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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good, Very Sad, A worthwhile read, May 20, 2000
The Stone Heart is one of the most heart-wrenching books I have ever read. Very good book, but get ready to cry. It is the story of horrifying domestic abuse, and how hidden that abuse really is. Luanne Rice brings into her story all the aspects of Domestic Violence too, how it affects the children and immediate family, and how family will often fight to keep it under wraps. The excuses, the denial, the hopelessness, and the immense pain that abuse brings are all very present in this book. She brings up the dysfunction and trauma of the early years of both the abuser and the victim, and brings into the light the mental cruelty along with the physical violence that eventually culminates in the worst case scenario of all domestic abuse, death. Although she delves deep into the pain and horrors of domestic violence, I felt she barely skimmed the surface of the agony of suicide, especially when those left behind are children. She does minimally portray the confusion from a death such as this, but I felt should have spent more time on this aspect of abuse since she did such a good job portraying all other aspects. Stone Heart is far more brutal than say, Belva Plain's Whispers. But the most horrifying part of this story is that although it is fiction, in real life this does happen in varying degrees from just the mental abuse all the way up to what unfolds in this book. Maria, our lead character, is no hero either. She struggles with her own personal problems and problems with her dysfunctional Mother, and often does not have the answers. But this is just another way the Luanne Rice stays close to reality in this book, because Maria does keep trying whether she is right or wrong. There is a kind of sub plot to this book that a previous reviewer took offense at. It does involve the excavation of ancient grave by Maria, but I wouldn't read into it all that nonsense about this book being racist. The uncovering of the ancient grave is a real sub plot (Maria is an Archeologist) but it is also a metaphor for the uncovering of her own family secrets, and things about herself, her sister, and her family that maybe should have been left buried. It is a small sub plot and actually is historically inaccurate, but if you want a historical document then go and buy something that doesn't say "Fiction". This novel is a very emotional journey through one family's encounter with hidden, and yet extreme, domestic abuse, and although it will anger you and also make you cry, it is a definite worth-while read.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Forget the Other Reviews, September 15, 2003
Forget all the other reviews you've heard about this book and go get it now. I borrowed this book from the library, but after reading horrible reviews, let it sit for a week before opening it out of curiosity. It was too hard for a die-hard Rice fan like me to believe that she could write anything less than wonderful. And to my delight, I was right. I really enjoyed this book. Unlike most of Rice's books, it didn't have the "ride off into the sunset" type of ending, and it really gave this book another type of dimension for it's readers. It wasn't a perfect life, or a perfect wrap-it-all-up type of ending, and that's what made it great. It follows the lives and lies of one family in a small (how'd you guess) beach town. Although looking in, they seem like the perfect family, it's rotten with lies, abuse, and mental turmoil that keeps you hooked. It also deals with issues many are afraid to touch. I can't even begin to do this book justice. All I can say is get it, read it, and sit amazed at it's twisted story that will keep you hooked and wanting more.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I thought it was a good read...., April 1, 2002
I know most of the reviews here aren't so positive, but I found this book a good read. It is the first Luanne Rice book I have read, and it won't be the last. I thought the story was a sad, but realistic one. It was filled with surprises, twists & turns. I enjoyed the characters, but at times, didn't understand where they were coming from. However, I believe that in a good read, you get more than the predictable story & characters you can relate to. There should be characters who you CAN'T relate to. But at that instance, you learn about people & human nature. And at the end of the story, it should make you stop & think about a situation or attitude that before you didn't know or consider. I recommend this book.
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