Davies use of beauty, calm, and fortitude amidst the turbulence of Scottish seas and a cruel historic mandate gives her short novel “Clear” an astounding force in its message. By combining two important nineteenth century hallmarks in Scottish history, the breaking away of Scottish Presbyterian ministers from the control of their wealthy land owning sponsors, and the Clearances, the cruel banishment of poor tenants from small islands in the North Sea to make way for profitable sheep grazing, Davies creates a story about two unlikely friends.
John Ferguson, a poor minister who has joined the freedom movement to establish a church without the encumbrance of wealthy patrons, decides to earn some money by agreeing to evict Ivar, the sole occupant of an isolated island off the coast of the Scottish mainland.
Within hours of finally landing on the island, John falls off a cliff, losing consciousness, and is rescued by Ivar. Although the two men do not share a language, Ivar tends John’s wounds and teaches him words in his language. They become friends and John is too ashamed to admit that he’s come to kick Ivar out of his home.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, Mary learns something about this particular clearance that causes her to set off in search of her husband. The resolution is abrupt when Mary arrives to rescue her husband, and she manages a sensible solution reaffirming the value of human connection, but sadly not stopping the unleashed greed. Clear is a short read with a powerful impact.
The No Charge Book Bunch 