Spilling Clarence : A Novel [Paperback]

Anne Ursu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2002

First Paperback Edition in Very Good Condition. Moderate used-book wear. Cover has some edge-wear with a slight crease on the bottom corner. Text is clean and unmarked.The author's highly praised and unusual first novel, set in the fictional town of Clarence, Minnesota, where a chemical spill has a strange lasting effect on the residents. Prompt shipping with a Free Delivery Confirmation.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Unknown (2002)
• ASIN: B002JLI712
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It, November 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Spilling Clarence: A Novel (Hardcover)

This novel is both emotionally and intellectually significant-a rare find! At the heart of the book is a chemical, deletrium, that escapes into the town of Clarence. People find themselves remembering things they've forgotten, and many of those memories are painful. The questions raised here are fascinating and central to a culture where Prozac in the water supply wouldn't be all that unbelievable. (Just a bit. Just until we can start shopping again.) I was especially impressed with the authority of Anne Ursu's prose-truly astonishing for a first novelist. She can guide us past the memory wars of the last twenty years, and make it look easy (!), without once losing sight of her characters. I've already given this book to two grad school friends. I wish I could rate this ten stars; it's that good.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Moving and memorable..., April 9, 2003

By 

Dianna Johnston "Compulsive Reader" (Joplin, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spilling Clarence (Paperback)

The main reason that prompted my buying of this book was the interesting premise. I thought the idea behind this book was something very original and unique, and I was definitely excited about reading it. And while Spilling Clarence did provide me with something out of the ordinary, I believe the novel was more depressing that I anticipated.

Spilling Clarence tells the story about a small town, Clarence, and the chemical leak that changed everything. An explosion at the town's psychopharmaceutical plant has sent mind-altering vapors into the air. At first, authorities weren't actually sure what to make of the incident, but soon they got their answers. These vapors, a chemical called Deletrium, unlocks the brain's hidden and repressed memories, encouraging patients (or in this case, town residents) to remember things they had forgotten. At first it doesn't sound so bad -- who doesn't like a trip down memory lane every once in a while? But soon, most of the town starts to unravel -- not everyone's memories bring smiles and joy.

While the story talks about many of Clarence's citizens, most of the detail is reserved for three main characters: Bennie, a college psychology professor, whose memories bring his deceased wife, Lizzie, back to life; Madeline, Bennie's mother, who resides at the Sunny Shadows retirement home, remembers the life she led as a wife and as a widow; and Susannah, an aide at the retirement home, who has her own troubled past, mostly in the form of a mentally ill mother. All of these characters are portrayed in rich detail, and author Anne Ursu leaves no rock overturned.

Spilling Clarence is an insightful, moving story about memories and the mind's natural process of storing them away. The writing is exquisite and thoughtful, yet simple and easy to understand when the author flits back and forth between past and present. The tone is more depressing than I expected -- there is a lot of "falling down into a crumpled, shaking heap" in this book! -- but then again, that is life and a lot memories we repress mostly relate to an unhappy time. Spilling Clarence is an honest piece of work, and I applaud Anne Ursu for writing it.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Trip Down Memory Lane, January 2, 2002

By 

thebookhaven.net (Los Angeles CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spilling Clarence: A Novel (Hardcover)

A chemical spill at a pharmaceutical factory has a direct effect on the residents of Clarence, Minnesota. The Deletruim gas released in the air enhances the mind, unlocking long-forgotten memories.

"Spilling Clarence follows several Clarence residents as they simultaneously undergo a brief, intense drug-induced walk down memory lane. Their experiences are heartfelt, sometimes tragic, and often funny.

Anne Ursu's novel is an impressive debut. Her characters are complex, yet easy to comprehend. The tone of the book coincides with the rise and fall of the residents' moods, letting readers come along for the Deletruim ride.

The author's generous use of subtle humor adds to this unique story.

It's hard to read "Spilling Clarence" without a smile on your face. It's sweet. It's sad. It's funny. It's good.