Small Ceremonies

I have not yet read anything by Carol Shields that I have not liked, so this book was no exception in that regard. As always, her characters are flawed, and likeable more because of that than anything else. Judith Gill, the main character in this book finds herself looking at her life in an almost bewildered way. She knows she should be happy, but wonders if she truly is. Shields has injected the novel with her usual dose... Read Full Review

Carol Shields welcomes us in her first novel to the Ontario home of Judith Gill, and the table is set for a wonderful read. Shields's prose is tight and flows on humor, descriptive genius and observations that qualify as wisdom for any age. Lots goes on in this somewhat messy, subversive house: biographer and frustrated novelist Judith spins a tale of rude surprises, unexpected joys and everyday living over a 12 month period,... Read Full Review

Small Ceremonies is a book to get lost in. Carol Shields has a way of making honouring everyday rituals, conversations and events and presenting them to the reader in a way that makes us savour her characters and stories. Like all Shields' novels, poems and plays, the irresitable Small Cermeonies, leads to contstant searching for more Carol Shields works. To publishers - devout readers want out of print works reprinted!... Read Full Review

The first Carol Shields book I read was "The Stone Diaries" which of course deserved all its awards. Then "Larry's Party" which, though it was somewhat ignored by the literary press, was every bit as enjoyable as "Diaries." By then I had realized that Shields is one of our greatest living novelists. I picked up "Small Ceremonies" knowing it was nearly 25 years old -- her first published novel -- and expecting it to... Read Full Review

This book was an interesting look at how someone goes about discovering who they are later in life. A biographer who can only look at other people's lives through items or other people's writings. Her complaint of not having the chance to actually ever have met her latest subject makes for a nice ending when she lets another writer know what she does about his facade. Carol Shields writing is always clear, concise and tells... Read Full Review