LOSING CLEMENTINE
In thirty days Clementine Pritchard will be finished with her last painting and her life.
World-renowned artist and sharp-tongued wit Clementine Pritchard has decided that she’s done. After flushing away a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions, she gives herself thirty days to tie up loose ends—finish one last painting, make nice with her ex-husband, and find a home for her cat. Clementine plans to spend the month she has left in a swirl of art-world parties, manic work sessions, and outrageous acts—but what she doesn’t expect is to uncover secrets surrounding the tragedy that befell her mother and sister.
In thirty days Clementine Pritchard will be finished with her last painting and her life.
World-renowned artist and sharp-tongued wit Clementine Pritchard has decided that she’s done. After flushing away a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions, she gives herself thirty days to tie up loose ends—finish one last painting, make nice with her ex-husband, and find a home for her cat. Clementine plans to spend the month she has left in a swirl of art-world parties, manic work sessions, and outrageous acts—but what she doesn’t expect is to uncover secrets surrounding the tragedy that befell her mother and sister. In an ending no one sees coming, will we lose Clementine or will we find her?
A bold debut from an exciting new voice, Losing Clementine is a wonderfully entertaining and poignant novel about unanticipated self-discovery that features one of the most irresistible, if deeply flawed, characters to grace contemporary fiction in years.
- William Morrow Paperbacks
- Paperback
- March 2012
- 320 Pages
- 9780062093639
Buy the Book
$14.99
About Ashley Ream
Ashley Ream got her first job at a newspaper when she was sixteen. After working in newsrooms across Missouri, Florida, and Texas, she gave up deadlines to pursue fiction. She lives in Los Angeles and works at a nonprofit.
Praise
“This is a novel that allows us to experience how exciting life is, and how fast time can fly, once you truly free yourself to live it.”—Bust Magazine
“An entertaining and moody whirlwind. Whether readers love or hate Clementine, they won’t soon forget her.”—Publishers Weekly
“An unexpectedly fresh and humorous voice. Fans of dark comedy should add Ream to their list of authors to watch.”—Library Journal
“With her razor wit and over-it-all candor, Clementine makes for a fascinating companion, and Ream manages to craft an engaging and impressive debut without soft-pedaling how very sick Clementine is . . . A hip and hilarious portrait of a crazy person.”—Kirkus Review
Discussion Questions
How do you feel about Clementine’s decision to kill herself? Was she justified? Is there ever a justification?
Although not a cook herself, food plays a prominent role in Clementine’s life. Do you see any correlation in what she eats and her mental state at different points in the book?
Why do you think Clementine slept with Richard in Tijuana? Why do you think Richard slept with Clementine?
Was Clementine justified in defacing Elaine’s work?
Did the gallery deserve any blame for the knock-offs of Clementine’s work?
A major theme in the book is the effect serious mental illness has on the patient’s loved ones. Clementine was one of those loved ones while her mother was ill and then is the patient during the book. How do you think being on both sides of the issue affected Clementine’s behavior?
Do you believe Clementine acted responsibly in the way she planned her death?
How do you feel about Clementine’s relationship with her therapist? Do you believe this relationship played a part in her decision to stop treatment?
How do you feel about Clementine’s decision to tell her friends she has cancer? Was it a kindness or was it cowardly?
How important to the book is the city of Los Angeles? Could the story have been set anywhere or did the city have an important role to play?
Richard wants to save Clementine and has wanted to throughout their relationship. How has this affected each of them?
Reflect on the art Clementine creates throughout the book—the perverted Americana scenes, the dying buffalo, the centaur figure. What symbolism do you see?
What do you think of Clementine’s argument that art always belongs to the artist?
The three main art world professionals in the book are Clementine, Elaine Sacks and Carla—all women. Do you think gender plays a role in how they interact with one another?
What do you think about Jenny’s reliance on Clementine? Does it change in the course of the story?
Clementine’s father feels culpable in the deaths of her mother and sister. Is he?
Clementine spends most of the book attempting to disentangle herself from her responsibilities. How successful is she?
What do you think happens after the book ends?