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The Memory Stones
Nell, a rare female Master of Wine, enjoys an uncluttered and elegant life in Paris, sharing her days with Lulu - the cantankerous poodle her best friend bequeathed to her as a joke on her deathbed - and sharing her passion for wine with Henri, her lover and married vineyard owner. Until a phone call shatters the peace of her carefully constructed world... It is her daughter's neighbour in Ireland, with news so worrying that Nell can no longer avoid the inevitable. She must return home for the first time in over thirty years. But why has it taken Nell so long to swap the boulevards of Paris for the green fields of Western Ireland? And why didn't she even go back for her own mother's funeral? A poignant and gripping exploration of love, loss and the nature of memory itself, THE MEMORY STONES is a moving study of the intricacies of mother/daughter relationships, observed with razor-sharp precision and great tenderness. Nell, a rare female Master of Wine, enjoys an uncluttered and elegant life in Paris, sharing her days with Lulu - the cantankerous poodle her best friend bequeathed to her as a joke on her deathbed - and sharing her passion for wine with Henri, her lover and married vineyard owner. Until a phone call shatters the peace of her carefully constructed world... It is her daughter's neighbour in Ireland, with news so worrying that Nell can no longer avoid the inevitable. She must return home for the first time in over thirty years. But why has it taken Nell so long to swap the boulevards of Paris for the green fields of Western Ireland? And why didn't she even go back for her own mother's funeral? A poignant and gripping exploration of love, loss and the nature of memory itself, THE MEMORY STONES is a moving study of the intricacies of mother/daughter relationships, observed with razor-sharp precision and great tenderness.
374 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 16, 2012
Gentle, perceptive, beautifully written and hugely evocative, this was a lovely study of the relationship between mother and daughter across four generations.
Set largely in the west coast of Ireland, Ali and her daughter Grace have taken on the family pub, one of those places where the pub forms the front of the house and the family live out back and on top, as a result of which the pub and its customers dictate the pace of their lives. Ali has a history of drug abuse and has led a nomadic life until taking on the place after her grandmother Agnes, a true Irish matriarch, dies. But things aren't going well. Ali and Grace are rake thin and unhappy, Ali's partner, Grace's father, is suffering from a mysterious ailment, and a beautiful but threatening stranger, Adam, has moved in to the field at the bottom of the garden.
Nell, Ali's mother, has not been home since she left aged 16 and pregnant. The many reasons why, which have their root in one tragic event, are revealed slowly, as this lyrical tale unfolds and Nell works her way through the 'memory stones' which Agness collected to mark her happiest moments. Back in Paris, where Nell has made her home, her long-time lover Henri is going through his own personal crisis, and the tension of whether or not Nell and Henri will resolve their differences adds another layer to the narrative.
Not a lot happens. This is a book about the complexity of relationships that doesn't make the mistake of widespread resolution and redemption. There are some things left up in the air. Some things are finally laid to rest. And some are severed violently but not necessarily finally. I thought this was a lovely, lovely book, the kind that stays with you for ages after and makes you wonder what if, and how, and why. If there was a sequel I would devour it.
Set largely in the west coast of Ireland, Ali and her daughter Grace have taken on the family pub, one of those places where the pub forms the front of the house and the family live out back and on top, as a result of which the pub and its customers dictate the pace of their lives. Ali has a history of drug abuse and has led a nomadic life until taking on the place after her grandmother Agnes, a true Irish matriarch, dies. But things aren't going well. Ali and Grace are rake thin and unhappy, Ali's partner, Grace's father, is suffering from a mysterious ailment, and a beautiful but threatening stranger, Adam, has moved in to the field at the bottom of the garden.
Nell, Ali's mother, has not been home since she left aged 16 and pregnant. The many reasons why, which have their root in one tragic event, are revealed slowly, as this lyrical tale unfolds and Nell works her way through the 'memory stones' which Agness collected to mark her happiest moments. Back in Paris, where Nell has made her home, her long-time lover Henri is going through his own personal crisis, and the tension of whether or not Nell and Henri will resolve their differences adds another layer to the narrative.
