This book explores the transformative influence of language. Cuyler Goodwill comes to appreciate language during tender moments with his first wife. Daisy discovers her linguistic talent when she assumes responsibility for a gardening column in the local newspaper. Her husband, Barker Flett, passes away after composing an unexpectedly eloquent letter to her. Even her father-in-law, Magnus Flett, known for his reticence, finds solace in memorizing the entire text of Jane Eyre after becoming estranged from his family. By telling her story, Daisy seeks to impose order on chaos, striving to manage what was once beyond her control. Cuyler Goodwill, Daisy's father, transitions from a stonemason to a public figure, ultimately becoming a verbose speaker through his recognition of the power of language. This is one of the few portrayals of their father-daughter relationship, and it is notably awkward. Shields notes, "He has entered his baroque period. His fluency has turned against him, much like his arteries would later in life. His elaborate speeches have become a kind of trick... Words by the thousands, tens of thousands, flowing out like cream, too rich, too smooth. Doesn't he notice the yawning faces before him, doesn't he hear the sighs of boredom, or see her own burning embarrassment?"

As the book approaches its conclusion, this passage illuminates Daisy's motivations for sharing her story: "All she aims to do is organize her thoughts. To distribute the weight of her memories evenly. To keep the chapters of her life in order. At the same time, she understands that what lies ahead must be shaped by her imagination rather than a dry recounting of a muted and shadowy history. Words are increasingly essential. And the question arises: what constitutes the story of a life? A factual chronicle or a skillfully crafted impression?" While Shields cleverly includes undeniable "facts," such as photographs, what we encounter in The Stone Diaries is predominantly the latter.