Book Review on Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
I read Stone Yard Devotional on the heels of Orbital (read my review here), and whilst in many respects they couldn’t be further apart, in other ways, they felt surprisingly similar. Both are reflective, philosophical, and contemplative. However, where Orbital almost seems to lack a distinct narrative voice, Stone Yard Devotional has an exceptionally strong first-person perspective that draws you deep into the protagonist’s world.
The story follows an unnamed middle-aged woman who returns to her hometown in the Monaro Plains, New South Wales, initially on a kind of retreat for a few days. She is exhausted, clearly at a crossroads in her life, and while there are allusions to her leaving a partner called Alex, this part of her story remains largely unexplored. Instead, we follow her first days settling into the religious nunnery, observing the comings and goings of the nuns entirely through her own eyes.
It comes as a bit of a shock when the narrative jumps forward, and we realise she has now moved in permanently with no fixed plan to leave. She is entrenched in the life of the nunnery—though she has not taken religious orders herself. She still goes freely to town for provisions and communicates warmly, though perhaps cautiously, with David, the handyman, and caretaker, a quiet but steady presence at the nunnery. There is something unspoken in their interactions, a shared history of sorts from their school days.
And in many ways, that’s it. We watch her life, and we contemplate alongside her. But, of course, something has to happen—and it kind of does. A horrific mouse plague invades the monastery, and we observe how the nuns manage this intrusion and adapt to the disruption. I imagine there must be a much greater symbolism at play, but if I’m honest, I’m not entirely sure what it is!
Additionally, an old school acquaintance—Helen Parry—returns to the monastery. She has become an environmental activist and demonstrator, but she is also a nun. She arrives to bring back the bones of Sister Jenny, a young nun who was murdered decades earlier. But her arrival isn’t just about the past; it serves as a tool to make the narrator confront her memories and sins and consider the complexity of human nature. Stone Yard Devotional subtly reminds us that none of us are entirely good or entirely bad. Through snippets of the narrator’s reflection on Helen’s own story, including her relationship with her mother, I found myself reflecting on how much of who we become is shaped by our childhood and upbringing. It made me wonder—how much of our adult identity is truly ours, and how much is just an echo of the past?
For me, the most striking element of the book was the protagonist’s reflections on her own mother. She shares such warm childhood memories of their relationship, so it’s no surprise that Charlotte Wood has described this novel as a tribute to her late mother. The novel beautifully demonstrates how the bond between mother and child can transcend time, stretching beyond life itself.
At its core, Stone Yard Devotional is a meditation on grief, loss, memory, and personal transformation. It’s a novel about stillness, about stepping away from the noise of life and confronting both the beauty and the weight of the past. Charlotte Wood has a way of writing that makes you pause, making even the simplest observations feel profound.
I did enjoy this book—it gave me lots to think about. But I had to be in the right mood to read it. The very act of sitting down with it required a stillness, an almost meditative state—perhaps mirroring the way a nunnery might serve as a retreat from life. Even the title, Stone Yard Devotional, reflects this sense of quiet reflection. ‘Stone Yard’ evokes a sense of permanence, endurance, and stark simplicity, while ‘Devotional’ speaks to the quiet dedication—not necessarily to faith, but to a way of being, of existing, of reflecting.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if you’re prepared to sit with it, to take it in at its own pace. Despite its stillness, it’s weirdly also a page-turner. I read it in a couple of sittings. It’s thoughtful, contains beautiful writing, and leaves an almost surreal sensation of otherworldliness once the last page has been read.
Book Club Discussion Questions on Charlotte Wood's Stone Yard Devotional
1. The protagonist remains unnamed throughout the novel. How does this choice affect your connection to her? Does it make her more universal or more distant?
2. The setting of the nunnery plays a significant role in the story. How does the secluded environment influence the protagonist’s introspection and transformation? Why is it relevant that the narrator is going to her hometown?
3. Helen Parry’s return brings past memories to the forefront. Helen is bullied but refuses to be cowed and doesn’t act in any way like a victim. What was your response to what happened in the classroom? In what ways does her character challenge the protagonist’s perceptions of morality and forgiveness?
4. The mouse plague is a pivotal event in the narrative. What symbolic meanings do you think this infestation holds within the context of the story? What did you find the most disturbing aspect of the plague of mice?
5. The relationship between the narrator and her mother couldn’t be more different to that between Helen Parry and hers. What do we learn about both? How do these relationships influence the characters’ decisions and sense of self?
6. The book includes a substantial exploration of grief. Which moments show this and how did they resonate with you?
7. Charlotte Wood has mentioned that the book is a tribute to her late mother. How does this personal connection appear in the narrative? Do you think there are any of the relationships between the nuns that take on a mother-daughter feel? Discuss if so and how.
8. The protagonist’s interactions with David, the handyman, seem frank enough, but like there is more to be uncovered. We learn a little about his wife, but not so much. What do you make of their relationship and its significance in the story?
9. Reflecting on the protagonist’s journey, how do you perceive her evolution from the beginning to the end of the novel?
10. The protagonist remains unnamed throughout the novel. What effect did this have on your reading experience? Did it make her feel more universal, or did it create a sense of distance? Why do you think Charlotte Wood made this choice, and how might the novel have changed if she had a name?
Book Club Questions on Stone Yard Devotional (for if you haven't read the book)
1. The idea of retreating to a secluded place for self-reflection is central to the novel.
Have you ever felt the need to withdraw from your daily life? Where would you go, and what would you hope to find? Share your experience if you’re comfortable doing so.
2. The story touches upon confronting past relationships and memories.
Is there someone from your past you’d like to reconnect with or gain closure from? Don’t feel you have to share. Do you think writing can be a way of achieving this?
3. The protagonist grapples with feelings of guilt and forgiveness. She also learns that wrongdoing that feels huge in her eyes hardly registers for someone else.
How do you approach forgiveness—both of yourself and others?
4. The novel spends a lot of time exploring how the nuns manage the infestation of mice. How do you think you would cope if something similar happened? Discuss.