Angela M is taking a break.'s Reviews > Clear

This felt like the kind of story that might have been written many decades ago, one that might have been read in school, one that reflects a profound truth about human nature and our need to connect to each other, one that has a classic feel, one with a stunning ending that encourages faith in humanity. Two historical events in 1840’s Scotland set this quiet, introspective novel in motion - the split in the Scottish Church and the Clearances as the author describes in her notes where “whole communities of the rural poor were removed from their homes by landowners in a relentless program of coercive and systematic dispossession to make way for crops, cattle and increasingly as time went on - sheep.” I knew nothing about either of these. The beauty of learning through well written historical fiction. It’s a short novel, so I’m not going to go into detail of the plot. The book description tells much of it.

I wanted to read this because I loved West by Davies. While very different stories, I found the beautiful atmospheric writing and a deep reflection of what loneliness feels like. This is worth reading for the writing, the thought provoking and touching ending and characters who will stay with me.


I received a copy of this book from Scribner through NetGalley.