A review by penandpencil
Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright

3.0

This story takes place in the 1930s and is all about character, Clara Callan seems so real because she is such a mix of qualities, and often morally ambiguous and confounding. Wright does a good job with Clara's voice but I wonder about all of the accolades this book has received, it is sort of half-literary, half-soap opera. The afterward was unnecessary and sort of spoiled the book for me, it felt out of place and only seemed to reinforce what we already knew about Clara. I was also saddened by her daughter's perception of her, although I have to admit it was Liz's truth.

Wright does a good job of showing how oppressive small town life can be and the limited choices that women (especially unmarried) would have had at that time. Really like the way that real historical events were woven into the narrative. Clara's behaviors and decision to keep her secrets is in such contrast to the TMI culture we live in today. Liked the Gladstone hotel shout out!