Unless by Carol Shields is her final novel, a poignant yet ultimately hopeful exploration of family, identity, and resilience. The story follows Reta Winters, a contented 44-year-old writer whose life is upended when her eldest daughter, Norah, abruptly drops out of college and takes to a street corner, wearing a sign that simply reads “GOODNESS.”
As Reta searches for answers, she reflects on motherhood, womanhood, and the subtle societal forces that can drive a person to the margins. Shields weaves sharp observations with moments of dark humour, making this novel both thought-provoking and deeply moving.
Unless was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Giller Prize, further cementing Shields’s legacy as one of the most celebrated writers of her generation.
