Lost in the Stacks: The Fire-Dwellers

Many years ago I worked in a public school and one of the teachers highly recommended the work of Canadian author Margaret Laurence me.  It wasn't until years later that I finally got around to reading one of her books, The Stone Angel, a novel I hugely admire and consider one of my own personal favorites.  Anyone who can make the prickly Hagar Shipley a sympathetic character is a talented author indeed.

I believe Laurence is a well respected and noted author in Canada, so she likely doesn't need me to save her from the library stacks, but as I don't often see her name when I am out and about surfing on the web, and I came across this lovely Virago edition of The Fire-Dwellers, I didn't think twice about pulling it off the shelf and bringing it home with me.

The story, written in 1969, is about a woman in an unhappy marriage in which she feels inadequate.  Nearing forty she believes if only she were thinner or smarter or prettier she would feel more satisfaction.  (Familiar thoughts I suspect for many women--certainly they have on occasion crossed my mind).  Faced with these emotions she begins an affair with a younger man, which doesn't solve her problems any more than drink does.  Of course happiness is something that can only happen when a person looks within to try and understand, which is what Stacey must do to solve her problems.

This is one of five novels that makes up the Manawaka sequence of books--Manawaka is the fictional town in the province of Manitoba based on her actual home town of Neepawa.  The books that make up the sequence are: The Stone Angel, A Jest of God, The Fire-Dwellers, A Bird in the House and The Diviners. 

I'm curious about this book (and not sure whether the set needs to be read in order) as Laurence supposedly does some interesting things with the narration of the story.  It begins:

"Ladybird, ladybird,
Fly away home;
Your house is on fire,
Your children are gone.

--Crazy rhyme.  Got it on the brain this morning.  That's from trying to teach Jen a few human words yesterday.  Why anybody would want to teach a kid a thing like that, I wouldn't know.  Half those nursery rhymes are gruesome, when you come to think of it.  Here is a candle to light your bed, and here comes a chopper to chop off your head.  Just the thing to make the sprouts sleep soundly, especially if I followed by that prayer  about if I should die before I wake.  Maybe it's okay, though.  Prepares them for what they can expect.  Stacey, you sure are joyful first thing in the morning.  First thing, hell.  It's a quarter to nine, and here's me not dressed yet."

Something I noticed when I read The Stone Angel, and I suspect is also true with this book--it is one I think I will appreciate more as an adult with years and experience behind me, rather than as a younger woman.  Times and circumstances may change, but there are some emotions and feelings that will always remain the same.  Since Laurence writes about universal themes and stories that can be returned to and read more deeply, I'm not surprised she has achieved classic status and certainly she should be more widely read.

Comments

[BuriedInPrint]

You would enjoy this one just fine on its own, without following the chronological publication of Laurence's Manawaka books. Funnily enough, I was just petting my copy of this one earlier today: perhaps the bookish universe is nudging me towards a re-read!

[avisannschild]

Oh you must definitely read all the Manawaka books! Margaret Laurence is one of my favourite writers (I read The Stone Angel in high school), but my favourite is The Diviners. You don't need to read them in any particular order, I don't think, but note that A Jest of God is a companion novel to The Fire-Dwellers: it's about Stacey's sister.

I've never seen the Virago editions of her books; I'm used to the New Canadian Library editions!

[Caroline]

How wonderful, another new author to discover. I haven't read a lot of Canadian authors and would like to remedy that. I'll have a look at The Stone Angel.

[cathy]

Margaret Laurence is still one of the major Canadian authors. I can't imagine her work ever going out of print. When I was in high school, pre Margaret Atwood, Margaret L. was on the curriculum, often the only Canadian author we studied. And you are right, Danielle, about her work being more meaningful as one ages; I certainly appreciate and understand her more now than I did as a teen-ager! I love the cover you depicted here but I, too, am accustomed to the New Canadian Library cover.

[catharina]

Happily this is an author my library has too. Three of the five you mentioned, The Stone Angel and A Bird in the House are not there. Hope to find The Stone Angel through ILL. So this author goes onto my 'to be read'list.

