A Town Called Solace

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of mental illness and child abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What impact did the dual meaning of the novel’s title, A Town Called Solace, have on your reading experience?

2. Mary Lawson’s Crow Lake and Alice Munro’s Lives of Girls and Women similarly explore small-town Canadian life and the impact of tragedy on children. If you’ve read either of these novels, or others like them, how do they compare to A Town Called Solace?

3. Which characters or moments from the story have lingered in your mind since finishing the book? Has your original impression of them changed over time?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Clara creates rituals and patterns to cope with her anxiety about Rose’s disappearance. What coping mechanisms have you developed during times of uncertainty? Have they been helpful? What other forms of solace do you turn to during difficult times?

2. Do you relate to Liam’s struggle to form meaningful connections with others? If so, in what way? 

3. Moses the cat becomes an important connection between Clara and Liam. Has an animal ever played a significant role in your relationships with others?

4. Have you ever had to rebuild trust after someone has broken it, similar to how Clara must rebuild her trust in adults? If not, have you ever witnessed the loss and rebuilding of trust in other people’s relationships?

5. Mrs. Orchard’s actions are deeply influenced by her grief over her inability to have children. How have you coped with unfulfilled dreams or expectations in your own life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In what ways would the story differ if it took place in a contemporary setting rather than the 1970s? How have societal attitudes changed since that decade? What technological advances or political realities would affect how the plot plays out?

2. Rose’s trafficking situation reflects a serious issue that persists today. How does the novel’s portrayal of this subject contribute to broader conversations about human trafficking and missing children?

3. What evolution do you see in societal understanding and treatment of mental health issues since the time period of the novel?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What effect does the novel’s structure of three alternating perspectives have on your understanding of the events and characters? What would have been lost if the novel were written from a single perspective only?

2. What does Moses the cat symbolize for each of the main characters? Does this significance change as the story goes on?

3. In what ways do patterns and rituals both help and hinder the characters in their pursuit of healing? What is the novel saying about the kinds of strategies that contribute to functional healing?

4. What different meanings does Mrs. Orchard’s house hold for Clara, Liam, and Mrs. Orchard herself? How does this setting function as a way to define or highlight character?

5. How does Lawson use the character of Rose, who appears infrequently in the narrative, to drive the story forward?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you could write a letter to one character in the novel, who would it be and what would you say? Which character would be most amenable to hearing your words?

2. Imagine an epilogue set five years after the end of the novel. What do you think would have happened to Clara, Rose, Liam, and Jo?

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