Richard B. Wright (1937–2017)

Much of this book is epistemological, but so well done that it adds to the flow and personality of the book. Both Clara and Nora are well drawn and believable and even though Clara react quite differently to the situations she finds herself in than I would think normal, we are given enough of her unique character to find the reactions consistent with who she is.

I didn't want to put this down until I reached the end. I was rooting for Clara all the way. Nothing pleases more than characters about whom you really care.… (more)

I've read five of Richard B. Wright's novels, including his surprisingly successful debut, THE WEEKEND MAN, and his best known one, the best-selling CLARA CALLAN, which won pretty much all of Canada's most prestigious literary awards. So I'm a confirmed fan, and very much enjoyed this memoir about his childhood as a dreamy kid, the youngest of five, growing up in a small Ontario town in the 40s and 50s. After college, where he majored in Radio and Television Broadcasting, he took some very low-paying jobs with small newspapers and radio stations, before landing a job in publishing with Macmillan's of Canada. He married, had a child, and took a year off to write. The happy result was THE WEEKEND MAN, which launched him as an important young writer in Canada, and a literary life that had its ups and downs. His books never made him wealthy, so he spent many years teaching in a private school. Wright was several years older than me, and Canadian, yet there was plenty here I could relate to, especially the books and writers he read and admired.

While A LIFE WITH WORDS (2015) was informative, entertaining - and often funny too - my enjoyment of Wright's story was marred by the knowledge that he died in 2017, after a fall and a subsequent stroke. He was 79. I was also a bit disappointed at the end of his narrative, which just seemed to trail off, concluding with a transcript of a speech he delivered at a college commencement. But I'm glad the book was published and I got to read it. And I'm even gladder that there are still several more Wright novels I haven't yet read. But I will, I hope. Because this guy was a damn fine writer. RIP, Richard.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER… (more)

Charlie is an alcoholic, divorced father who sees his only child, Johnathan, on Saturday afternoons. One day, 12-year-old Johnathan doesn't return from a run to the local store....something that usually takes about half an hour. It isn't long before the police discover that Johnathan was brutally murdered. We watch as Charlie tries to deal with this most devastating news.

A twist comes when an anonymous caller offers Charlie information about the killers. And Charlie doesn't go to the police, but is instead drawn into a series of events that are brutal and tragic.

I loved the portrayal of Charlie. He was a flawed but likable characters. The character of Donald Stewart, the informant, was also excellently done. The story itself was too much like an action movie for my taste.… (more)