The Diviners in Never too Late to Read Classics

Oct 28, 2022 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aging, 20th-century-literature, classics, women-writers, canadian, coming-of-age, literary-fiction

The Diviners is a divine book written from the point of view of a middle-aged woman, Morag Gunn, looking back over her life and assembling the pieces of the puzzle that can tell her who she is. It is the final book in the Manawaka series, of which I had only read the first, The Stone Angel, and that many, many years ago. I am now resolved to read that one again, and indeed anything I can get my hands on that has been written by Margaret Laurence.

Morag's story begins in tragedy, the death of both ...more

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Nov 13, 2022 Chrissie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hf, classics, arts, swedish-narration, series, feminism, england, scotland, race, native-am

A well written book, but one that does not resound with me. The central character is an independent, free-spirited woman and a dedicated author. As are the other two of the Manawaka Sequence, although each very different from the others, it is loosely based on Margaret Laurence’s own life. As such, it is semi-autobiographical fiction. The characters focused upon are different in each novel. In this, Laurence’s last book, feminism and the life, trials and tribulations of a female author and singl A well written book, but one that does not resound with me. The central character is an independent, free-spirited woman and a dedicated author. As are the other two of the Manawaka Sequence, although each very different from the others, it is loosely based on Margaret Laurence’s own life. As such, it is semi-autobiographical fiction. The characters focused upon are different in each novel. In this, Laurence’s last book, feminism and the life, trials and tribulations of a female author and single mother come to the fore. How one is to work one’s way up in this career, how to maintain one’s independence, how to establish a healthy, viable relationship with a daughter as independent, free-spirited and opinionated as oneself are the themes one considers while reading this book.

The story ties Canadian history with questions related to ethnicity and social class. We meet a garbage collector, professors, songwriters and singers, water diviners and those of mixed ethnicities. They are looked down upon by many of the respectable, well off, established class. We read of the Metis people. The book is considered a Canadian classic, at least partially due its focus on Canadian issues related to its people and its history.

The story looks at how the past and the present are interwoven. It has readers thinking about how in our mind’s eye the past may be altered, twisted or revised. History depends on who is doing the remembering. Laurence pulls this off not only through topics discussed but also by how the story is told. Each chapter begins in the present. Morag Gunn tells of her life. She is forty-seven and an acknowledged author. Past events are revealed through flashbacks--looking at photos, “memorybank films” slide into her consciousness. The telling of the story slips back in time. Likewise, we view different places too—the Manitoba prairie lands. Vancouver, Toronto, England, Scotland, India. These jumps in time and place I found confusing sometimes. The book might perhaps be classified as metafiction! I see this more as a minus than a plus. Technique gets in the way of the story.

One final point--consider the title. Water diviners do find water, despite that scientifically we do not understand how this works. Now take the idea of this a step further. Can we divine how to live a better way of life? The book has a diviner, but it also pushes us to consider the bigger question.

Brita Nilzén narrates the audiobook well. The only thing I had trouble with was recognizing names, but this is because Laurence gives the characters unusual names. I guess they are typically Canadian, and I was unfamiliar with them. The narration I have given four stars.

A good book, I would say, particularly from a Canadian perspective. It will appeal to those readers of a strong independent, feministic bent. I am a bit too traditional in how I view marriage. It will also appeal to to-be authors. In addition, the book’s metafictional aspect bothered me.

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Manawaka Sequence
*A Bird in the House 4 stars
*The Stone Angel 4 stars
*The Diviners 3 stars ...more

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