Introduction
Published by October 2023 by Charlotte Wood, Stone Yard Devotional was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2024 for its painfully realistic discussions of grief, forgiveness and the desire to leave your past behind.
A Summary
An unnamed middle-aged woman moves back to her hometown in need of an escape from Sydney, and an indefinite break from the failings of the world around her. She finds herself in a small religious community filled with those devoted to God, but despite their differences, she slowly finds her way into the group.
Years after she has gotten away from those worries, mice start running through the walls, the bones of an old sister arrive and a figure from her past comes back to haunt her.
Writing Style
The writing style is truly unique. The best way to describe it is that it feels airy, although it does contain sad and creepy content. It is split into three parts, with chapters in between and then inside the chapters are a lot of dividers in between paragraphs to separate the thoughts. This adds to the fast paced feel throughout the book.
My Thoughts
I did not anticipate this book to be one of the eeriest novels I would read this year, but it certainly managed it. Stone Yard Devotional feels more like a diary of a woman craving peaceful escape than a plot‑driven story. While I was reading, I found myself feeling reflective about my own wrong‑doings and regrets, simply because the narrator’s thoughts wandered in that direction too. The level of immersion was incredible and, in my opinion, the best part of the story. It takes a lot for me to get creeped out, but something about the way the mouse infestation was described — slowly becoming overwhelming and volatile — really did it for me. I was even having dreams about mice crawling over me, which shows how deeply it weaseled its way into my mind. I appreciate the choice to keep the narrator unnamed and without many distinguishable features. She is defined by her words, her past and her present, and the balance between those shifts back and forth throughout the book. It’s really well done, especially in comparison to Helen Parry, who is my favourite character. She provides an uncomfortable reminder of the narrator’s past and her weak‑willed personality, while also showing the reader that they have a choice: run from the problems of the world or face them. Helen’s portrayal is endlessly complex, and my partner had to listen to me talk about all the potential symbolism. However, the reason it isn’t a five‑star read for me is because I didn’t feel satisfied by the ending. It’s always difficult to end a story that is essentially a linear collection of thoughts across a specific period of time, but this felt especially wrong. Suddenly, the pests went away, the body was buried and Helen left, leaving us almost where we began. It all happened too quickly for me to absorb the meaning behind these events, and I wanted far more introspection from the finale.
Recommendation
I would really recommend this. It’s not a book to read for fun, but it’s one that causes a lot of reflection and self-reckoning.
