Stone Woman

Stone Woman is a saga of Blossom’s unconventional family of five women, whose lives are bound by a Vietnam-War draft dodger David, immersed in the Yorkville subculture of the hippie daze of Toronto. The novel draws the reader into a web of liaisons — into David’s love affair with Blossom’s mother Liza, his covert dealings with her friend Anna, as well as the mysterious Helena. The story is brought to the present through the lives of the women’s daughters who discover that their family secrets have been sculpted — literally — into an art form that imparts a sense of homecoming and alludes to a more hopeful future.

AUTHOR

Bianca Lakoseljac

Bianca Lakoseljac is a novelist, short story writer, poet, and essayist. She is a published author of two novels, a collection of short stories, and a book of poetry. She holds an MA and an Honours BA in English Literature from York University. Bianca is the recipient of the Matthew Ahern Memorial Award in Literature. She won the Book Excellence Award for Fiction. Over a ten year period, she taught communication at Humber College and Ryerson University.

Reviews

Bianca Lakoseljac has woven a complex and accomplished tapestry of a novel that contains many elements: it is a glorious visit to the late sixties, when Leonard Cohen and others played the Riverboat Cafe on Yorkville Avenue and the anti-war movement raged in its northern expression; it is a love letter to west end Toronto and the spirit of creativity in High Park; finally it is a mystery involving the complicated love among two generations of strong women who must learn to accept their triumphs and their tragedies.

Stone Woman is a magically-written, enthralling tale which juxtaposes the destruction of war through generations with the spirit of creativity during 1967’s “the summer of love.” There is so much beautiful writing in this novel it truly is a pleasure to read.

Stone Woman pays homage to the Toronto arts and hippie scene of the 60s. Not only does it explore the ways art affects life, it also delves into how people are connected and bonded through the making and enjoyment of art.