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A Town Called Solace

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A Town Called Solace

Written by: Mary Lawson
Narrated by: Maggie Huculak, Tajja Isen, Ian Lake
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About this listen

National Best Seller
Longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize
Named a Best Book of the Year by
The Globe and Mail, CBC Books, and The Daily Telegraph

"I've been telling everyone I know about Mary Lawso.... Each of her novels is just a marvel" (Anne Tyler)

New York Times best-selling author Mary Lawson, acclaimed for digging into the "wilderness of the human heart", is back after almost a decade with a fresh and timely novel that is different in subject but just as emotional and atmospheric as her beloved earlier work.

A Town Called Solace, the brilliant and emotionally radiant new novel from Mary Lawson, her first in nearly a decade, opens on a family in crisis. Sixteen-year-old Rose is missing. Angry and rebellious, she had a row with her mother, stormed out of the house and simply disappeared. Left behind is seven-year-old Clara, Rose’s adoring little sister. Isolated by her parents’ efforts to protect her from the truth, Clara is bewildered and distraught. Her sole comfort is Moses, the cat next door, whom she is looking after for his elderly owner, Mrs. Orchard, who went into hospital weeks ago and has still not returned.

Enter Liam Kane, mid-thirties, newly divorced, newly unemployed, newly arrived in this small northern town, who moves into Mrs. Orchard’s house - where, in Clara’s view, he emphatically does not belong. Within a matter of hours he receives a visit from the police. It seems he is suspected of a crime.

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

Told through three distinct, compelling points of view, the novel cuts back and forth among these unforgettable characters to uncover the layers of grief, remorse, and love that connect them. A Town Called Solace is a masterful, suspenseful, darkly funny and deeply humane novel by one of our great storytellers.

©2021 Mary Lawson (P)2021 Penguin Random House Canada
Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Heartfelt Tearjerking
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What the critics say

National best seller

Longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize

A Globe and Mail Best Book

A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year

“This deftly-structured novel draws together the stories of three people at three different stages in life, each of whom is grappling with loss. We were captivated by A Town Called Solace’s beautifully paced, compassionate, sometimes wry examination of small-town lives.” (2021 Booker Prize Judges)

"Completely absorbing...A Town Called Solace pleases at every level. It's a captivating tale suffused with wisdom and compassion." (Toronto Star)

“A lovely, gentle novel with edge.” (Saga (UK))

What listeners say about A Town Called Solace

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a warm hug

One of my favourite authors and this novel does not disappoint. Love Lawson's characters, and her writing style. This was the first Lawson novel that I listened to. Bravo to the narrators - you were all wonderful. I often felt as if I was watching a wonderful play

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A terrific story so well told

This is such a lovely story and the writing is subtle and so intelligent. I loved the performances! Bravo all around.

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A Cozy Mystery

I like listening to multiple perspectives, even though two of the narrators stories are so close together the story kind of repeats itself a bit. I was engrossed so much to know what happened to these people and how they got to this point.

I love that it takes place in Northern Ontario, even though it takes place in the 40s, it's still so soothing to hear about places I know and terms only Canadians know about.

All three narrators were terrific. Only gripe about this book is the simplicity of the abrupt ending.

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Finding Home

Wonderful narration of a very entertaining story of love, loneliness, an act of passion and finding home.

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A Story Worthy of Listening

A beautiful story of interconnected lives woven seamlessly by a talented author and skillfully narrated .

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Wonderful

This is a beautifully written story from three perspectives, and skillfully read. I highly recommend it!

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Best book I’ve read in a long time!

Loved this book. I’m going to miss this Town called Solace, but will certainly be looking for more books by Mary Lawson. The choice of narraters was perfect and the character’s came to life for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a heart.

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A great little read

I really loved this little book. I came away loving all the main characters, warts and all, and feeling that I’d left them all in a better place than when I’d first met them. I also loved the tender way in which the people of Solace are described. Having lived in a few Northern towns myself, the crotchety and the endearing were both familiar.

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Well developed characters. An exceptional narration paired with an annoying one.

Some interesting descriptions woven in. Things unrelated to the story itself, yet added to the quality of it. The narration for the little girl and Mom are shrill and irritating — turning them both into unlikeable characters, regardless of whether or not they’re intended to be. I nearly quit listening a few times when it came to their parts. The characters stories are masterfully woven together. I can’t say I’d recommend the story, but I wouldn’t not recommend it either.

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Wonderful work of literature

I can see why this was listed for the Booker prize, what a lovely, quiet, fabulously written peice of literature. Set in the 1970s I enjoyed the different points of view - fell in love with Clara (nicely narrated!) and quiet withdrawn Liam - and goodness the connecting story of Elizabeth. I was bracing for the outcome.

Thank goodness this was an audio, if it was a book I would have flicked to the end, and missed the power of this novel.

This was my first novel by Mary Lawson, but it will not be my last!

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