From the Bookshelf of Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die…
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What Members Thought
This is what I mean when I say good woman writing. She tells an amazing story, the writing blew me away, and there was so much to think about. I wasn't expecting too much, because I read The Stone Diaries, and was so blown away that I didn't think she could ever write anything anywhere near as good, and I didn't want to be dissappointed. And I wasn't!
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Eldest daughter of book's narrator inexplicably drops out of college and lives on a street in Toronto with a sign that says "Goodness" around her neck. Also a narrative theme of feminism is weaved throughout the book. Ultimately, though, a book about self-understanding.
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Shields is one of my favorite authors, and a rather influential Austen scholar as well. Originally from from Oak Park, IL (like some of my favorite people), she chose Canada for her home after spending some time in Scotland. I was burning through Shields' novels a while back, but decided to slow down after she died. I want to savor her writing, rather than gulping it down.
Unless was her last novel, and it tracks the mysterious breakdown of a young woman who suddenly leaves university, abandons h ...more
Unless was her last novel, and it tracks the mysterious breakdown of a young woman who suddenly leaves university, abandons h ...more
Dec 05, 2009
Tiffany
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
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4.5 stars.
After Reta's daughter, Norah, is seen on the street wearing a sign that says "GOODNESS," Reta begins to question what "goodness" means. She becomes even more aware of and frustrated by the way women are represented (or more correctly, *aren't* represented) in culture, from being seen as the more fragile sex to being left off of lists of influential authors, and she worries that that depiction of women's lack of a place in the world is what drove her daughter to despair.
Unlike some of ...more
After Reta's daughter, Norah, is seen on the street wearing a sign that says "GOODNESS," Reta begins to question what "goodness" means. She becomes even more aware of and frustrated by the way women are represented (or more correctly, *aren't* represented) in culture, from being seen as the more fragile sex to being left off of lists of influential authors, and she worries that that depiction of women's lack of a place in the world is what drove her daughter to despair.
Unlike some of ...more
I read this book because it was on the 1001 Books to Read list...It wasn't bad, but I didn't love it. There were moments when I really enjoyed the narrative. However, as someone on the discussion board so aptly put it, the writing felt a bit pretentious and I couldn't get passed that and had a hard time really caring about the characters.
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Writer worries after her three daughters, the oldest of whom is living on the street, holding a sign reading "Goodness."
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Mar 02, 2007
Ali
marked it as to-read
Feb 27, 2008
sarafem
marked it as to-read
Aug 25, 2008
Esther
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
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Apr 20, 2010
Saunteringfiend
marked it as to-read
Aug 28, 2011
Chas
marked it as to-read
Feb 15, 2013
nawir nawir
marked it as to-read
