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The Clarion
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
9 posts | 3 read | 2 to read
"We all lined up for our whipping by the shouting beauty and tender traumas of life. All of us so sensitive, and now this beautiful girl, with soft brown hair that was shot with gold in the sun. Another one of us starting to stumble." Peter plays the trumpet and works in a kitchen, partying; Stasi tries to climb the corporate ladder and lands in therapy. These sensitive siblings struggle to find their place in the world, seeking intimacy and belonging - or trying to escape it. A promising audition, a lost promotion, intriguing strangers, a silent lover, and a grieving neighbour--in rich, sensual scenes and moody brilliance, The Clarion explores rituals of connection and belonging, themes of intimacy and performance, and how far we wander to find, or lose, our sense of self. Alternating between five days in Peter's life and several months of Stasi's, Dunic's debut novel captures the vague if hopeful melancholy of any generation that believes it was never "called" to something great.
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Sapphire
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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April-June picks are not anywhere near as lived as Jan-March (which also stole my 2 wild cards). Hopefully the second half of the year will be better. Lots of personal growth non-fiction books (which I don‘t include here) and guilty pleasure reads to balance those out. It‘s not a bad reading year so far at all, just front loaded the ringers I guess. I have James, Knife, and Trust on deck so that bodes well. #bookbracket24 #camplitsy

TheKidUpstairs I'm so happy to have played a small part in your early reading successes for the year! 5mo
Sapphire @TheKidUpstairs I am not done with your #auldlangspine list yet! I‘m just realized my audiobook of Big Swiss came from you so that is next up after James! @monalyisha the gift that keeps on giving! 5mo
Catsandbooks ❤️ 4mo
14 likes3 comments
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Sapphire
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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No surprises here. Although I am glad I did not finish Our Fathers this month. That would be a hard call, both from #auldlangspine2024. #readingbracket2024 if you are the person who created this graphic, please remind me so I can tag you. I know I stole it from someone.

CBee That one is from Leila @Catsandbooks 😊 10mo
Sapphire @CBee thanks! 10mo
monalyisha 🥳 10mo
Catsandbooks Haha 🥰 Thanks! @cbee 😘 10mo
TheKidUpstairs 😁 🌟 🌟 🌟 10mo
22 likes5 comments
review
Sapphire
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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Pickpick

This book is brilliant and poignant and beautifully written. I don‘t know how it‘s not on the “best of 23 lists”. It captures the rich and complex interior lives of ordinary people by showing us a brother and sister. Each POV is startling in its clarity, but then you see shards through the other‘s perspective and it makes it even more insightful. This author seems to understand modern humanity and a way to express it plainly. #auldlangspine2024

monalyisha Sold! 11mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm so glad you loved it! It was part of the Giller Prize Longlist this year, and I was so impressed by its quiet beauty, and the depth of connection in such a slim volume. And it's her debut! It made a few Best Of lists here in Canada, but being from a small indie Canadian press I don't think it garnered much attention outside of the country 11mo
21 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Bookish.SAM
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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Pickpick

back-to-back big feeling books.

This was beautiful. It took me a while to read despite being a slim book. It didn‘t pull me to pick it up like some page turner that you want to see how it ends, but when I was settled in and reading it pulled me right inside of it.

I‘ll keep this line with me …
“Any beautiful moments lately?”

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Sapphire
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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A long day travelling to DC and back again today. This title from my #auldlangspine2024 is coming with!

Sapphire Omg! I am loving this book. The language is beautiful and the mood rich. 11mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm so glad you're enjoying it! A quiet book, but so beautifully crafted. 11mo
23 likes2 comments
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Sapphire
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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I think these are the titles I am most excited about on my #auldlangspine2024 list from @TheKidUpstairs So much new to explore on this great list

TheKidUpstairs After seeing your list, these two fell like great choices for you! The Clarion is quietly beautiful and thoughtful, and The Furies was one that I took my time with to savour the beautiful writing. I hope they mean just as much to you! 11mo
20 likes1 comment
review
TheKidUpstairs
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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Pickpick

So far, so great with this year's #GillerLonglist. After a few wild and crazy metafictional rides (Wait Softly Brother and The Double Life of Benson Yu), this one stands out for its quiet, contemplative style. In alternating chapters, we get a week in Peter's life and a few months in his sister Stasi's. Where Peter is content with a simple life, Stasi is ambitious.

Cont'd in comments

TheKidUpstairs In these glimpses into their lives, Dunic gives a beautifully crafted, engaging look at ideas of performance vs. connection, and the difference between solitude and loneliness. An impressive debut. 1y
BarbaraBB I‘m very intrigued by this Giller longlist, of which I hadn‘t heard until you mentioned it. You‘ve read some great ones so far! 1y
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB I'm so impressed with the list so far. I've read 7 of 12, and I'd highly recommend 6 of those (Study for Obedience is on the list, it's the only one I haven't liked). It's a great variety of styles and stories, no to 1y
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB sorry, that sent before I finished typing! That should say...no two books have been alike 😁 1y
BarbaraBB Wow. I am going to check them all out! 1y
60 likes5 comments
quote
TheKidUpstairs
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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"... performance had shown up everywhere else in our lives and it just made everything lonelier."

blurb
TheKidUpstairs
The Clarion | Nina Dunic
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I had a frustrating day yesterday, so today is a reset! We're finally feeling a touch of fall weather so I'm cuddling up under a blanket with the windows open, enjoying the crisp air and a good book. This morning Otis cuddled with me, this afternoon Sprocket is taking his turn

BarbaraBB Sounds so good. Enjoy! 1y
dabbe Hello there, Outstanding Otis! 🖤🐾🖤 1y
71 likes2 comments