A Town Called Solace

Reviews

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
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)

“That clear-eyed humanism—the sort that is rooted firmly in the reality of life, but holds out a glimmer of potential for a measured, minor-key redemption—is classic Mary Lawson.” —The Globe and Mail

“Lawson's writing is clear and emotive. . . . [A] poignant novel, rightfully recognised by the Booker judges.” —The Telegraph (UK)

“Lawson is a graceful writer whose un-showy style always hides surprising depths.” —Toronto Public Library 

 “This is Mary Lawson’s fourth novel and I’d recommend a binge immersion. She has carved out a world in northern Ontario that’s vividly, absorbingly real; she captures tones and voices with exactitude in writing that’s idiomatic but never flashy and carries you along from midnight to dawn, oblivious of the time.” —Literary Review (UK)

"Lawson's books are a pleasure to read—they conjure a space where quiet reflection and owning your past mistakes bring gentle rewards; they feel kind and wise and brimful of empathy." —The Times (UK)

"Lawson's writing is such that it appears effortless but, as all the strands come together to create a rich and satisfying tapestry, her genius for storytelling becomes apparent." ―Irish Independent

"Exquisitely poignant." ―Good Housekeeping

You can't get much farther north than the Ontario of Mary Lawson's icy, compelling stories of calamity and redemption. A Town Called Solace keeps you breathless with anxiety, then relief and finally even joy." ―Observer (UK)

“A Town Called Solace keeps you breathless with anxiety, then relief and finally even joy.” —Ferdinand Mount, author of Kiss Myself Goodbye: The Many Lives of Aunt Munca

"I've been trying to tell everybody I know about [Mary Lawson]. . . . [Each of her novels is] just a marvel." —Anne Tyler, author of Redhead by the Side of the Road

“Poised, elegant prose, paired with quiet drama that will break your heart. The sort of book that seems as if it has always existed because of its timeless perfection.” —Graham Norton, bestselling author of Holding and A Keeper

“An assured and engaging look at one of my favourite subjects: what we owe to other people. How long must we keep their secrets, and how long do we wait for those we love? Darkened by pain, A Town Called Solace is even so a kindly book; Clara’s lost sister flashes through it like a red-winged blackbird. Warm, clear, and beautifully grounded in the bedrock of the Canadian Shield.” —Marina Endicott, author of Good to a Fault

“I loved reading A Town Called Solace. . . . It’s beautifully written and so finely crafted; told in the kind of prose I most admire because it takes what appears to be complicated and makes it clear. . . . These interwoven stories of three people at different stages of life, and yet each struggling with their own form of loss and grief, will stay with me the way good friendships stay with you. It’s already one of my favourite books of the year.” —Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Expand reviews