Not a lot happens. This is a book about the complexity of relationships that doesn't make the mistake of widespread resolution and redemption. There are some things left up in the air. Some things are finally laid to rest. And some are severed violently but not necessarily finally. I thought this was a lovely, lovely book, the kind that stays with you for ages after and makes you wonder what if, and how, and why. If there was a sequel I would devour it.
January 8, 2011
"Mothers and daughters are not entirely different from lovers, she thinks. Both have the capacity to destroy and to reconstruct once more. But with each reconstruction a little strip of skin, a transparent graft, must be lifted from somewhere to seal up somewhere else." writes Kate O'Riordan in this beautiful gem of a novel about the relationships between mothers and daughters. A heart-warming, lilting story, rich in its prose and lush in its description of beautiful Ireland, following the lives of four generations of women of one family. The struggles of these women, their bonds, their secrets and their warm, relatable characters make a wonderful tale - a poignant and gripping exploration of love, loss and the nature of memory itself, "The Memory Stones" is a must read!
March 19, 2025
This was a lovely book. Families are complicated (as complicated as lovers as Nell says). This book covers four generations and apart from the fact that the writing is exquisite, it shows us the layers of misunderstanding and miscommunication we get within our families. I related to Nell trying so hard to say the right things when there is so much judgement about each other.
I loved how there was a slow pathway of understanding between Nell and her mother, between Nell and her daughter, Nell and her grand daughter, and Nell and her lover. How she comes to know herself better and how she has coloured her memories with her feelings and judgements instead of connecting with others to understand them more.
I ended up with a pencil marking paragraphs which took my breath away as a writer. I will read this again and I will hunt out more of her books. Very highly recommended.
I loved how there was a slow pathway of understanding between Nell and her mother, between Nell and her daughter, Nell and her grand daughter, and Nell and her lover. How she comes to know herself better and how she has coloured her memories with her feelings and judgements instead of connecting with others to understand them more.
I ended up with a pencil marking paragraphs which took my breath away as a writer. I will read this again and I will hunt out more of her books. Very highly recommended.
October 7, 2017
Mothers and daughters are not entirely different from lovers: both have the capacity to destroy and to reconstruct once more.
But with each reconstruction a little strip of skin, a transparent graft, must be lifted from somewhere to seal up somewhere else - a beautiful gem of a novel about the relationships between mothers and daughters.
A heart-warming, lilting story, rich in its prose and lush in its description of beautiful Ireland, following the lives of four generations of women of one family.
Gentle, perceptive, beautifully written - I found this book a bit of a drag and quite dull in places, but towards the end I couldn't put it down; the main character was likeable, it had some good points about being guarded and loving from a distance...
But with each reconstruction a little strip of skin, a transparent graft, must be lifted from somewhere to seal up somewhere else - a beautiful gem of a novel about the relationships between mothers and daughters.
A heart-warming, lilting story, rich in its prose and lush in its description of beautiful Ireland, following the lives of four generations of women of one family.
Gentle, perceptive, beautifully written - I found this book a bit of a drag and quite dull in places, but towards the end I couldn't put it down; the main character was likeable, it had some good points about being guarded and loving from a distance...
May 22, 2020
Starting The Memory Stones I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it but very quickly got sucked into the story. Nell lives in Paris, her daughter and granddaughter back in Ireland. She receives a worrying phone call from her daughter’s elderly neighbor one night suggesting she make her way home as there is something suspicious going on with her family. Nell hasn’t returned to ireland in over 30 years, not since she left for England as a pregnant teenager. There’s a lot of layers to this story, why has Nell never been home, what’s going on with her daughter Ali who is now running the family pub in a small village and who is the mysterious and attractive stranger who has begun working in the pub? Very compelling story and really enjoyed it!
November 14, 2018
Good although a bit TOO introspective. The book, which takes place mostly in Ireland where Nell returns after a far too long absence, examines mother-daughter relationships: Nell's with her now deceased mother, Nell's with her own daughter, Ali, and Ali's with her young daughter, Grace.
June 2, 2020
Well written story looking at mother / daughter relationships.
