buries the skeleton back.

The love story was sweet without being too much a part of this (although I thought it weird that Duncan was introduced as a "friend" first and then suddenly he was the One Who Got Away).

The only thing I didn't like was the weird and rare narrations by Sophie in Parts 2 and 3. It was jarring to get into her head and then just as suddenly we'd be back with Maria (in the third person singular).

[Isabel Luna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tras dejar a su marido, la arqueóloga María Dark regresa a su pueblo natal de la costa de Connecticut, un lugar mágico donde ella, su hermana Sophie y su hermano Peter pasaron su infancia a orillas del arroyo Bell.
Tras quince años de alejamiento, María espera recuperar la alegría y el optimismo de su juventud en brazos de su familia. Pero las cosas han cambiado. María, su madre y hermanos han pasado momentos difíciles... y Sophie y sus hijos no son tan felices como parecen.
María se embarcará en un viaje emocional, navegando por el recuerdo del pasado de una familia y tratando de comenzar de nuevo.
La trama gira principalmente en q, después de su divorcio (q nunca es una experiencia agradable) María vuelve a su ciudad natal. Como pasó mucho tiempo fuera, la gente la mira y la trata como una desconocida; y esto incluso su familia. El problema está en q, poco a poco, se va dando cuenta q el problema para el distaciamiento no necesariamente es ella, en el caso de su hermana y sus hijos.
Por supuesto, como es prácticamente una foránea, nadie le hace caso cuando empieza a hablar de sus sospechas sobre lo q pasa con su hermana y encima de todo, una nueva relación es lo último q necesita pero algo q no necesariamente va poder evitar.
Recuerdo la historia, pero haciendo memoria, no puedo decir q me haya gustado demasiado. La historia es muy oscura para mi gusto y el poco romance q recuerdo, es demasiado tibio.

[Le Dillingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Honestly this was really hard to put down — it’s not the type of book I normally go for, but found it for a dollar on clearance at half price books. Dark, and hard to stomach at times — as I knew nothing going in, this story was genuinely enthralling and surprising as it unfolded. I think there are some moments where the interpersonal dynamics are a bit clunky or underdeveloped, and unfortunately, as with so many thriller/mystery types, I think it ends a little too quickly and the “resolution” feels jarring and sad. But with all that said, life can be jarring and unresolved; people are complicated and messy. Luanne Rice didn’t pull any punches with the reality of trauma, abuse, family, and brokenness. Perhaps nobody can be fully redeemed.

[LInda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about lots of uncomfortable things -- domestic abuse both physical and emotional, the effects of seeing/hearing it on children, divorce, annulment. This family put the dys in dysfunctional. A lot of bad feelings come from the matriarch, who has the same issues as a wolverine, only hers are worse. Both her daughters hate her, and her son tolerates her. Barely. She is a widow and has a gentleman friend whom she treats with barely concealed contempt. Obviously there are a lot of bad people in this story, but most of them get what they deserve. There were some bad reviews, but I enjoyed the entire thing. Good one, Luanne.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another (for me, reading completely and totally out of order) really good mystery/psychological thriller by Luanne Rice.

Would give this 4 stars were it not for the fact that it dealt with abuse, both physical and psychological. I mean, I knew (part of) that going in; it was right there on the flyleaf copy. And, obviously I read the book, or I wouldn't be writing about it.

So, yeah, 5 stars for a lot of the writing, 5 for being escapist tonic when I need a dose, 2 stars for the formulaic factor, negative-108 for the ick factor.

So thankful there are more by her to be read by me!

[Elizabeth Ambrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Luanne Rice I have read. Will be ready to read more. Found the interactions between people interesting. With no parents still alive personally for a number of years. This does give a new perspective and raise issues that I have never really considered . No - relationships within family is never perfect. Some cross the lines of decency. What is really acceptable behaviour? Opens a lot of issues often hidden. Found the book really interesting and revealing also. Thank you Luanne Rice .

[Sandy Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, but difficult to read. The subject was family and domestic violence. It was pretty graphic and straightforward about the abuse and how it affected the family, immediate and extended. It was worth the time to read and had some hotlines at the end for women in situations like this. Just very sad to know what some may be suffering!

