Fiction

A Town Called Solace

A Town Called Solace

  • Downloads：3555
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-03-17 00:53:00
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Mary Lawson
  • ISBN：1529113431
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

'I've been telling everyone I know about Mary Lawson 。 。 。 Each of her novels is just a marvel' Anne Tyler

Clara's rebellious older sister is missing。 Grief-stricken and bewildered， she yearns to uncover the truth about what happened。

Liam， newly divorced and newly unemployed， moves into the house next door and within hours gets a visit from the police。

Elizabeth is thinking about a crime committed thirty years ago， one that had tragic consequences for two families。 She desperately wants to make amends before she dies。

'Will break your heart' Graham Norton

'Exquisitely poignant' Liane Moriarty

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Reviews

Katelyn Goodington ，

This quick read still takes the time to develop deep character quirks and an encompassing setting in this small town life。 Following three character lines; an elderly woman’s internal dialogue with her husband since passed， a young man looking for a new life， and a young girl living in crisis as her missing teen sisters case becomes more dire。 Each of the unique stories are woven together through a sincere sense of place。

Story ，

3。5 stars for this enjoyable story。 The characters were well-rounded and interesting but in the end， the mystery at the story's heart didn't seem to add up to much。 Nonetheless， it was worth reading。 3。5 stars for this enjoyable story。 The characters were well-rounded and interesting but in the end， the mystery at the story's heart didn't seem to add up to much。 Nonetheless， it was worth reading。 。。。more

Jesse Theriault ，

While beautifully written， the story just wasn’t for me。 Perhaps too short。 Though the author does a wonderful job of portraying emotions one usually keeps buried。 It’s a sad story， but also one that brings life full circle。

Mew ，

I felt really 'in' this book whilst reading it - I think the way the setting and place and people were described was so strong and believable。 I loved the layering of stories and how things tied in from the past。 It's a book that will stay with me for a while， very comforting。 I felt really 'in' this book whilst reading it - I think the way the setting and place and people were described was so strong and believable。 I loved the layering of stories and how things tied in from the past。 It's a book that will stay with me for a while， very comforting。 。。。more

AmericanPragmatist ，

Lovely narration， especially Elizabeth’s actress。 Character driven more than setting driven。 Some unsettled questions; did not tie up very neatly。

Jessica ，

A pleasant enough way to spend the afternoon， but I think ultimately this is pretty forgettable to me。

Marika ，

It took me several chapters to get into this， but once I was invested， it was quite good。 The story and characters are nuanced and interesting。 Not sure it merits the “best of the year” designations， but the author’s skilled hand really shined through。

Susan Buist ，

It was an entertaining book。 Not riveting but pleasant to read。

Jo Birkett ，

I would read this again so 5* - lots of nice voices and beauty though sadness & horror story too

Julia ，

Wow。 What a marvellous slice of small town life。 I fell in love with these characters and now they won't let me go。 Liam， Clara， Elizabeth。 They could very well have been real people。 A beautifully written book about a beautiful little （fictional） town with quirky people。 And skeletons in the closet。I read this for book club and I am grateful to be part of a book club that gets me to read books I probably would never have picked up otherwise。 Wow。 What a marvellous slice of small town life。 I fell in love with these characters and now they won't let me go。 Liam， Clara， Elizabeth。 They could very well have been real people。 A beautifully written book about a beautiful little （fictional） town with quirky people。 And skeletons in the closet。I read this for book club and I am grateful to be part of a book club that gets me to read books I probably would never have picked up otherwise。 。。。more

Valery ，

3。5*

Ellen ，

Although I found the time-hops a bit disconcerting， I thought the author did a good job describing life in a small northern town。

Irene ，

A beautiful & poignant book。

Theresa Iuliano ，

This was an onion of a book and it was very satisfying to read as the different emotional layers were peeled away。 The character development is this novel was beautiful。

Tina ，

Longlisted for the Booker Prize but I cannot figure out why。 There was truly nothing particularly special about it。 Abrupt ending and loads of loose ends。

Helen Cummings ，

This is such a lovely story set in small town Canada， which tells a story woven around ordinary people dealing with traumatic events。 A must read！

Sandra ，

While seemingly simple， Lawson has created an intimate and tender tale of people experiencing grief and loss and seeking healing。 Clara， seven years old， is struggling with her sister's disappearance and her mother's overwhelming grief。 Clara's only bit of hope is her task of caring for her neighbour's cat。 Elizabeth is in hospital - she is dying and remembering her life， and especially the little boy who gave her such joy。 Liam arrives and moves into Elizabeth's house， much to Clara's consterna While seemingly simple， Lawson has created an intimate and tender tale of people experiencing grief and loss and seeking healing。 Clara， seven years old， is struggling with her sister's disappearance and her mother's overwhelming grief。 Clara's only bit of hope is her task of caring for her neighbour's cat。 Elizabeth is in hospital - she is dying and remembering her life， and especially the little boy who gave her such joy。 Liam arrives and moves into Elizabeth's house， much to Clara's consternation。 Liam has quit his job in Toronto and is separating from his wife。 These three characters weave together in a lovely tale。 Clara is a testy little girl who understands things with a child's black and white innocence and is riled when Liam begins to pack Elizabeth's belongings。 Liam gains Clara's trust and is critical to helping her family find their lost daughter。 Bit by bit， Liam begins to gain community in the small northern town called Solace。 The language is straightforward and the story moves gently yet firmly。 I really enjoyed this novel。 。。。more

