What is the author's style in The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields?

The author uses a unique blend of language to illustrate Daisy's personality. Since Daisy is college-educated, and most of the novel is written from her point of view, she usually states to the reader very clearly what she means. She is questioning the meaning of her life, and often offers poignant insight into what she believes life is about. However, when her family members and friends quote Daisy, they often remark that she uses trite, sing-songy, and even girlish language when speaking to them. This indicates that the Daisy that the reader hears is a different Daisy than the one she presents to others in her life, the reader encounters a persona that is more mature and now has more perspective.