Book Review: How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly

**This book review is purely my opinion of the book after having read it. I would love to start some discussions about other readers opinions. Thanks.**

This is a review of How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly, by Connie May Fowler. Copyright © 2010; fiction. List price: $23.99. ISBN 978-0-446-54068-1.

Synopsis: (from the publisher)

How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is the transcendent story of a young woman who, in a twenty-four hour period, journeys through startling moments of self-discovery that lead her to a courageous and life-altering decision.

Analysis:

This book is amazing. From the opening scene, in which we meet Clarissa, her beloved garden, and a whimsical little fly, Ms. Fowler’s use of descriptive language skillfully creates a character whom the reader wants to succeed. The setting, Hope, Florida, is fictitious, as Ms. Fowler notes in the acknowledgements; however, thanks to the picture Ms. Fowler paints on the page, we wipe away imaginary sweat from our brow, and smell the swamp. We feel the oppressive heat, and squint in the brightness of the longest day of the year. The characters are so well-written, they become real to us. We believe that there really is a place where ghosts walk, flies love, angels interact, all while we are oblivious to their presence.

We all know someone like Clarissa, male or female – someone who, while unloved by a significant other, is used by that other for financial security and the easy life of no responsibility. Usually, that person we know is not able to see clearly his or her situation, while we are able to see only too clearly that the relationship is destroying that person. As we get to know Clarissa, and we learn that she is one of those people being used by her husband, we feel a strong urge to join in the disapproving chorus of the “ovarian shadow women” and Olga Villada.

Smart, talented, giving and quietly strong, Clarissa has been abused her entire life – first, by an alcoholic mother; now, by her leech of a husband. She is a successful writer, but suffering writers block; as the story progresses, she realizes she’s not suffering writers block, so much as suffering “life block”. Her husband, Iggy, is an artist. He gallivants around with “models” and lives off Clarissa’s success; although he’s a kept man, Iggy rules the roost. Clarissa is afraid to speak her mind, afraid to stand up to him, and afraid to upset him; when she finally realizes that she has nothing to fear, their dysfunctional relationship begins to unravel, but to Clarissa’s benefit. I found myself encouraging her as she found the courage to do what needed to be done. In the end, her husband got what he deserved, and so did Clarissa.

I loved Ms. Fowler’s use of “ovarian shadow women” as a description and name for the little voices that prompt Clarissa. Listening to the inner voice, the gut instinct that drives us all, is a lesson Clarissa needed to learn; in fact, we all could use the lesson. I also loved “Deepdeep”, an internal manifestation of Deepak Chopra that helped to guide Clarissa when the voices of the shadow women weren’t strong enough. The influence of the ghosts of the Villada-Archer family helped move Clarissa from a loveless relationship with both her husband and herself; their story provided Clarissa with enough inspiration to break through her writers block. The overall themes of redemption and rebirth manifested in various forms – the Villada-Archer ghosts, Larry Dibble, Clarissa the child, the shadow women, the love struck fly and even Deepdeep benefitted from Clarissa’s newfound freedom.

This book makes us believe that anything can be true - that souls do leave their mark, and that we who follow them are affected by the imprint they leave behind; that the scars of our past can be healed; that 24 hours really can change an entire life. It is a great read, perfect for book clubs, the beach or vacation. It’s a must-read for anyone who needs affirmation in her own strength and value.