Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - A Town Called Solace

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A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson

10 reviews

katietotallybooked's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Mary Lawson is such a wonderful author. I love how her writing is both simple and succinct, while also being stylistically complex and rich. There are parts that really hit me emotionally, even though they were phrased so simply. This book pulled on my heart strings. I deeply cared for Elizabeth and Clara's characters and I empathized with each of them as they navigated their challenges. It is a unique and delightful experience to read a book set in a small Northern Ontario town as a Ontarian. I don't often get that kind of a reading experience. I am happy that I can introduce the Beacock Book Club to Mary Lawson. I remember when I first read Crow Lake in high school. It is a novel that has stuck with me for 18+ years. I don't know if A Town Called Solace will do the same, but I really enjoyed it.

From Novelist:
Genre: Relationship fiction; Historical fiction; Canadian fiction
Themes: Chosen family; Life in small towns
Storyline: Multiple perspectives
Characterization: Authentic
Mood: Reflective; Bittersweet
Style: Stylistically complex; Character-driven

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jss's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Title: A Town Called Solace
Author: Mary Lawson
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Pub Date: January 1, 2021

T H R E E • W O R D S

Wise • Human • Absorbing

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Sixteen-year-old Rose has gone missing and her seven-year-old sister Clara is distraught. Clara's only comfort is Moses, the cat she is caring for next door and belonging to elderly Mrs. Orchard who left for the hospital weeks ago, and still hasn't returned. When Liam Kane, a newly divorced man in his mid-thirties moves into Mrs. Orchard's house, Clara cannot figure out why he is there. Nearing the end of her life, Mrs. Orchard wants to make amends for something the occurred thirty years ago.

💭 T H O U G H T S

This was the quiet, character-driven novel I desperately needed. With three distinct and interconnected voices, it's a solid depiction of small town Canada. With beautiful and emotional writing, Mary Lawson creates mystery in this wise, absorbing, and deeply human story.

I'll admit I felt completely invested in the narrative and the lives of each of the three main characters. The characters are the star of the show, with the plot seemingly taking a back seat most of the way. Lawson captures the different stages of life flawlessly in each of the protagonists voices. And of course, I couldn't help but love the addition of Moses the cat.

Overall, I a quietly reflective and compassionate read focusing on grief, remorse, and, of course, love. I was just so touched by this novel in a way I wasn't anticipating and will be looking forward to exploring Mary Lawson's backlist.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone who likes a well-written character-driven novel
• readers in need of a 'quiet' read•

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Maybe it's a matter of tenses. Of grammar. Our love existed, it does exist, it will exist. On the great continuum of time perhaps it is the tenses that will cease to be."

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readsandrowena's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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jrkinyak's review

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really loved this book. My husband and 8-year-old listened to the end with me and were rapt. It’s lyrical and lovely and has true emotions and describes little moments so particularly and perfectly, and it’s uplifting without being pat or superficial. The worst thing about it, for me, was the fatphobia and body-shaming. I guess Lawson didn’t think fat people would read this and see themselves in her descriptions. It really takes me out of a book when an author treats fat people the way Lawson did.

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jenntheobold's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

'Maybe it's a matter of tenses. Of grammar. Our love existed, it does exist, it will exist. On the great continuum of time, perhaps it is the tenses that will cease to be. What does the scientist in you think of that?'

Content Warnings