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#884 of 8,085 books · #499 in Fiction

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction (2003), the Booker Prize (2002), and the Giller Prize (2002).

Dazzling novel from Carol Shields. A daughter's mysterious renunciation of the world forces a mother to question the beliefs and convictions she has lived by. Ren, a brilliant student at the University of Toronto, suddenly leaves school and takes up residence in a shelter for the homeless. Her mother, Reta Winters, a translator and writer, is beside herself with grief and confusion. Why would her daughter give up everything? Reta begins to investigate her daughter's past, but also her own—exploring the choices she made, the time she lost, and the person she thought she was. As she struggles with her daughter's incomprehensible decision, Reta seeks answers about identity, purpose, and what really matters in life.

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Publisher
4th Estate
ISBN-13
9780007405060
Genre
Topics
Mother-daughter relationshipsLoss and griefWomen's identity and creativity

Awards

Other awarded books from Carol Shields