January 20, 2025
3 chapters in and I’ve given up. So dull.
January 15, 2026
Mostly enjoyable which got me through the inconsistencies in the story line. Some beautifully descriptive sections. A few annoyances. Maybe 3.5
April 20, 2013
Not quite sure why I didn't give up on this one as it wasn't rivetting reading I have to say. However it was well written.
Nell left rural Ireland at 16 to have a baby. She never returned until 30yrs later, from her life in Paris after a phone call from concerned neighbours to say they were worried about goings on at her daughters home. She decides to return, but what kept her away for so long? On return she she finds her daughter and family living in a mess of a house, with her partner Nick, laid up in bed with supposed ME. Her grandaughter wasting away and very thin and taking care of hoards of cats. They run a pub, which is the only thing that is kept in reasonable shape, helped out by a stranger Adam who lives in a caravan on their land. Nell has her suspicions about him and the truth unravels. Nell has to work to mend the relationship with her daughter Ali and explain the history of her departure and reconsiliation is achieved.
Nell left rural Ireland at 16 to have a baby. She never returned until 30yrs later, from her life in Paris after a phone call from concerned neighbours to say they were worried about goings on at her daughters home. She decides to return, but what kept her away for so long? On return she she finds her daughter and family living in a mess of a house, with her partner Nick, laid up in bed with supposed ME. Her grandaughter wasting away and very thin and taking care of hoards of cats. They run a pub, which is the only thing that is kept in reasonable shape, helped out by a stranger Adam who lives in a caravan on their land. Nell has her suspicions about him and the truth unravels. Nell has to work to mend the relationship with her daughter Ali and explain the history of her departure and reconsiliation is achieved.
November 30, 2009
The story is simple enough - a woman returns to her own childhood home to visit her daughter and grandchild after hearing of a crisis. The story is about the woman - Nell, her daughter Ali and granddaughter Grace, and through their memories, about Nell's mother Agnes. The story is told from Nell's viewpoint, and it is lovely.
The only wrong note is that a lake is important to the story. But it is a lake with a strong current. The only way a lake can have a current is if has water leaving it - in which case it must have water feeding it otherwise it would empty. This lake is at the top of a hill - so, no water feeding it then.
The only wrong note is that a lake is important to the story. But it is a lake with a strong current. The only way a lake can have a current is if has water leaving it - in which case it must have water feeding it otherwise it would empty. This lake is at the top of a hill - so, no water feeding it then.
July 11, 2012
I loved it. O'Riordan's ability to capture the depth of feelings and create dramatic tension using the tiniest details is exquisite. It's the best book I've read in ages. Couldn't put it down. The characters are beautiful, created in layers throughout the plot so that never once did they jar by doing anything out of character. The pace of the plot is perfect, far slower than is often found in commercial womens' fiction, probably because it isn't really plot driven. But because of that, much more real and interesting. I've just ordered the next O'Riordan from my book seller The Book Squirrel - find her on Facebook.
Now I'm off to write down what I've learned about writing from her.
Now I'm off to write down what I've learned about writing from her.
May 9, 2013
For me this had a little too much in the way of description, especially in the early chapters when it was more impotant to know about Nell rather than details of her apartment. Yet the later, landscape imagery was fine so perhaps it just that I'm disinterested in interiors.
And Nell's tendency to interfere sat ill with me (which is a fault with my empathising rather than the writer's) but overall this is an insightful and for a lot of the time original group of folk interacting to the best of their difficultly-acquired abilities. The slow reveal of the past, stranded with the present worked well.
Didn't like the over-sentimentalised, over-tidy ending though.
And Nell's tendency to interfere sat ill with me (which is a fault with my empathising rather than the writer's) but overall this is an insightful and for a lot of the time original group of folk interacting to the best of their difficultly-acquired abilities. The slow reveal of the past, stranded with the present worked well.
Didn't like the over-sentimentalised, over-tidy ending though.
