Stone Yard Devotional

A woman returns to the area where she grew up after thirty-five years. The first place that she visits is the cemetery containing the graves of her parents. She then travels to the nearby monastic retreat where a group of nuns live but other people can stay for a short time. We do not know the name of this woman or what caused her to make the visit at this time. She is not a religious person but enjoys the quietness and structure of the life at the monastery. She stays for five days. Later she returns for good.

As the narrator records her story about her life at the monastery we learn about her relationship with her mother, who she deeply misses. We also learn a little about her early life at school, especially when a a fellow student from the school stays at the community for a time. There is also mention of a husband, but that is in passing. 

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood is not a life story but provides reflections on life as they relate to events in the present. At the monastery they are contending with a mouse plague. At first just a few, but then swarms of mice in the building and grounds. Then they learn that the body of a former sister at the monastery has been located overseas and will be returned. This is during COVID-19 so many obstacles occur before a final resting place for this sister can be arranged. Accompanying her is Helen Parry who for a variety of reasons is returning to the area where she grew up for a short time.

This novel explores long-term grief for the loss of a loved one. People are complex creatures and the novel also explores long-term feelings held by the woman and regret for past events. What is forgiveness and can a person truly forgive the actions of  others? Respect for the environment is another theme of the novel.

Australian author, Charlotte Wood, shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize