Clear (Carys Davies)
Clear by Carys Davies has been on my list of books to read, and the Goodreads Community Challenge abruptly moved it to the top of my list. A short historical novel set in 1843 during the final phase of the Scottish Highland Clearances, when poor tenant farmers were being forced off their land. It follows John Ferguson, an impoverished minister who takes a job evicting Ivar, the sole inhabitant of a remote island north of Scotland, and the hesitant involvement of John’s wife, Mary. As John and Ivar struggle to communicate across language and cultural barriers, an unexpected bond forms between them, turning a brutal eviction into an intimate story about connection, exile, and the costs of history.
Clear was just okay for me. I suppose because it’s a novella, the story seemed to take off quickly, and I struggled to focus on the two main characters. It felt rushed. I love stories that immerse me in nature, gradually explore the development of relationships, and leave me feeling warm and fulfilled. This story had those elements, but the hurried pace left me with little emotional impact by the end. I feel disappointed because I believe it had so much potential.
I borrowed the audiobook of Clear from my local library using Libby. Russ Bain’s narration was excellent, perfectly matching the story’s setting.
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