Stones

I know I already mentioned stones in a previous post on Remembrance Day, I feel that this story is so good that it deserves to get its own post! Let me start by saying that this is, hands down my favorite story that we did this whole semester.

“Stones” is written by Timothy Findley, a Canadian novelist and play writer from Toronto, Ontario (yay for Canadian writers!). Let me highlight some key plot points in the story to let you guys get an idea of what it is about just incase you didn’t read it yourself.

Ø It’s around the time of the First World War and the great depression.

Ø David goes to war to serve his country and supply for his family in this time of need.

Ø David leaves a nice man but doesn’t come back the same man he left.

Ø Eventually this post-traumatic stress disorder takes the best of him and the parents divorce for the well being of everyone.

Ø One day Ben, David’s son finds out what happened to his father in the war and understands finally why his father has been acting the way that he has been after the war.

Ø In the end David dies.

The main message that is portrayed from this story is that war is a very serious thing and not everyone comes back the same as they left. The people who come back a changed individual, usually facing PTSD effects more than just themselves in this case it affected everyone in his family, they had to sit there witnessing the hardships that David was experiencing and not fully understanding why. Personally I don’t know what I would do if my father left for war and came back totally different, being abusive towards my mother and the rest of my family. It must be a lot to take in for any family dealing with this. I recommend that everyone should read this piece I give it a 9/10 and I can’t wait to read “The Wars” next semester, another great piece I would imagine.