How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is the transcendent story of a young woman who, in a twenty-four hour period, journeys through startlin...
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reviews
May 14, 2010
Colleen
rated it: 
Let me say first of all that this was a good read, full of the details that make Southern gothic novels so enjoyable. I was delighted by Fowler's strong narrative voice, and lush descriptions of the Florida landscape. I even enjoyed the ghosts that populated the story- in many ways, their stories seemed much more compelling than Clarissa's ever could.
For me, the difficulty with this novel lay in Clarissa herself, and her enthroned status as a complete doormat. This woman is a success More...
For me, the difficulty with this novel lay in Clarissa herself, and her enthroned status as a complete doormat. This woman is a success More...
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Apr 16, 2010
Freda
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I have so many emotions after finishing the book, that I think I liked it, but really don't know where I stand.
Clarissa Burden is a character I relate to all too well. I was in an abusive relationship once, and it tore my world apart. Reading the emotional sacrifice she made by being with her husband, hit home with me.
Her husband is one of those characters you hate from the start. He is so awful, the other characters in the book hate him.
The story the author told was one that s More...
Clarissa Burden is a character I relate to all too well. I was in an abusive relationship once, and it tore my world apart. Reading the emotional sacrifice she made by being with her husband, hit home with me.
Her husband is one of those characters you hate from the start. He is so awful, the other characters in the book hate him.
The story the author told was one that s More...
Apr 15, 2010
Jennifer
rated it: 
This book left me feeling so empowered. I felt like I was Clarissa Burden at points. I didn't have the same pressures she had growing up, and as far as I know my boyfriend hasn't started photographing models in the nude in our backyard (although he has grown awfully fond of our new Mustang...LOL) but I have the same self-doubt about myself.
I love how everything in this book has a perspective on what is going on. From the fly in the beginning to the armadillo and rats in the end thei More...
I love how everything in this book has a perspective on what is going on. From the fly in the beginning to the armadillo and rats in the end thei More...
Apr 13, 2010
Gaby
rated it:
I admit that when I read about Clarisse Burden in her large, well cared for and beautifully proportioned house with a husband frolicking with nude models in the garden, I didn't sympathize with Clarisse. I kept wanting her to get angry and kick the deadbeat out of her house!
But as Clarisse's personal history, wit and personality unfolded, I slowly sympathized and could understand why she didn't call her husband on his ludicrous behavior. Albeit, I kept hoping that she would. Getting More...
But as Clarisse's personal history, wit and personality unfolded, I slowly sympathized and could understand why she didn't call her husband on his ludicrous behavior. Albeit, I kept hoping that she would. Getting More...
Jul 19, 2010
Peggy
rated it:
I liked this book, but it started out very slowly. Clarissa burden lives in Florida with her husband, Iggy. She is a novelist who is currently suffering from writers block. She lives in a historic house with some unsettled ghosts who are stuck on earth until they can get to heaven. She is unsatisfied with her life, her marriage and her writing career. Her husband, an expatriate South African artist, pays no attention to her. He is busy cavorting with nude models in the backyard, claimin
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Sep 27, 2011
Labmom
rated it: 
I should never read a novel that is described as "empowering." And I know better than to read chick lit. But I honestly thought this book sounded like it would defy the conventions of that cliched genre - set in North Florida, quirky Cracker characters, ghosts with a story to tell, dysfunctional family life, even a dwarf circus. Sadly, no. All those aspects that drew me to this book, and which were highlighted on the misleading jacket description, turned out to be a very small part of
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Apr 15, 2010
Christine
rated it:
Successful writer Clarissa Burden may live in Hope, FL but hope is not necessarily a word in her vocabulary when referring to her own life. She is experiencing writer's block, her husband. Iggy, mostly ignores her (as he paints naked "models" in the backyard) unless he is acknowledging her presence with complete disdain, her new house is beautiful but possibly haunted, she has an obsessed fly that is stalking her, her only mode of transportation is full of six months of trash, and the
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Apr 19, 2010
Theresa
rated it:
Clarissa Burden is a character you can't help but love She's an amazing woman, but sadly, she doesn't realize how special she really is. As Clarissa makes critical decisions and grows, one cannot help but cheer her on. She is a character that will stay with the reader long after the story has been finished.
