Stone Yard Devotional

The protagonist and the sisters see the arrival of Helen Parry and the plague of mice as interconnected, though there is no logical, causal relationship between them. How does this connection characterize Helen Parry, and how does the plague of mice operate as a metaphor for aspects of the protagonist’s relationship with Helen?

The Pursuit of Redemption is one of the primary themes of Stone Yard Devotional. How does the protagonist manage to overcome her need for forgiveness from Helen Parry, and how does this reflect her overall personal journey?

Most of the plot of the novel occurs at the abbey, and there are few references to the outside world. However, over the course of the novel, the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds alongside consequential environmental changes. How do these anxieties and events influence the protagonist, and how are they reflected in her life at the abbey?

What motivates the protagonist’s preoccupation with her mother and her mother’s life, and how does the revelation about Helen Parry’s mother impact the protagonist’s view of her own mother?

During her time at the abbey, the protagonist benefits from Isolation as a Catalyst for Self-Discovery. What role does the specific setting of the Monaro Plains play in her isolation and personal growth?

Despite living at the abbey, the protagonist does not adopt the sisters’ religious beliefs. How does the protagonist interact with the religious iconography around her, and what does it symbolize to her?

Much of Stone Yard Devotional occurs in the memories of the protagonist. How do the protagonist’s present circumstances and surroundings influence her memory, and how does the novel portray connections between the present and past?

How do the protagonist’s relationships with other women help her to understand her relationship with her mother? What does she learn from these women about The Importance of Empathy in Parent-Child Relationships?