Jamie ，

I read Lawson’s book， Crow Lake， years ago and it was one of my favorites。 A Town Called Solace is a sweet book about 3 disparate people whose lives intersect in unforeseen ways。 The Northern Canada setting is fascinating as well。

Beth ，

Very sweet story with lovely characters。 Felt like it ended a bit abruptly。 Would have liked to know a bit more about what happened to a couple of characters。 Well written， easy read。 I do recommend the is book。

Arpita Dey ，

I just loved this book so much！ I'm a fan of slow-moving character-driven stories and this one delivered such hits on all fronts。Solace is a small fictional town in northern Ontario， Canada。 The setting of the place lends a beautiful， stark canvas to the events in this novel。 A sixteen year old girl， Rose， goes missing and that's pretty much the highlight of the "main event" in the book。 However， the story isn't so much about the search for Rose as it is about the impact of her absence on the li I just loved this book so much！ I'm a fan of slow-moving character-driven stories and this one delivered such hits on all fronts。Solace is a small fictional town in northern Ontario， Canada。 The setting of the place lends a beautiful， stark canvas to the events in this novel。 A sixteen year old girl， Rose， goes missing and that's pretty much the highlight of the "main event" in the book。 However， the story isn't so much about the search for Rose as it is about the impact of her absence on the lives of her family and community。Absence is a big theme in this novel。 As we follow three unique perspectives - Rose's 7 year old sister Clara， Mrs。 Elizabeth Orchard who is their 72 year old neighbor and a thirty something man called Liam who is now staying at Mrs。 Orchard's house。 Clara misses her sister， Elizabeth misses her dead husband and a child she cared for deeply from her past and Liam misses a sense of belonging。 Their stories converge in a bittersweet way， proving that we are all made of the same stuff in the end， no matter what our intentions or motivations。I enjoyed the way the writing was done - Clara's and Liam's stories told in the 3rd person while Elizabeth speaking in 1st person to her dead husband。 There was a lot to connect with in each character， despite the wide range in their age and backgrounds。 Each character was well-developed and as I read through the chapters， the layers started peeling away one by one to reveal more of the inner minds of each person。 They are endearing individuals not despite but because of their deep flaws and quirks。Lastly， I loved the small town vibes in this novel （reminiscent of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and Beartown by Fredrik Backman）。 The Canadian remote landscape is not an imposing presence but just enough to elevate the mood of the story。 I'm really looking forward to reading more of Mary Lawson's work。 This was superb in my book！ 。。。more

Anne ，

I enjoyed this book set in the 1970's in Canada。 The story is told in alternating chapters by the three main characters Clara， Mrs Orchard and Liam and is an easy， descriptive story to become immersed in。 I enjoyed this book set in the 1970's in Canada。 The story is told in alternating chapters by the three main characters Clara， Mrs Orchard and Liam and is an easy， descriptive story to become immersed in。 。。。more

Loreen Lowans ，

Wonderful！

Annaick ，

Really enjoyed the pacing and characters for the most part。 This is the second book by Lawson I've read and， as with Road's End， there's a really fleshed out sense of the intimate lives of small community in the place she chooses to set her stories in。 I did feel like the end of this book was somewhat 。。。。 rushed？ Cut short？ It seemed incomplete when compared to how she took her time arriving at full pictures of scenes in previous parts of the book。 I felt some characters were a bit hard done by Really enjoyed the pacing and characters for the most part。 This is the second book by Lawson I've read and， as with Road's End， there's a really fleshed out sense of the intimate lives of small community in the place she chooses to set her stories in。 I did feel like the end of this book was somewhat 。。。。 rushed？ Cut short？ It seemed incomplete when compared to how she took her time arriving at full pictures of scenes in previous parts of the book。 I felt some characters were a bit hard done by， by the ending。。。 but that could just be me feeling sad at leaving them go for good at the end of the book！ 。。。more

Siri ，

Lovely story。 Three terrific characters narrate differing timelines。 Clara will stick with me for a long time。 And Moses the cat was a main character as well。 Will read more from this author。

Susan ，

Well written， equally well read on Audible。 Drew me right in。

Pam ，

2。5 rounded up。 Trying to understand the appeal。 It a bad book but not much there， there

Margaret ，

I loved this book。 Gentle， but hard realities so beautifully revealed。

Angela ，

3。5 Stars

Kate ，

You know when you have finished a book and you feel completely and utterly contented？ Mary Lawson once again brilliantly and instantly transports the reader to a small Canadian town。 She weaves simple stories of people living their lives that are far more complex at the core。 I couldn't put this book down。 You know when you have finished a book and you feel completely and utterly contented？ Mary Lawson once again brilliantly and instantly transports the reader to a small Canadian town。 She weaves simple stories of people living their lives that are far more complex at the core。 I couldn't put this book down。 。。。more

Nancy ，

I really like this book。 It was a bit predictable， but I found it heartwarming and I was drawn to the characters。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=A Town Called Solace

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=A Town Called Solace&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,A Town Called Solace&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0