bookslayer's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
peggy_eggy_eggy's review
4.0
I have never read anything like this before so it took some getting used to but I really did like this story. It was told through the combination of journal entries and correspondence between two sisters. I really like books about sisters and I like historical fiction. This book deals with rape, abortion and adultery in the 1930's.
ljohnston931's review against another edition
5.0
There isn’t a lot of action in the plot, so I’m still trying to figure out why I couldn’t put it down. I think it’s because the characters are so great. They feel like real people, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. It could also be that I’m a sucker for letters! Either way, recommended.
alexkerner's review against another edition
4.0
I was prompted to read this by the now infamous Book Tube Spin challenge that Rick MacDonnell does every few months. This is one I have wanted to read for a while (it won the Giller Prize winner back in 2000 and I won all the Giller winners a few years ago, it is one of my mother's favourite books, and my daughter's name is Clara [a name that coincidentally comes up in several Giller winners). So the Book Tube Spin finally pushed me to pick it up.
Firstly, this is very much a "CanLit" book, taking place in certain settings and with certain types of characters that often appeared in books that began to define Canadian Literature for decades. If you have read and enjoyed Alice Munro or Margaret Atwood this will be your bag.
This book follows the life of Clara Callan, a single woman navigating the mores of an early twentieth century small town, often challenging them to the consternation of an intolerant community. Told through letters (between Clara and mostly her sister) and journal entries, the pacing of this book is brilliant, turning very literary themes and styles into a page turner. My one qualm is that Wright can't help interject commentary from the characters about larger world events that are occurring. Although certainly these things would be the subject of conversation it felt almost as afterthoughts, inorganic to the dialogue, Wright just letting us know "hey this is happening now too and these characters are thinking about them." Aside from that this was a fun read that I really devoured toward the end.
Firstly, this is very much a "CanLit" book, taking place in certain settings and with certain types of characters that often appeared in books that began to define Canadian Literature for decades. If you have read and enjoyed Alice Munro or Margaret Atwood this will be your bag.
This book follows the life of Clara Callan, a single woman navigating the mores of an early twentieth century small town, often challenging them to the consternation of an intolerant community. Told through letters (between Clara and mostly her sister) and journal entries, the pacing of this book is brilliant, turning very literary themes and styles into a page turner. My one qualm is that Wright can't help interject commentary from the characters about larger world events that are occurring. Although certainly these things would be the subject of conversation it felt almost as afterthoughts, inorganic to the dialogue, Wright just letting us know "hey this is happening now too and these characters are thinking about them." Aside from that this was a fun read that I really devoured toward the end.
slrsmith's review
4.0
Loved it! The narrative unfolds through entries in Clara's diary and letters between herself and her sister. An unconventional life lived in 1930's rural Ontario.
daisiesinthebreeze's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lora_h's review
4.0
Through journal entries & letters, this book chronicles the early to mid 1930s events in the lives of 2 Canadian sisters.
The author is very skilled at story telling, inventing interesting characters & arcs. This particular book includes casual references to historical events, personages, & works of art that have much greater significance in the 90 odd years since the story takes place - a clever way of taking us back into that time period without showing undue artifice.
I read with trepidation, male authors telling female stories, but Wright does a fair job.
There are some short comings - his telling through a womans journal of her early pregnancy & then the aftermath of its termination show he hasnt a clue what it feels like to be in a womans body. Surely there was some woman Beta reader who could have nudged him back on the right path. And there is the one time he has a heterosexual woman sexually assess another woman more in the voice of a man than the woman who supposedly made the observation.
On the other hand, he writes a rape, again from the womans perspective, with a realism & detachment that convinces, as does the aftermath to the victim herself. All the women characters are fully drawn & show what happens to many women in their interactions with men. Wright is on their side.
About 2 thirds through the book, Clara moved toward being a pathetic rather than strong unconventional western female. I stuck with Wright, however, & he eventually brought Clara back to where she could reclaim herself but then BAM! he ended the book before the reader could see if she did it or not.
The afterword lets us know she did not, but told in a way that was disconnected to the Clara followed for over 400 pages. I had no idea why the things described in the afterword could possibly have come to pass. It felt as if Wright had belittled & degraded Clara with his writing, got bored, & gave it a bad ending because thats what he wanted, not what Clara would have done at all.
Ive asked myself if I would have the same reaction had a woman written this book. I would still feel the book failed Clara, but I wouldnt put it down to the authors gender. So in fairness to Mr Wright, I will say that the book failed Clara, but he is a talented writer.
The author is very skilled at story telling, inventing interesting characters & arcs. This particular book includes casual references to historical events, personages, & works of art that have much greater significance in the 90 odd years since the story takes place - a clever way of taking us back into that time period without showing undue artifice.
I read with trepidation, male authors telling female stories, but Wright does a fair job.
There are some short comings - his telling through a womans journal of her early pregnancy & then the aftermath of its termination show he hasnt a clue what it feels like to be in a womans body. Surely there was some woman Beta reader who could have nudged him back on the right path. And there is the one time he has a heterosexual woman sexually assess another woman more in the voice of a man than the woman who supposedly made the observation.
On the other hand, he writes a rape, again from the womans perspective, with a realism & detachment that convinces, as does the aftermath to the victim herself. All the women characters are fully drawn & show what happens to many women in their interactions with men. Wright is on their side.
About 2 thirds through the book, Clara moved toward being a pathetic rather than strong unconventional western female. I stuck with Wright, however, & he eventually brought Clara back to where she could reclaim herself but then BAM! he ended the book before the reader could see if she did it or not.
The afterword lets us know she did not, but told in a way that was disconnected to the Clara followed for over 400 pages. I had no idea why the things described in the afterword could possibly have come to pass. It felt as if Wright had belittled & degraded Clara with his writing, got bored, & gave it a bad ending because thats what he wanted, not what Clara would have done at all.
Ive asked myself if I would have the same reaction had a woman written this book. I would still feel the book failed Clara, but I wouldnt put it down to the authors gender. So in fairness to Mr Wright, I will say that the book failed Clara, but he is a talented writer.
traceyns's review
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
4.0