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Al leer el review pensé que la historia tenía relación directa con las casas construidas sobre cementerios indios, tipo Poltergeist, pero no, nada que ver.
El libro cuenta la historia de una familia y los grandes cambios que sufrió con el pasar de los años, con una alta dosis de abuso físico y mental.

[Louie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complex novel that doesn't shy away from the brutality of domestic violence and the damage it can do to those affected by it. While I thought that the take on D.V. was nuanced and the characters at the heart of the novel compelling, I found that the romance felt unnecessary and took from the other more interesting aspects of the novel.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

would have been 4 stars, but some parts, especially the ending, felt rushed. I did like that it showed domestic abuse isn't just physical. There is so much that is emotional and psychological. Stripping somebody of who they are and the ripple effects that come from it.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love Luanne Rice, but I’m not sure about this one. I didn’t want to put it down, but by the end, I wasn’t sure I liked it. It was a little far-fetched for me, having both parents being abusive to each other.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I really enjoyed, although the topic is a tough one filled with emotional, verbal and physical abuse within a family that from all outward appearances is just perfect. There are secrets and lies too big for little kids to have to try to keep.

[Kelli Barber · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book needed a warning: the back cover summary was cheap and generics. The book deals with both domestic & child abuse. Wish I had known that prior to reading - guess I should’ve read reviews first. I didn’t like the writing; it just seemed off. I do NOT recommend this book.

[Janine Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matige roman over archeologe die is gescheiden, terugkeert naar haar geboorteplaats, en er daar achter komt dat het sprookjeshuwelijk van haar zus eigenlijk heel dramatisch is.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to cry. What a sad life Sophie had!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked her portrayal of Maria and how she handled members of her family and grew herself in the process.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Luanne Rice's writing, but I found this book dark and difficult to read as it dealt with both child abuse and spousal abuse. Still worth reading, but it's left me feeling sad.

[Robbin Henson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family affected by spousal abuse and her sister and brother trying to save her.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy reading Luanne Rice books. I haven't read one in a while. Pretty quick read-I needed to find out what happened.

[Steff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a decent read. Some parts dealt with difficult issues, but the disappointing part for me was that it seemed disjointed. it was poorly developed, and some things just didn't make sense.

[Audrey Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating story

[Dyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written, dark, and not easy-to-read story about the "elephant in the living room" called domestic violence. Upon separating from her husband, archaeologist Maria Dark returns home to Hatuquitit, Connecticut. She slowly realizes that something is not right with her sister Sophie, her husband Gordon, and their two children, Flo and Simon. At first glance they seem like the perfect loving family, but Maria soon learns that they are not as happy as they seem. This book details the insidious stages and levels (physical, verbal, and emotional) of domestic abuse and the secrets which feed denial that keep those involved from getting help. Maria's mother and brother and his wife do not, at first, believe what is going on because they see Sophie every day and never figured out the abuse that was taking place. This revelation makes Maria doubt what she thinks is an escalating problem; and, therefore, everyone is shocked when tragedy occurs. Two subplots involve Maria's excavation of an Indian woman who was murdered in 1665 on a nearby Island and her blossoming love with Duncan, a former high school friend who is also separating from his wife. Lots of plot twists and turns - good read.

[Mary Chrapliwy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book. I was looking through my book shelf a couple days ago - so many books, so little time - when I happened upon this book. I thought this would be a quick easy read, or even a book I would start and abandon for lack of interest. Neither proved to be true.

Luanne Rice brought the New England family at the heart of this story so vividly to life and the bar of suspense just high enough, that all other reading was shoved aside in favor of this book. The beauty of this story of family secrets and tragedies is that, once you think you have it figured out, Rice throws yet another surprise in. It is told mostly from the main character Maria's point of view, but it is lightly interspersed with first person point of view narrative from her sister Sophie.

This is a well-written, literary novel that kept me turning the pages even after my eyes began to blur from the eye strain of reading continuously for hours. An excellent story, told in heartbreaking detail that will stay with me for many days to come.

[The Decaffeinated Writer (Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book that was difficult to put down. Throughout the story, I was trying to understand the characters' mental state that allowed them to act in the ways they did. Would have liked to see the main character, Maria Dark, developed a bit more. It seems she was used more as a vessel to present her family's stories than as an important character on her own. Still, very engrossing story. I was a little surprised by the ending, and found myself crying for Sophie, her children, and the rest of her family.