The Diviners by Margaret Laurence (1974)

This is Laurence’s fifth book on a small town in Manitoba. Her first was The Stone Angel, which I read in university and utterly disliked. My taste in literature has clearly changed, as I quite liked this one. It tells the story of a woman finding herself, trying to separate herself from the town and patterns that formed her, while also coming to terms with how the small town is part of who she is. The main character is not overly good nor overly lovable – but she is honest and real – and for that reason a delightful person to get to know.