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A Town Called Solace

Written by: Mary Lawson
Narrated by: Maggie Huculak, Tajja Isen, Ian Lake
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021.

Clara's sister is missing. Angry, rebellious Rose had a row with their mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Eight-year-old Clara, isolated by her distraught parents' efforts to protect her from the truth, is grief-stricken and bewildered.

Liam Kane, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, moves into the house next door, a house left to him by an old woman he can barely remember and within hours gets a visit from the police. It seems he's suspected of a crime.

At the end of her life Elizabeth Orchard is thinking about a crime too, one committed 30 years ago that had tragic consequences for two families and in particular for one small child. She desperately wants to make amends before she dies.

Set in Northern Ontario in 1972, A Town Called Solace explores the relationships of these three people brought together by fate and the mistakes of the past. By turns gripping and darkly funny, it uncovers the layers of grief and remorse and love that connect us, but shows that sometimes a new life is possible.

©2021 Mary Lawson (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"I've been trying to tell everyone I know about Mary Lawson.... Each one of her novels is just a marvel." (Anne Tyler)

What listeners say about A Town Called Solace

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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brilliant book

written in great detail and narrated to perfection. you will feel like living these characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best Audiobook experiences

This is one of the best Audiobook I have ever listened to. The different orators have given different flavour to the characters. It helps that the story is also so touching and relatable.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Deeply affecting

My first audio book, loved the narration. The story is deep, tragic, hopeful and affecting.

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    5 out of 5 stars

The story and its flow are so simple...

The story and its flow are so simple. Mary Lawson shows that to produce a praiseworthy story, one doesn't have to employ complexity or focus on a social issue. A Town Called Solace is simple yet heart touching and such a refreshing story that the novel was long-listed for Booker Prize 2021.

However, if you follow reviews and "crtique" opinions on YouTube or Goodreads, you will find the opposite as some of them would say that they wonder why and how this novel was long listed. Everyone has different taste and expectations but from us reader's perspective I have seen everyone love this book. As I said not everything has to be complex, having an underlying philosophical perspective or a social issue within the story.

I listened to the story last year and during my first listen it made me laugh, it made me smile, it made me cry, and most importantly it made me think about my childhood. Remember those good ol' days when as a kid we used to spend half of our every day at our neighbour's house because they loved you so much that you felt that was your second home? If it's same for you then you'll relate to this story deeply.

If you read or listen to this novel, the book wouldn't make you question some societal norms or influence your philosophical beliefs, but rather the book would probably give you simple life lessons, the importance of relationships which we make and break throughout our life without even noticing. There are underlying life lessons, value of time and how any child can bring happiness to one's life.

To summarise, this book is not a social commentary that the critique would praise - which is what happening lately if you see other booker listed books. But this book is a lighthearted journey through 3 separate perspectives and their entanglements. The story would make you laugh, smile and cry. You wouldn't feel the urge to listen to the book again because its that simple, but you would think about the town of Solace and think how your own town is or once was close to being Solace.

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