[Deborah/TheBookishDame]

Thanks for the introduction to this author, Danielle. I'll have to wait until my visit to Boston to get all the books, however. So difficult to wait! I need that wholesale book barn of major publishers, though.I love Canadian author, btw.
Deborah/TheBookishDame

[Junie]

A Jest of God was made into the movie Rachel, Rachel, starring Joanne Woodward and directed by Paul Newman.

[Danielle]

BuriedinPrint--I've actually got several of her books on my shelves--after I read The Stone Angel I wanted to read more, but didn't get to any of them right away--you know how that goes. This particular story really appeals to me at the moment--I do want to read more of her books in any case.
Avisannschild--In the US her books are published by University of Chicago Press with very distinctive covers (well, they all match anyway). I didn't realize (but am not surprised) that Virago reissued her books. I'd like very much to read the Manawaka series--if the rest are as good as The Stone Angel, I'm in for a treat.
Caroline--I read far too few Canadian authors myself. I really loved The Stone Angel--it reminded me just a tad of Elizabeth Taylor's Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont because it deals with a woman aging.
Cathy--I think when I was reading Stone Angel I came across reviews that referred to it as a book that is studied in schools. I'm glad I finally read her and really do need to read more of her books. I think I would not have appreciated The Stone Angel as a teenager--it's hard to imagine what it's like turning old when you are only 17--but now that I've lived a while I can totally appreciate how Hagar felt. The themes she seems to write about are universal, so I can imagine her work being read for a long time.
Catharina--So glad you will be able to get her books. Hopefully you'll get The Stone Angel through ILL--I really liked it--it's a very thoughtful sort of story that I think you won't soon forget!
Deborah/The BookishDame--I hope you'll be able to find her books at a bookstore--she certainly should be stocked! I'm lucky as my library has a number of her books and I've accumulated a few more in the last few years--she's definitely worth searching for!
Junie--Thanks--I knew The Stone Angel was made into a movie, which I saw but didn't know any of her other books had as well. I appreciate the heads up. I have this book on hand so I will likely read it first.

[Rebecca H.]

I don't remember the details of The Stone Angel very well, but I do remember enjoying it. I liked the main character and the voice in that book. She is definitely worth exploring further. I'll have to keep an eye out for Virago editions of her books.

[litlove]

I never got very far into The Stone Angel - it was one of those Slaves picks that life rather overtook - and I'd love to give her another try. I also like series of books that happen around the same place. They're so satisfying. And what a pretty Virago edition you have there!

[Liz F]

Ooh another author I didn't know about! And more lovely Viragos to look out for!
Now all I need is the time to actually read!

[Stefanie]

I remember reading Stone Angel and rather liked it. This one sounds good too. And I remember saying that rhyme when I was a kid when we would find labybugs. No idea why we said it but there it is. Probably goes along with the mystery of how stepping on sidewalk cracks could break my mother's back.

[Kathleen]

Another one that sounds appealing to me. I've reached the point in my life through age and experience that some of these themes will certainly resonate with me.

[Simon T]

I thought The Stone Angel was great, and have got A Jest of God also on my shelf, but hadn't realised Virago had republished any more by Laurence...

[Danielle]

Litlove--Lately I've been very hit or miss with Slaves books so I totally understand. And timing really is everything! I would love to know what you think of it if you do go back to it.
Liz--Yes, more reading time please! She's very good if you can get your hands on this--and from what I hear her other books are equally good!
Stefanie--I bet there is some story behind the rhyme, though I haven't a clue what it might be either! I bet there's a book that explains them....there's a book about everything. I think this was actually one of the Slaves books I picked--must say I was pleased with it!
Kathleen--She is definitely someone who you might appreciate with a little age and experience behind you--it's nice being able to say that. :)
Simon--I wonder how many they published--she certainly seems like the perfect Virago author. I have A Jest of God, too! I really would love to read more of her work!