Itemize Books To The Stone Angel
| Original Title: | The Stone Angel |
| ISBN: | 0887546315 (ISBN13: 9780887546310) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Manawaka(Canada) |
James W. Nichol
Paperback | Pages: 120 pages Rating: 3.99 | 4550 Users | 71 Reviews
Declare Out Of Books The Stone Angel
| Title | : | The Stone Angel |
| Author | : | James W. Nichol |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 120 pages |
| Published | : | September 1st 2002 by Playwrights Canada Press (first published 1964) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Cultural. Canada. Classics. Literature. Canadian Literature. Adult Fiction. Academic. School |
Narration As Books The Stone Angel
It is the late 1960s, and Hagar Shipley’s days are drawing to an end. In the course of an afternoon, Hagar’s life unfolds: her childhood in a small prairie town, her Scottish immigrant father, the tumultuous relationship with her now-estranged husband, her sons, and their partners. Based on the novel by Margaret Laurence.
Rating Out Of Books The Stone Angel
Ratings: 3.99 From 4550 Users | 71 ReviewsAssess Out Of Books The Stone Angel
After reading Wuthering Heights, this was another heavy book to swallow but not nearly as good. It was ok. I liked it when old, crotchety Hagar would make fun of and criticize others in her mind and sometimes out loud, but then it got old and annoying after awhile just as I suspect it would in real life. I did like the flashbacks into Hagar's life though. That was interesting. But I felt bad for the life that Hagar lived. So unhappy. And I cheered for no one in the book. There was no hero andI really enjoyed this tale of sparky old age by a Canadian writer. Hagar Shipley is a holy terror who leads her son and daughter-in-law a merry dance, but her reminiscences unpack a remarkable life. I loved her independent spirit, originality and sense of humour. Residential care just couldn't contain that free a spirit.
This felt like the literary equivalent of running your fingers over an intricately carved mahogany chest. There was a sensual pleasure, the experience of savoring exquisite craftsmanship, the delight in touching quality materials and the awareness that such beauty is given to such a straight forward function.
I never dreamed that this book would blow me away. Hagar Shipley is ninety-ish and at the end of her life. The book tells both stories of her last days as well as stories Hagar remembers about her life. What a tough bird she is, hard on her older son, indifferent to her husband. This is a book that feels very, very true. I recommend it highly and Im adding it to my list of best reads ever. One question that nags at me: Is Hagar a relative? Can I blame it on her (and my) Scotch blood?
This book goes back and forth between the last days of an old woman and her recollections of her life. I found the book as a whole to be hard and cold, a difficult read--reflecting a hard and cold life. At the same time, much of the writing was vivid and poetic and a joy.
Margaret Laurence ranks as a great, world-class author and this book is possibly her finest. It is also very much about rural Canada. My own grandmother, who had experienced much of what Hagar had, was dying at the time I read the book and I could hardly finish it, since it seemed so gut-wrenchingly at the heart of aging.
The movie was good but the novel was set in the late 60's when there weren't cell phone so I guess the movie was bumped ahead. This made it hard for me to reconcile the movie with my reading of the book when it first was published. Why change the era and have Hagar talking about smoking marijuana in the seventies unless it was to appeal to younger movie goers? But, hey it's about a 90 year old woman and some of us remember the 60's and liked that decade.
0 Comments