March 31, 2014
I love stories about women, by women... And Kate O'Riordan didn't disappoint! Nell and Ali's relationship reminds me of what my mum always says: "It doesn't matter how 'old' you (think you) are, you'll always be a child to me." Seeing how Nell drops off everything to go be with a daughter, knowing very well that her presence might not be welcome, rather viewed as another 'spy-mission', and how she has kept (well meaning;-)) tabs on her (even from a distance), bailing her out whenever she needed help; Nell's relationship with Agnes; Grace's with Ali... these all unveil the complexities between mothers and daughters, and ultimately the ultimate and unconditional love...
January 28, 2008
On Saturday I finished Irelands Eye, read Company and then read this book. It was Sunday morning by the time I finished, but it was great. I haven't had much chance to read lately so this was a real luxury!
I haven't read any Kate O'Riordan novels before but will now seek out her other work. Memory Stones is about Mother/daughter relationships through 4 generations of one family. The main character left Ireland when she was 16 and hadn't returned for 32 years. She goes back to help her daughter in an emergency and subsequently faces her demons. Good read.
I haven't read any Kate O'Riordan novels before but will now seek out her other work. Memory Stones is about Mother/daughter relationships through 4 generations of one family. The main character left Ireland when she was 16 and hadn't returned for 32 years. She goes back to help her daughter in an emergency and subsequently faces her demons. Good read.
July 20, 2014
The Memory Stones by Kate O'Riordan was a Charity Shop Gift from my daughter who often looks out for books I may like to read.
The story tells of Nell, a 46 year old woman who left Ireland pregnant at the age of 16 and never returned. It is a poignant tale of the relationships between mothers and daughters, their hardships and tragic life events.
Nell returns to Ireland when she receives news that her daughter (who has a 7 year old daughter)is experiencing problems and Nell realises she must make the journey she has avoided for over thirty years.
A very good story one that I truly enjoyed.
The story tells of Nell, a 46 year old woman who left Ireland pregnant at the age of 16 and never returned. It is a poignant tale of the relationships between mothers and daughters, their hardships and tragic life events.
Nell returns to Ireland when she receives news that her daughter (who has a 7 year old daughter)is experiencing problems and Nell realises she must make the journey she has avoided for over thirty years.
A very good story one that I truly enjoyed.
April 19, 2013
I found this book a bit of a drag and quite dull in places, but towards the end I couldn't put it down; the main character was likeable, it had some good points about being guarded and loving from a distance. My other complaint then it being boring in places, was the graphic sexual descriptions, it was really a bit gross and not necessary there was something along the lines of "she imagined herself as a giant vagina" lovely.
May 5, 2014
My grandmother had this book but offered me a chance to take it and a few others back with me, home and to university. I wasn't going to say no and I'm glad I didn't. I'm a sentimental kind of girl so although I could never imagine myself away from home for thirty years, or a vast period, the strained, yet strong relationship between mother and daughter is something I can relate to, and that, along with the importance of Grace, the grand-daughter, made these 300 plus pages fly rather quickly.
January 26, 2016
I love the idea of the memory stones as depicted in this story - the story itself didn't always live up to expectations. I became quite annoyed with the back story of the sister's drowning, and really wanted to know more about the present day story - but that is a bit harsh as memory is the major theme of the story. The Irish background was beautifully written.
March 30, 2008
A fantastic, edge of your seat book to read. I touched me for I have twin sisters in my family and I just could feel the pain of the narrator revealed in the story.The author has the capacity to tell a story how it is....a must read!!
February 8, 2016
I was impressed by this novel from Kate O'Riordan. I love things Irish & French so this ticked those boxes. The characters are well drawn and there is a enough "mystery" to add to the very belated homecoming of our heroine to make it a good read.
September 21, 2010
still reading...
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July 25, 2010Mother-daughter to granddaughter relations and the memories surrounding them. A superiror read for me at least.
December 30, 2013
Excellent and thought-provoking story. Well worth the read.
August 20, 2024
Loved the rhythm of the language.
August 6, 2011
Light. Paris/Irish family story.
Read
June 11, 2017I finally started to care about the people in the story about 2/3 through. In the end, I enjoyed it & apprdciated her insights about love, taking risks and relationships.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews