Clarence, MN: Mansfield University

TheBookHaven.net January 2002
Review by Amy Coffin

There's been a fire at the Harris Jones Pharmaceutical Factory. An alarm sounds throughout the town of Clarence, Minnesota. Voices on the radio order the townsfolk to stay inside, wherever they are, until the all-clear is given.

The patrons at the Davis and Dean bookseller/music store/café are startled by a cloudy gas in the air and the presence of men outside in yellow hazard suits. If there is nothing to worry about, why are they there? And why does everyone have to stay inside?
The story of this incident and its effect on the townsfolk are the subjects of Anne Ursu's debut novel, Spilling Clarence.

Readers are introduced to several of the characters as they wait, stranded in the bookstore. Widower Bennie Singer is here with his nine year-old daughter, Sophie. Bennie is a professor at the local university and his daughter has the intelligence and maturity of a small adult.
Also in the Davis and Dean is Susannah Korbet. Her dreams of going to nursing school have been put on hold indefinitely. She moved to Clarence to be with her fiancee, Todd, but now wonders why she left her family and her dreams for him.

It seems the fire holding the town hostage has unleashed a smoky yellow gas from the factory that makes psychopharmaceuticals. Five hours later, the people at Harris Jones claim that it is safe to breathe the air again. The yellow haze was caused by the release of deletrium, a mind-altering drug. According to the company's public relations machine, the gas is gone and there will be no side effects suffered by the residents.

As the townsfolk return to their routines, it becomes evident that there are plenty of side effects. Deletrium works its way into the brain, opening portions of the mind that were closed and forgotten long ago. Within a short amount of time, people become inundated by recollections of every event in their lives. This ability to remember everything is part blessing and part curse.

The old folks at the active senior home are overwhelmed by their own lives coming back to them, not one memory at a time but all at once. Bennie finds the once foggy image of his dead wife is now clear as a bell and he seems to be mourning all over again. Susannah is transported back to her childhood, when her mother first became mentally ill. Even children, including Sophie are affected. The young kids are forced to examine their minds, though they have few memories yet in their lives.

Spilling Clarence follows the residents as they simultaneously undergo a brief, intense drug-induced walk down memory lane. Their experiences are poignant, sometimes tragic, and often funny.

Ursu's debut is an impressive one. She has divided her novel into three acts titled Spill, Spilling and Spilled to define the experiences of her characters. The author sets the tone of the book to coincide with the fall and rise of her players. Readers will find themselves down for a bit and then feeling better as the residents come out of the foggy memory lane.
What's most impressive is the presentation of the city of Clarence. Ursu has her thumb on the pulse of the little town, which wants to be defined by its success in landing a national chain bookstore.

These characters are complex, yet easy to comprehend. Ursu has developed an entire cast that feels three-dimensional within the flat pages of the book. It takes a special writer to give equal definition to her players. From the senior citizens right down to the fourth-grade class, these people are whole and completely fascinating.

Ursu has a great story, but her ability to polish it with humor really makes Spilling Clarence shine. The funny parts are subtle, often not obvious. You may find yourself smiling while reading this story. It's sweet. It's sad. It's funny. It's good.

Spilling Clarence is an impressive first novel. The town may be in a fog, but its story is clear as a bell. Anne Ursu has a gift for telling tales. Hopefully, this talent will be utilized for many novels to come.

