The Pearls of the Stone Man is a love story that is an enjoyable read. Joseph has allowed himself to become overwhelmed by all of the above questions as he ages. In his case, the biggest unfulfilled promise is to build a stone wall around their mountain retreat, which she fondly recalled from her own youth as providing a source of safety and connection.

As he begins the process, once again, Joseph embarks on a course through each of those emotional questions. He finds new friends along the way, including a series of love letters from what could have been a predictable source.

In following Joseph’s course, including a climb up the mountain and the pearls he bestows on those who come to him, the Stone Man, I thought about my own life, including relationship with my parents and children. I found myself thinking through each of these questions.

If you enjoy thinking and feeling as you empathize with the struggles of a man who is far stronger than he may seem to others, you will love this book as I did.

Edward Mooney, Jr. tells a compelling story in patient prose. I would enjoy sitting on Joseph’s porch hearing some of those pearls myself.