Customer Reviews

The Stone Angel

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

This is a powerful story. I read it in my early 20s and it helped me to comprehend the complexity of human relationships.

I read the "Stone Angel for a literature assignment for my grade twelve english class. I tried to start some of her other novels, but I found it hard to get into them. I stayed with this book, because it had a nice title. I did'nt like the flask backs, but when I got to the end it made sense.

Though I'm not Canadian, I too feel great shame for those Canadians who dislike Margaret Laurence and have no apparent literary taste. However, I find this book to be absolutely stupendous and absorbing. I have read it 4 times, and it only seems to get better with each read. I am not just saying this.

Never has there been a more realistic and likeable character than Mrs. Hagar Shipley, someone everyone should be more like. Her unabashed honesty is truly heartwarming. If this is not a feel-good story, then I simply don't know what is!! This is the feel-good book of the year.... This is no overstatement.

Yes. It is sad that people die. But if people did so with as much dignity as Hagar, the world would be a better place. And, no, I am not just saying that, again.

Why hasn't this fine novel---this vanguard story--been adapted into movie form? I see the unflappable Glenn Close playing Hagar--with courage and grace. She's divine.

Those who did not like the book likely did not understand its messages. Uninformed readers are the worst.

The Stone Angel is a book that I felt compelled to read--it is one of the most prestigious titles in the CanLit canon. Unlike many of the "great works of literature" I've read lately, this one didn't disappoint.

The Stone Angel is the story of Hagar Shipley's life, told in her own voice. Hagar is a ninety year old woman living with her son and daughter-in-law. She is rampant with memory. Her struggles for independence are interspliced with vivid recollections of her past.

The narrative voice of The Stone Angel is astounding. Laurence is a master of the simile and provides the reader with beautiful descriptions on nearly every page. At the same time, the narration, from Hagar's lips, constantly provides insight into Hagar and the people that surround her. At times, Laurence is able to tell you more about characters by their grammar than many writers are able to tell you in entire novels. Laurence has a particularly keen sense of diction. Her dialogue reveals mountains of insight about generations gaps, economic divides, and the walls that pride builds.

Overall, this is technically one of the best books I've ever read, and one of the most pleasing.

One of the best books I've ever read! I'm sorry I waited so long to read her books.

The string of poor reviews motivated my review; makes one wonder whether this type of rating system has much validity...

This book widely regarded is a Canadian Classic, and I heartily agree. Deceptively simple language and story-telling through a wonderful character -- Ms. Hagar Shirpley -- results in extraordinary literature! While Ms. Laurence's other books in the series are also great, this one book is likely her best, as it is the most character-driven.

Perhaps the fact that so many Canadian children are forced to read this book in high school (perhaps not the best time to read a book about aging and decline), can explain a lot of these REACTIVE (i.e., emotion-based - NOT BASED ON MERIT) review.

Again, one of the Classic Canadian novels; to be re-read and savoured, like fine Canadian wine and whiskey and beautiful Canadian lanscapes...

Cheers.

I, too, was "forced" to read The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence for my 12U English credit. Perhaps not a book I would have discovered on my own this early in my life, I was pleased with the perspective it offered. It is a warning all young people should heed: You get only one chance at this life, make sure you don't spend it like Hagar Shipley did.

The writing style did not get boring. Laurence is a master of the segue.

What compelled me to write a review is not so much the book itself, but some of the other reviewers. One person wrote they were ashamed to be Canadian because they did not like this book and the author is Canadian. What nonsense! A piece of literature being good or bad is objective- it is not a statement on the validity of a nation. Give your head a shake! We should be proud to live in a country where people have the freedom to write and publish whatever they want- rubbish or not.

Read The Stone Angel. It made sense to me.

I received The Stone Angel quite fast, with the product exactly as described. I would buy again without any doubt from this seller.

Here is a book that I probably wouldn't have picked by choice. I read it for a university course and fell in love with it. It is a definite page turner! I believe that it takes a certain maturity to fully appreciate what it depicts; the reality of the hardships of past generations; how foolish pride is, and how it stands in the way of freedom and happiness. I'm 34, and I must say that I probably would'nt have loved it as much if I'd read it when I was in high school. All in all, I highly recommend it. I felt such strong emotions all along! It was very sad to me and yet, quite beautiful...

The first time I read The Stone Angel was in high school as part of the reading curriculum. Despite my English teacher's best efforts to ruin the book for us, I managed to enjoy it. I was surprised that a book with adult content (mild) had survived the censor's cut, but I was pleased it did.

A year ago I decided to reread the book and found it was even better than I my memory served me. Now that I have some life experience under my belt, I discovered the book to be far more moving and poignant. Margaret Lawrence brings out a true to life character in Hagar, the book's protagonist. Hagar could be your mother, your aunt, or your grandmother.

This is a beautiful, touching, compelling, and powerful book. Hagar's struggle with her own painful life memories as she tries to protect her independence and maintain her pride is quite heartrending. I found myself glued to page after page in this story.

The Stone Angel is the first book of the five-volume Manawaka series. Each book in the series stands alone quite well and is enjoyable on its own. I don't believe Lawrence had intended a series when she first wrote The Stone Angel, however, the books were there to be written, and write them she did.