Spilling Clarence by Anne Ursu (2001, Hardcover)

Spilling Clarence is the thought-provoking first novel by Minnesota native Anne Ursu. A small midwestern college/factory town is affected by a psychopharmaceutical drug that wafts through the air during a fire at the factory. People recover all the memories they have either repressed or lost during their lives, good or bad.

Ursu shows the effects of this forced reminiscence on an interesting three-generation cast of characters, all the while causing the reader to ponder how this would affect his or her own life. Why do we forget? Are some things best forgotten? What about the things we don't want to forget?

Wonderfully original, humorously entertaining-- a strong first novel for Anne Ursu. Well worth the read!