A review by ncteixeira
Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright

“Clara Callan”, by Richard B. Wright

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

TW: rape, abortion, adultery

This was another book that I had sitting unopened in my library since its release in 2001. A hardcover and first edition.

And I’m very happy for finally feeling that it was time to read it.

And what a compelling book it is. I was completely enthralled. Some parts were moving.

Not so much for the story (there is no plot but it’s about two small-town sisters and their life-changing experiences on the eve of the Second World War), but for the writing, the storytelling and for its epistolary form, which can be so hard to give depth to a story or characters.

The work here is superb, hence my ratings.

The flow was perfect, although the year of 1937 felt a bit long and repetitive (the book is divided into 5 years: 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 & 1938), and the characters felt real and were all likeable or believable.

This book won the Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award and the Trillium Award.

It’s in my opinion a gem.

Hardcover (first edition by Harper Flamingo Canada): 414 pages 

ebook (Kobo): 492 pages (default), 142k words