Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Book Brief: A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson

 A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson
Vintage Digital, 2021
302 pages
ebook, borrowed from the library


My first 5-star book of 2022, A Town Called Solace  was a classic case of the right book at the right time. I've been aware of Canadian author Mary Lawson for a long time - probably since Crow Lake  was published twenty (!) years ago - but had never read her. After hearing Anne Bogel recommend Lawson's latest novel to a guest on her What Should I Read Next?  podcast, I looked into it and decided to give it a try myself.

Set in Canada's northern reaches, the novel is told from the alternating perspectives of three very different characters, each in the midst of a crisis. First is Clara, an 8-year-old whose sister has run away. She spends hours looking out the living room window awaiting her return. What she sees instead is a stranger, a man in this 30s, carrying boxes into her elderly neighbor's home. The neighbor is in the hospital and Clara is taking care of her cat. 

Liam, the stranger, had known the elderly neighbor (Mrs. Orchard) when he was a young child. After leaving his wife and quitting his job, he is currently at loose ends.

Finally we hear from Mrs. Orchard. While in the hospital, she speaks to her dead husband and recalls events from the distant past which involved Liam. 

I absolutely loved this book! The narrative voice of each character is spot on and the chapters flow seamlessly one into the next. As the novel unfolds, the reader gradually pieces the story together. Lawson's beautiful writing makes for an even richer reading experience. 

A Town Called Solace has earned a spot on my goodreads favorites shelf and I added all of Lawson's previous novels to my wish list. Since my mother's library does not own a copy, I ordered one and had it delivered to her. She read it immediately and loved it, too. My sister will read it next.

If you enjoy character-driven novels, this one has my highest recommendation.

My rating:


22 comments:

  1. I love discovering a new favorite author and learning they have other books for us to read!

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    1. Helen - That really is the best, isn't it? I'm planning to read Crow Lake this spring.

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  2. I read 3 of her earlier books and enjoyed them but, somehow I missed this one. Last week I downloaded the audio but the child as a narrator wasn't working so the print one is now waiting for me at the library. Glad you loved this so much! (Crow Lake was my previous favorite).

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    1. Diane - I'm glad to know you've enjoyed Lawson's earlier books. You're not alone in not caring for the audio... I remember at least one other blogger having a problem with it.(Possibly Susie?)

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  3. Good writing makes all the difference in a book.

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    1. Harvee - It sure does and the writing here was excellent!

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  4. I love the title and it sounds as if the book lives up to it!

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  5. Thank you for sharing this! I think I am being stalked by Mary Lawson, I have never read her but since the beginning of 2022 I keep coming across her in various places (including on WSIRN)! Clearly I need to read one of her books--and soon.

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    1. Mary - LOL, it's definitely time for you to read something by Lawson! This one is wonderful, but Crow Lake may be easier to borrow from the library or pick up as a kindle deal. I'm planning to read it in March.

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  6. Nice review, I might find a copy. Sending a book to your mom was a very nice thing to do!

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    1. Vicki - After all these years of getting to know her reading taste, I knew my mother would appreciate this one... the writing, the story, and nothing objectionable. She loved it!

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  7. Oh this sounds wonderful and amazing to have a 5 star this early in the year! This is a new author to me but definitely one I need to read.

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    1. Katherine - So happy to have a 5-star read in January! That hasn't happened in a few years.

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  8. Sounds wonderful. I love novels like this and it sounds like it works on multiple levels, hence the 5 stars. Just ordered it from Audible, so hoping it still works as an audio book.

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    1. JaneGS - Diane mentioned above that the audio wasn't working for her so she switched to print. I'll be curious to hear about your experience. This is a book I'll surely want to reread at some point.

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  9. I adore Mary Lawson. You must read her earlier novels, particularly Crow Lake!

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    1. Vintage Reading - I'm planning to read Crow Lake sometime in March/April and am really looking forward to it!

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  10. I'm so happy to read such a glowing review! I've read both Crow Lake (pre-blogging days) and The Other Side of the Bridge (reviewed here) and look forward to this new release. I'd also like to read Road Ends, which came out in 2013. She's quite a writer!

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    1. Les - So glad to know you've enjoyed some of Lawson's other novels. I don't want to wait too long before reading her again and have Crow Lake on my list for March or April! I enjoyed reading your review of The Other Side of the Bridge... thanks for including the link. :)

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  11. Ohh very glad you liked this one, 5 stars! Canadians like Mary Lawson ... but I have just read her first one Crow Lake ... which is good but a bit grim ... or down-and-out. Still it's well worth reading. I plan to read this one this year. Maybe with my book club. Do you think it'd make a good book club pick??

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    1. Susan - I can see why Lawson is a favorite among Canadians... this book was so well done! It definitely ticked all the boxes for me. I do think it would make a good book club pick, and wish the group down here would start back up again so I could suggest it.

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