	US Weekly "Best of the Week" "This whimsical, bittersweet debut suggests that the stories of our lives are what save us." The Barnes & Noble Review from Discover Great New Writers "a thought-provoking and timely tale, liberally seasoned with charm and good humor. (Winter 2002 Selection)" The Philadelphia Inqirer "No scalpel can touch the truths Ursu locates" USA Today "Reading their stories is better than eavesdropping on a patient's tale to his analyst." New Orleans Times-Picayune "Ursu does a wonderful job in this imaginative and charming novel." The Library Journal "Ursu is a writer who cares deeply about her characters" Bookreporter.com "this book leaves you chuckling, grinning, tearful, thoughtful, warmed, chilled and, not surprisingly, reminiscent... a brilliant first novel." TheBookHaven.net "an impressive first novel. Anne Ursu has a gift for telling tales. Hopefully, this talent will be utilized for many novels to come." MostlyFiction.com "...the success of the book is not only the stories that she finds to tell but also the way she writes about them." StoryCircle.org "Like many good writers, Ursu draws us into her setting - the fictional town of Clarence, Minnesota - by getting the details just right."
		CLARENCE, MINNESOTA TheBookHaven.net January 2002 Review by Amy Coffin There's been a fire at the Harris Jones Pharmaceutical Factory. An alarm sounds throughout the town of Clarence, Minnesota. Voices on the radio order the townsfolk to stay inside, wherever they are, until the all-clear is given. The patrons at the Davis and Dean bookseller/music store/café are startled by a cloudy gas in the air and the presence of men outside in yellow hazard suits. If there is nothing to worry about, why are they there? And why does everyone have to stay inside? The story of this incident and its effect on the townsfolk are the subjects of Anne Ursu's debut novel, Spilling Clarence. Readers are introduced to several of the characters as they wait, stranded in the bookstore. Widower Bennie Singer is here with his nine year-old daughter, Sophie. Bennie is a professor at the local university and his daughter has the intelligence and maturity of a small adult. Also in the Davis and Dean is Susannah Korbet. Her dreams of going to nursing school have been put on hold indefinitely. She moved to Clarence to be with her fiancee, Todd, but now wonders why she left her family and her dreams for him. It seems the fire holding the town hostage has unleashed a smoky yellow gas from the factory that makes psychopharmaceuticals. Five hours later, the people at Harris Jones claim that it is safe to breathe the air again. The yellow haze was caused by the release of deletrium, a mind-altering drug. According to the company's public relations machine, the gas is gone and there will be no side effects suffered by the residents. As the townsfolk return to their routines, it becomes evident that there are plenty of side effects. Deletrium works its way into the brain, opening portions of the mind that were closed and forgotten long ago. Within a short amount of time, people become inundated by recollections of every event in their lives. This ability to remember everything is part blessing and part curse. The old folks at the active senior home are overwhelmed by their own lives coming back to them, not one memory at a time but all at once. Bennie finds the once foggy image of his dead wife is now clear as a bell and he seems to be mourning all over again. Susannah is transported back to her childhood, when her mother first became mentally ill. Even children, including Sophie are affected. The young kids are forced to examine their minds, though they have few memories yet in their lives. Spilling Clarence follows the residents as they simultaneously undergo a brief, intense drug-induced walk down memory lane. Their experiences are poignant, sometimes tragic, and often funny. Ursu's debut is an impressive one. She has divided her novel into three acts titled Spill, Spilling and Spilled to define the experiences of her characters. The author sets the tone of the book to coincide with the fall and rise of her players. Readers will find themselves down for a bit and then feeling better as the residents come out of the foggy memory lane. What's most impressive is the presentation of the city of Clarence. Ursu has her thumb on the pulse of the little town, which wants to be defined by its success in landing a national chain bookstore. These characters are complex, yet easy to comprehend. Ursu has developed an entire cast that feels three-dimensional within the flat pages of the book. It takes a special writer to give equal definition to her players. From the senior citizens right down to the fourth-grade class, these people are whole and completely fascinating. Ursu has a great story, but her ability to polish it with humor really makes Spilling Clarence shine. The funny parts are subtle, often not obvious. You may find yourself smiling while reading this story. It's sweet. It's sad. It's funny. It's good. Spilling Clarence is an impressive first novel. The town may be in a fog, but its story is clear as a bell. Anne Ursu has a gift for telling tales. Hopefully, this talent will be utilized for many novels to come.