The Stone Angel

A 4.5 star read! This book was a pleasure and joy to read. Lawrence is an effortlessly talented story writer. Hagar Shipley is a character that is deeply faulted and human yet honest and truthful. Hagar is deplorable at times as well as frustrating yet she adequately represents the women we have encountered in our youth and old age but also within ourselves. Mistakes we make as women. Regrets we have as women. Identity crises that occur within women over being wives, mothers and individual human beings. Lawrence's social commentary on the ageing process is beautifully written about within this novel as well. She makes this novel appear a simplistic novel about Hagar Shipley's life. Yet this book has been perfectly woven to include much richer content on women's experiences. A truly talented writer and her writing style is beautiful. I will re read this book happily and aim to read more of her works in the new year!

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 I'm 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?

“I can't change what's happened to me in my life, or make what's not occured take place. But I can't say I like it, or accept it, or believe it's for the best. I don't and never shall, not even if I'm damned for it.”

“Hard to imagine a world and I not in it. Will everything stop when I do? Stupid old baggage, who do you think you are? Hagar. There's no one like me in this world.”