Review “One of the best novels I have read. . . . Deft, funny, poignant, surprising and beautifully shaped—in total command of itself and its language.” —Margaret Atwood“A compelling work . . . exquisitely crafted.” —The Globe and Mail (Toronto)“Gently satirical . . . [Carol Shields] has a compassion for her characters that can make you ache for them.” —The New York Times“Well-drawn characters, expert writing, and silky malice are combined in an exceptionally satisfying work of fiction.” —The Atlantic Monthly   Read more Book Description Carol Shields wrote dazzling, haunting stories of lives just like ours, turning our interior worlds into beautiful labyrinths—a writer worthy of comparison to fellow Canadian greats Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
A**.
An interesting view of writers, publishers, and reviewer, with a bit of a mystery in the mix.
This is an out of the ordinary book--partly a critique on the importance of reviewers and reviews, and partly a glimpse into life in a Canadian small town. The actual "mystery" involved is really not a critical part of the story and the solution of that mystery is swiftly solved at the end of the book with no real shock to the reader. I would recommend the novel as an interesting look into the world of literature as a commercial enterprise.
M**E
Not my favorite Carol Shields novel
The Stone Diaries and Larry's Party are two of my favorite books, but I didn't love Swann as much as I'd hoped to. Parts of it are haunting and will stay with me for a long time. The writing is lovely and parts of it are very funny, and I appreciate Shield's obliquely cynical take on academics and the study of literature. But overall it is slow-moving. Shields does have a surprising talent for getting you to invest in sad, disappointed, unlikable characters, though. There are a lot of complex layers to this story.
R**A
Hauntingly Beautiful Writing
Carol Shields is an elegant writer who wrote a hauntingly beautiful novel of the life of a fictional poet named Mary Swann. Shield aptly depicted how difficult it is for any poor and uneducated woman to get recognized in literary circles. This was the best part of the novel. The ending was a disappointment and seemed out of sync with the rest of the novel.
C**G
When the writing matters...
This book is one long, beautiful dream. The topic is simple, and so is the plot, but the descriptions of both are beyond beautiful.
C**T
Odd but enjoyable
Odd but enjoyable. Not at all mysterious. It was clear from quite early on who was responsible for the various disappearances.
J**E
Definitely a good read
This intriguing, often amusing story exposes and gently pokes fun at academia. The characters are memorable and the plot winds circuitously to its climax. Who was Mary Swann, anyway?
L**A
Five Stars
A pleasant read, really interesting.
M**Z
Five Stars
Wonderful characters and so well written
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