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sandiet's review against another edition
4.0
Hagar...what to say about Hagar Shipley?
I vaguely remember reading this book in high school and without recalling too much how I felt about it, I know with certainty that a high schooler would never understand or like Hagar. All that a teenager would see is a miserable cantankerous hag/Hagar. On the flip side if you read this book in your later years (say 50+) you'd hope to never become someone like Hagar, but to fully grasp the true depth of The Stone Angel you'd have to have experienced some of life's disappointments to understand Hagar's disillusionment with life. Stubborn as a mule I never understood why Hagar thought she needed to be that tough, never showing affection or love for anyone. You can be tough without being mean and she was just mean to everyone and it was like she couldn't help herself. She would know what she said was wrong but never would apologize for being so harsh.
I also found it interesting that even though Hagar was given a biblical name (Hagar was an Egyptian slave who was "given" to Abraham and bore him his first son Ishmael), Hagar had no use whatsoever for the church.
Not a light whimsical read, The Stone Angel is a study of an emotionally stunted family anchored in misery.
I vaguely remember reading this book in high school and without recalling too much how I felt about it, I know with certainty that a high schooler would never understand or like Hagar. All that a teenager would see is a miserable cantankerous hag/Hagar. On the flip side if you read this book in your later years (say 50+) you'd hope to never become someone like Hagar, but to fully grasp the true depth of The Stone Angel you'd have to have experienced some of life's disappointments to understand Hagar's disillusionment with life. Stubborn as a mule I never understood why Hagar thought she needed to be that tough, never showing affection or love for anyone. You can be tough without being mean and she was just mean to everyone and it was like she couldn't help herself. She would know what she said was wrong but never would apologize for being so harsh.
I also found it interesting that even though Hagar was given a biblical name (Hagar was an Egyptian slave who was "given" to Abraham and bore him his first son Ishmael), Hagar had no use whatsoever for the church.
Not a light whimsical read, The Stone Angel is a study of an emotionally stunted family anchored in misery.
atwele's review against another edition
5.0
This book was my first experience with Margaret Laurence’s writing, and she quickly made it to the list of the most brilliant writers I have ever read.
Her characters are real and relatable. Throughout The Stone Angel the reader is constantly aware of the main character Hagar’s flaws and faults, but I couldn’t help but love her and root for her throughout the book. This book is an honest, raw, and open examination of one woman’s experience of nearing the end of her life.
I am excited to read more of Laurence’s work.
Her characters are real and relatable. Throughout The Stone Angel the reader is constantly aware of the main character Hagar’s flaws and faults, but I couldn’t help but love her and root for her throughout the book. This book is an honest, raw, and open examination of one woman’s experience of nearing the end of her life.
I am excited to read more of Laurence’s work.
diszie's review against another edition
2.0
I had to read this for a class back in high school. I absolutely HATED reading about this bitter old woman.
raulbime's review against another edition
4.0
Hagar Shipley is ninety. She hates depending on people, meaningless banter, showy décor and jewellery and clothing, impropriety, and has the self-awareness to recognize the pride in herself. The life she's led is about to be disrupted when her immediate family plans to leave her in the care of a nursing home, and she decides to make one last act of rebellion.
Through flashbacks the portrait of Hagar's life is slowly pieced together; from her childhood in the Canadian fictional town of Manawaka to her old age, through the formations and tragedies that moulded her to the person she is, in clear simple prose. The most fascinating part of this story, for me, is the way Laurence shows how people can make the same mistakes their parents made with them with their own children, despite knowing better. That they may carry the same prejudices and biases they recognized and, almost, unwittingly act as conduit to whatever cycles they attempted to escape.
This is the kind of story I like. One that can take a character that is normal, with an ordinary life, and with adept precision show the extraordinary forces–internal and external–that propel a life to the shape it takes. The first Margaret Laurence book I've read and looking forward to reading more by her.
Through flashbacks the portrait of Hagar's life is slowly pieced together; from her childhood in the Canadian fictional town of Manawaka to her old age, through the formations and tragedies that moulded her to the person she is, in clear simple prose. The most fascinating part of this story, for me, is the way Laurence shows how people can make the same mistakes their parents made with them with their own children, despite knowing better. That they may carry the same prejudices and biases they recognized and, almost, unwittingly act as conduit to whatever cycles they attempted to escape.
This is the kind of story I like. One that can take a character that is normal, with an ordinary life, and with adept precision show the extraordinary forces–internal and external–that propel a life to the shape it takes. The first Margaret Laurence book I've read and looking forward to reading more by her.
lmntl's review against another edition
5.0
This is an incredible read. It is an amazing story with a rich character. You love to hate Hager. Strange but you also feel sorry for her.
swfountaine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
redchickadee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0