Clear presents a reflective, melancholy story set in the 1840s during the final stages of the Scottish Clearances. John, a destitute Scottish minister, takes on a job to evict Ivar, the sole inhabitant of a remote island, for much-needed money. Despite his wife Mary’s objections, John travels to the island, where he meets with an accident that sets the stage for an unexpected connection with Ivar.
The narrative alternates between the perspectives of John, Mary, and Ivar. As the two men, who do not share a common language, learn to communicate and build a fragile bond, the story touches on themes of solitude, survival, and the human spirit’s resilience in the face of historical upheavals.
While the novel’s setting and historical context provide a rich backdrop, I found the pacing slow and the plot somewhat predictable. The LGBT storyline felt out of character for the staunchly religious John, making it hard to fully invest in the book. Despite the beautiful prose, the novella’s overly descriptive style was too much. Clear is an interesting read for those looking to learn more about the Scottish Clearances, but for me, it was an underwhelming read and I’m glad it was only 200 pages. 3 stars.