HOW CLARISSA BURDEN LEARNED TO FLY: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

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HOW CLARISSA BURDEN
LEARNED TO FLY
BY CONNIE MAY FOWLER

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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.

Set amidst the lush pine forests and rich savannas of Florida’s Northern Panhandle, HOW CLARISSA BURDEN LEARNED TO FLY tells the story of one woman whose existence until now has seemed fairly normal: she is 30-something, married, and goes about her daily routine as a writer. However, it is soon discovered that ghosts, an indifferent husband, and a seemingly terminal case of writer’s block are burdening Clarissa’s life. She awakes on the summer solstice and, prodded by her own discontent and one ghost’s righteous need for truth, commences upon a twenty-four hour journey of self-discovery. Her harrowing, funny, and startling adventures lead Clarissa to a momentous decision: She must find a way to do the unthinkable. Her life and the well-being of a remarkable family of blithe spirits hang in the balance. Connie May Fowler demonstrates her keen abilities as a storyteller in this remarkably original novel about an unexpected mid-life awakening. This is an empowering story that will resonate and be discussed for years to come.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Connie May Fowler is an essayist, screenwriter, and novelist. She is the author of five novels, most recently The Problem with Murmur Lee, and a memoir, When Katie Wakes. In 1996, she published Before Women Had Wings, which became a paperback bestseller and was made into a successful Oprah Winfrey Presents movie. She founded the Connie May Fowler Women With Wings Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding women and children in need.

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MY REVIEW:

Connie May Fowler’s HOW CLARISSA BURDEN LEARNED TO FLY is about Clarissa, who is a very troubled, 35-year-old woman whose pursuit of self-discovery and independence takes place in a single day-that being the summer solstice of 2006. She is unhappy in her marriage and as an author, unable to fulfill her book writing responsibilities because she spends so much time dreaming of ways to get rid of her husband. Just as she grew up with no father and was abused by her mother, Clarissa has continued to let everyone walk all over her. Her husband, who is an “artist” living off of Clarissa’s money, treats her with disdain while he flaunts his young, fairly naked models around with no thought of how it makes her feel.

Set in the northern savannas and hot, humid forests of Florida, the reader watches Clarissa’s journey toward her own personal freedom simmer in the heat. She has to learn to fight for what is right using her personal strength of character. Clarissa’s journey is told by many as, you see, she lives in a haunted house with the likes of dwarfs, a grounded angel, and inner voices who are what force her into action. These characters she encounters during this 24-hour period all help to remind her that she is a worthwhile person.

And so when she awoke on that summer morning, having been prompted by her own discontent as well as one ghost's moral search for truth, she begins her twenty-four hour initiative. Her disturbing, funny and astonishing adventures lead Clarissa to a crucial decision. She realizes that she must find a way to perform an unimaginable undertaking. Her life and the well being of an extraordinary group of serene souls depends on the outcome. What she experiences later not only motivates her to write again, but influences her to change her life, as she truly learns to finally fly free.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO HENRY AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE FIVE COPIES OF THIS
WONDERFUL BOOK TO GIVEAWAY!

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