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nadybl's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Unique. Une auteure qui écrit à propos d’une auteure qui écrit à propos d’une auteure. Réflection sur la condition féminine, sur l’écriture sur la famille. Intelligent et intéressant.
“This is why I read monologue, so I can escape my own unrelenting monologue”
“This is why I read monologue, so I can escape my own unrelenting monologue”
truebookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
This was Carol Shields' last novel. It was nominated for a Booker Prize in 2002. Shields really had a knack for writing people and the various experiences of those people. Unless told an interesting story on the effects of trauma, and there was some feminism in the story as well. I loved the various letters Reta wrote which were included in the story.
franksreads's review against another edition
5.0
Damn this is a beautifully written book. I don't know what else to say atm. I'll be thinking about this for a long while.
solitarysoul's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I cried at the end and it was worth the read.
Ask the question you are looking an answer for or you'll never get the answer.
Ask the question you are looking an answer for or you'll never get the answer.
talking_to_trees's review against another edition
3.0
I must admit that I have never before read a Carol Shields novel, so I am unable to compare this to any of her previous work, which a lot of other reviews did. This particular novel tough, I found riveting, although slightly disturbing due to having a daughter myself and finding myself resonating on various levels with Reta's feelings and actions pertaining to her daughter's withdrawal from society.
Maybe because of this, I read the book rather quickly, desperately needing to know that in the end everything turned out ok for everyone involved. The story centers around Reta Winters and her family: Tom, her husband, and their 3 lovely daughters, Norah, Natalie and Christine, with Reta Winters being the narrator of the story. The eldest daughter Norah, has withdrawn from society, begging on a street corner, wearing a sign that reads 'goodness'. Her family members are baffled, but dealing with it as best they can. As she tries to figure out the meaning of Norah's withdrawal, Reta meditates upon the society we live in, a woman's place within society, and indeed, she covers several generations and even cultures in this respect.
Her views are interesting and an eye opener, to say the least, although I must admit, I haven't ever felt discriminated against for being a woman; Maybe because I don't look for it (although Reta's views certainly opened that world up for me) or maybe just because I live in the genre that no longer feels it has to fight that battle. In any case, besides this particular point, a whole range of thoughts are penned down: Thoughts on goodness, the meaning and interpretation thereof; Trauma and its effect on our lives; Hope; Inclusion; Greatness; And not the least of it, woman's rights versus actual equality and a level playing field. The whole novel had a feminist overtone, but not one that was offensive or even over-bearing in that whole "I hate all men and all men are bastards" voice.
In Reta Winters, Shields create a wonderful character: A Forty-four year old housewife, who, in the 80's, had a problem giving up her maiden surname, yet became a housewife, and later a translator and writer by accident; A woman who loves her family and hardly every thought of the playing field at all, until the moment her daughter withdraws from society.
The only thing that bothered me a little was the title of the book. It is a fine title and she has a whole chapter on the word unless, but I find it a little forced, equaling unless to hope... I am not a title-wiz, so far be it from me to suggest the correct one, but I found the title slightly forced and feel that it could have been better.
Overall, a hugely enjoyable book. I found a lot of reviews stating that this was not Shields' best work. I will have to read her other novels to find out if this is the truth of it or not, but I not opposed to that idea at all.
Maybe because of this, I read the book rather quickly, desperately needing to know that in the end everything turned out ok for everyone involved. The story centers around Reta Winters and her family: Tom, her husband, and their 3 lovely daughters, Norah, Natalie and Christine, with Reta Winters being the narrator of the story. The eldest daughter Norah, has withdrawn from society, begging on a street corner, wearing a sign that reads 'goodness'. Her family members are baffled, but dealing with it as best they can. As she tries to figure out the meaning of Norah's withdrawal, Reta meditates upon the society we live in, a woman's place within society, and indeed, she covers several generations and even cultures in this respect.
Her views are interesting and an eye opener, to say the least, although I must admit, I haven't ever felt discriminated against for being a woman; Maybe because I don't look for it (although Reta's views certainly opened that world up for me) or maybe just because I live in the genre that no longer feels it has to fight that battle. In any case, besides this particular point, a whole range of thoughts are penned down: Thoughts on goodness, the meaning and interpretation thereof; Trauma and its effect on our lives; Hope; Inclusion; Greatness; And not the least of it, woman's rights versus actual equality and a level playing field. The whole novel had a feminist overtone, but not one that was offensive or even over-bearing in that whole "I hate all men and all men are bastards" voice.
In Reta Winters, Shields create a wonderful character: A Forty-four year old housewife, who, in the 80's, had a problem giving up her maiden surname, yet became a housewife, and later a translator and writer by accident; A woman who loves her family and hardly every thought of the playing field at all, until the moment her daughter withdraws from society.
The only thing that bothered me a little was the title of the book. It is a fine title and she has a whole chapter on the word unless, but I find it a little forced, equaling unless to hope... I am not a title-wiz, so far be it from me to suggest the correct one, but I found the title slightly forced and feel that it could have been better.
Overall, a hugely enjoyable book. I found a lot of reviews stating that this was not Shields' best work. I will have to read her other novels to find out if this is the truth of it or not, but I not opposed to that idea at all.
_mallc_'s review against another edition
4.0
This book started slow and I thought I really wasn't going to like it. As it developed more though I once again loved Carol Shields for her thoughtfulness and attention to detail. The feminist rhetoric at first struck me as weak and defeated but ended up perfectly matching the description of Shields as a "gentle feminist" and offered an interesting look at the expression and survival of feminism in the new millennium. I am still not quite sure how I feel about the ending although it did wrap things up nicely.
lowlandsbeach's review against another edition
5.0
Insightful. Feminist. Deceptively simple & readable. I like the idea of a writer writing about a writer (who is writing a book, amongst other themes). This theme is also in memory police.
kingfan30's review against another edition
3.0
In two minds about this book. I enjoyed the writing style of the book and the story line was interesting, but on the other hand I found it quite rambling at times. Pleased to have read it though.
rosannajhunt's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book’s sharp writing style, and I thought the observations about women, writing and cultural value were great. Reta’s thought process as she writes her novel was fascinating. But I struggled to connect with the central plot point of Norah’s leaving - it didn’t quite seem plausible to me, and I found it the least interesting part of the book, which made for a somewhat strange reading experience.