This novel has an incredible and empowering message. It tells how easy it is to slide into a life we would never chose, but when it happens slowly, we don't realize it until it's t More...
This novel has an incredible and empowering message. It tells how easy it is to slide into a life we would never chose, but when it happens slowly, we don't realize it until it's t More...
Oct 07, 2010
Murghi
rated it: 
Either I'm too stressed out to appreciate deep symbolism, etc. or I've been picking a series of losers. Ugh, you'd think with a title like "How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly" a person could expect some nice fluffy chick lit, which is exactly what a person can manage these days. Instead we get a neurotic woman with writer's block, married to a prime number one selfish jerk, surrounded by ghosts of murdered women and children, in 102 degree Florida heat and stank, for all love. I didn't
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Jun 28, 2010
Andrea
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I should have followed my first instinct and given up on this one 10 pages into it. But then I read the reviews here and thought maybe it would improve. Which it did, for a bit, until a really unbelievably ridiculously stupid ending. For all the random themes packed into it - ghosts, slavery, adultery, child abuse, muscle cars, circus dwarves, writer's block and self-discovery, to name just a few - this book had nothing new or interesting to say. And why the obsession with insects? And did I men
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Apr 18, 2010
Ziaria
rated it:
Clarissa, at first annoyed me by putting up with being treated like a child and letting her husband just walk all over her. As the book progressed, my opinion of her changed. It was a real treat to watch her grow as a person. Learn to stand up for herself a bit, learn to take action. She also has a great imagination. I loved all the scenarios towards her husband she came up with. Her overactive imagination was incredibly entertaining.
The town of Hope, Florida is wonderful. Such smal More...
The town of Hope, Florida is wonderful. Such smal More...
Apr 12, 2010
Bridget
rated it:
It is an understatement to see that Clarissa has some negativity going on in her life. Her husband is jealous of her writing success. Her husband never amounted to much but to hear him talk, you would think she was the failure. Going from one bad situation to another, Clarissa begins to wonder why she has let herself get into such a funk. A change needs to be made and it all happens in the span of 24 hours.
This is one of those books that really captivates you and you can't help but f More...
This is one of those books that really captivates you and you can't help but f More...
Apr 22, 2010
Mary (BookHounds)
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This is a wonderful book that takes you through a day with Clarissa Burden and how just 24 hours can in fact change your life. That and the help of a ghost. There is a lot of drama packed into this novel. This would make an excellent novel for a book group since there are so many things to discuss about the characters and there is enough to love and hate about the story (always a good idea for active discussions). I am not a reader who enjoys a lot of descriptions, but Fowler does a gr More...
Apr 17, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
At first I was a little miffed that there weren't any "real" chapters, but once I noticed how well the flow went with Clarissa's day I relaxed and enjoyed the book.
I felt myself grow just a little right along with Clarissa. I disliked "Iggy" from the get go, and was fantasizing his death right along with Clarissa.
I laughed and cried throughout most of the book and my heart stopped a few times. Overall I will have to keep this one on the shelf to come back to More...
I felt myself grow just a little right along with Clarissa. I disliked "Iggy" from the get go, and was fantasizing his death right along with Clarissa.
I laughed and cried throughout most of the book and my heart stopped a few times. Overall I will have to keep this one on the shelf to come back to More...
Jun 22, 2011
Jeanine
rated it:
I read Clarissa this weekend--and I loved it, related to it, rooted for her, and learned to fly a little higher myself. It brought back memories of a less sure self--and the journey and the trials and the MISTAKES necessary to come through to the other side. I guess we all have to learn to fly--and for some of us--we need to experience that complete and total "fowking idiot" to accomplish this feat--great novel--and to think it all occurs over twenty-four hours--love Olga, Amazia More...
