Rating: 
Summary: BAD.
Review: There are certain books you read that make you stop and think: "Lower than rock bottom. There never was a worse book written. Never." During those dark times, you gullibly believe that. Then, turn around and there it is!!! A puff of smoke! Magic! Something comes along that's even worse. Such was the case with this novel. Boring, inexcusably long, overly complex, vulgar. To be very eloquent: BAD. Just plain BAD. BAD BOOK. BAD. Um, I didn't like it in case my point wasn't clear. (I'm a traitor to my country!)
Rating: 
Summary: A winner??
Review: I have heard so much about this novel, and started it with great expectations. The fact that it was a award winner in such an aclaimed competition ensured that I would like it. I was disapointed. The most acurate way to describe this novel, is that of having both good points and bad. Something that confused me immensly whislt endevouring to read this book was whether it fell upon biography or fiction. The photographs and tree lead me believe that it was infact a real family, yet I was told later it was not. I was constantly wanting a climax to the novel, something that would grasp and return my interest in what had so far been a tedious and dull book. It never came. It was the story of, a life. A typical life. We know of it, we can relate to it, so why must we read it? I felt, that while this may attract some readers, it bored the hell out of me. Well written, true to life, sure, but dead dull.
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous
Review: I am a voracious reader and a rather critical one. I absolutely adored this book, could not put it down, and read it about eight times so far. It is beautifully written, rich, articulate. It is certainly a modern classic.
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOKS SUCKED SO BAD I COULDN'T FINISH IT!!!!!!!
Review: This is one of the slowest reads ever!!! By the time I got to the second chapter I could not care less about who was who or what was what. I couldn't stay focussed - probably because it took so long for her to describe a single event (I get it, move on !!!) The only thing I learned from this book is that life is too short to read books like this one.
Rating:
Summary: Superb.
Review: I loved it. Carol Shields writes beautifully...filled with irony and humor. I originally picked it up because of the awards it had won including Pulitzer and National Book Critic Award. Can't wait to read another book by her.
Rating:
Summary: What becomes of a life?
Review: I think the lesson that I took with me from this novel was the idea that our choices in life shape and define who we are but that our social environment sometimes structures and limits our options. What is it like to be an ordinary woman in Canada in the 20th century? There is no single tale but in The Stone Diaries we see the shape of one woman's life as she is born, marries, is widowed, re-marries, has children, and then discovers a career!, and then loses the career, ages, and dies. For anyone who can't picture what the next 5 years of their life will look like, this book suggests take an even broader look. What would your autobiography say? What choices did you make and what didn't you even try?
Rating: 
Summary: It's a biography for many ordinary woman around us
Review: Many people wasn't sure of what's going to happen to him/her and why he/she do cetain things along varies stages of his/her life. The story switches between different perspective (which is one of the theme) simply because though many people intended to be a good mother, daughter etc, she/he really means a different entity to that different people. And this is quite true a fact that this is why a single person have slightly different reaction/action to different people and circumstances. Side notes: The story become much more entertaining after you absorbed the characters after reading it for a while. This is the story of so many ordinary people in the world.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful realistic story
Review: I loved the honesty in Carol Shields book, it prompted me to read most of ther other books. I would say The Stone Diaries was her very best.
Rating:
Summary: A simple, inspiring tale about LIFE...
Review: As others mentioned, I also was waiting for something abrupt or dramatic to occur in Daisy's life, but it never did and I believe that was the point. Everyone has ups and downs in their life, but not everyone experiences something extremely dramatic. One of the themes in Daisy Goodwill's story is that we ALL have a story to tell about our lives, even if we didn't become a hero in the world's eyes. This book is definitely one that is not too intense or difficult to understand, so if you'd like to relax with a touching story about life, give The Stone Diaries some consideration!
Rating:
Summary: An incredible book!
Review: I loved this book!! Although a simple story of one woman and her encounters in life - I appreciated Shields perspective and thoughts on "feminism." I strongly recommend this book to all women! I would love to encounter another book so touching and insightful in such a simple manner!
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