Monday, September 23, 2013

Unless, by Carol Shields



When my book group selected this title to read, which I had read when it came out ten years ago shortly before the author’s death, I could remember little about it except the central premise.  A young college-aged woman has abandoned everything to live, mutely, on the streets holding a sign saying “Goodness.”  Her family, particularly her mother, is devastated and uncomprehending.  As I reread it, I realized that there isn’t really a plot as such to fix it in your mind.  It is more an exploration of ideas, including, of course, what is goodness?  I wasn’t that crazy about the book the first time and didn’t like it much more on second reading I’m afraid.  Too neat an ending for one thing.  336 pp.

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