If Clara

Written by Martha Baillie

Narrated by Jennifer Dale

In If Clara, nobody stands on firm ground. Daisy, a writer confined to her home, her leg in a cast from hip to ankle, receives a parcel containing the manuscript of a novel about a Syrian refugee and is asked to pose as its writer. Julia, the curator at the Kleinzahler Gallery, has no idea that her sister, Clara, has written a novel. However, she does know that Clara suffers from a debilitating mental illness, is unpredictable, and lapses easily into hostility.

Maurice's life is changed by an art installation involving a pair of binoculars welded to the wall through which visitors are invited to observe passersby outside. An ultralight aircraft collision with a quiet lawn brings them all together. If Clara explores the emotional weight of friendship, the complexity of family, and people inextricably entwined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ECW
• Release date: Sep 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781770565982

Martha Baillie

Martha Baillie is the author of four novels. Her most recent, The Incident Report (Pedlar Press, 2009), was nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and was included in the Globe and Mail's list of Best Books for 2009. She has crossed the Arctic Circle on foot, hiking in Auyuittuq on Baffin Island, spent time in Pangnirtung and kayaked in East Greenland. She has written about contemporary visual art for the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Koffler Gallery and Brick magazine. Her poetry has appeared in Canadian journals. Martha Baillie lives in Toronto.

Reviews for If Clara

[SarahMariePutnam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

That was an interesting concept and take on mental illness. I very much enjoyed the book.