Review: Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 006209363
  • Source: Publisher

In thirty days, Clementine Pritchard’s life will come to an end, in suicide. She flushes away a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions and decides to tie up loose ends. Her exit strategy is well thought out and planned for she doesn’t want to leave any mess (physical and figurative) behind for anyone to clean up. She travels to Tijuana to obtain the animal tranquilizer she’ll use to end her life, she picks out her own casket and burial plot. She fires her psychiatrist and her assistant, not finding a need for their services any longer.

A world-renowned artist, completing one last work of art is on her abbreviated bucket list. Finding a home for her moody cat, Chuckles and making up with her ex-husband are also items on that list. Ultimately, however, Clementine discovers and reveals secrets about the tragedy that took away her mother and sister in one fateful afternoon. Instead of losing herself to her fate, she actually ends up finding herself.Ironically, she becomes the strongest individual she has ever been, hitting a level of creativity with her artwork she could have never imagined possible.

What makes this book remarkable is the tone. One would expect a novel about the countdown to the main character’s suicide would be dark and depressing. Losing Clementine is anything but that. While the reader does follow Clementine through bouts of depression and sadness, overall the story is quite hilarious! Clementine is a genuine person, completely honest, no-holds barred sort of individual. She only has thirty days to live, why hold anything back?

Another thing this author excels at are the characters. Although secondary in nature, they each play an integral role in the storyline. Even Chuckles, an eccentric, seemingly uncaring cat, plays a largely active role. The reader watches the evolution of Clementine’s plan through her relationship with her cat. In the beginning, Chuckles appears to be just another lose end to be tied up. Ultimately, however, the relationship between Clementine and her owner becomes a more nurturing.

Bottom line, Losing Clementine is a book that will make you laugh, will make you cry, but most importantly, makes you think. While Ream does put a humorous spin on a pretty dark subject, by adding this bit of levity she truly allows the reader to get an honest glimpse of the dark side of life. I’m astounded that this is Ream’s debut novel and cannot wait for more. Highly recommended.

This entry was posted in General Fiction, Review, William Morrow, Women's Fiction and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

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