Jan 10, 2012
Jennifer
rated it:
From My Blog...[return]How Clarissa Burden Learned To Fly by Connie May Fowler is an intriguing, witty, and at times depressing look into a 24-hour period that altered the life of 35-year-old Clarissa Burden. On the warmest summer solstice recorded in Hope, Florida, Clarissa discovers she is procrastinating, she is supposed to be working on her novel, instead she is doing everything but writing when it dawned on her that she spent a great deal of time contemplating the death of her husband Iggy
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Dec 05, 2009
Miriam
rated it:
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, I think I read the first page three or four times. But there was a quality to the main character that I liked, she had unique observations, so I continued. And then I found a marvel--a fantastically written and slightly oblique novel about a woman with writer's block who is haunted by every ghost in the county. The entire book is set on one day and what a day it is. It's a novel about loving yourself and embracing your creativity, about h
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May 04, 2010
Liz
rated it:
I love Connie Mae Fowler, but I have to say, having read so many of her books, including The Problem with Murmur Lee, I was disappointed in this one. It doesn't seem finished. It seems like she, like the main character in the book, hit a writer's block and never really decided what story she wanted to tell. All of her other books are amazing, though, so I hope her next one is better.
Dec 11, 2010
Lila
rated it:
This author's writing reminds me a bit of toni morrison's.
There is a fly in this novel who loves the main character and actually plays a part in saving her life...AND the fly is believable. The book is not fluffy or easy to read,not a pass-the-time sort of entertaining novel, but worth your time and thought.
There is a fly in this novel who loves the main character and actually plays a part in saving her life...AND the fly is believable. The book is not fluffy or easy to read,not a pass-the-time sort of entertaining novel, but worth your time and thought.
Dec 21, 2010
Lauren
rated it:
Connie May Fowler did it to me again! Even though I liked Before Women Had Wings, I started this book thinking 1) this is probably chick lit, of which I'm not a fan and 2) I need something I'm not going to get into so much that I can't stop reading -- but I loved this book and got so caught up in her story that I stayed up late to finish reading it. Guess I'll have to add the rest of her books to my list.
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Aug 15, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
I had a hard time getting into this book, with all the writing about ghosts, ovarian shadow women and the perspective of the fly. It seemed overdone at times and I read while also rolling my eyes. However, the book is a very good read and the way it's all tied together at the end makes it worth reading.
May 21, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
WOW!! I am so happy to have received this giveaway!
I loved this book. Clarissa is a bit of an Everywoman, and an inspiring one at that.
The way Connie May Fowler spins a yarn is so very refreshing. She has a rare talent! I could smell the flowers in Clarissa's garden, and see Clarissa's prized home in vivid detail. I could even feel the heat of a florida summer solstice! I loved the way she zipped in and out of points of view. I really enjoyed hearing the thoughts of More...
I loved this book. Clarissa is a bit of an Everywoman, and an inspiring one at that.
The way Connie May Fowler spins a yarn is so very refreshing. She has a rare talent! I could smell the flowers in Clarissa's garden, and see Clarissa's prized home in vivid detail. I could even feel the heat of a florida summer solstice! I loved the way she zipped in and out of points of view. I really enjoyed hearing the thoughts of More...
Oct 18, 2010
Mary
rated it:
To be honest, I abandoned this book about half way through. I just could not relate to, or even slightly enjoy, this character. I felt like I had read this book (or at least the first part of it) before, but I never was completely sure. My advice is: pick a better book!
Jan 10, 2011
Lori
rated it:
Not what I expected, and it took me a very long time to finish. Curiosity was the only thing that kept me going, but the author's writing style and details provided didn't seem to add much to the story. I won't be reading another novel by Connie May Fowler.
Aug 15, 2010
Cheska
rated it:
Very vivid details, but slow to unfold. While I rarely don't put away books without finishing it, this was one of those times when I exercised the habit of not wasting more time in something. Couldn't relate and get into the story though I wanted to.
Dec 30, 2011
Nikki
rated it:
What I like about this book is that, aside from the main story, viewpoints of insects, animals, and ghosts are interwoven as asides. The story itself is nothing special, but the various points of view give the story a mystical feel which is interesting. I liked the fly :)
Feb 15, 2011
Robin
rated it:
Too much crammed into one day. If it had only been the abusive spouse, or the angel, or the ghosts, or the love interest, or the dwarf, but all of them in one day? Way too much going on for not enough reason.
Jul 02, 2010
Dawn
rated it:
Read on my trip south for book club which I probably won't even be back in Michigan in time for. (Well that's a convoluted sentence!) I really enjoyed it, the story of a writer/wife who lets her nonworking-sponging-off-of-her husband control her, and how she gets her mojo back.
Nov 18, 2010
Alison
rated it:
In general I was not blown away by this book. It is a fast read and you do feel attached to the protagonist but in general the story seems disjointed.
