The Clayfields: A Novel in Stories

by Elise Gregory

In The Clayfields , Elise Gregory's powerful debut, the lives of three women are threaded together through the changing backdrops of farming communities in the twenty-first century. Where country churches are closing and old man bars are turning into wineries, an eclectic mix of characters must decide to evolve with new forces or leave their settler roots for new lives.

374 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2022

Reviews

[Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the dialogue and stories in this book. It contains many vivid images for me. Kind of like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, except they are mostly Lutheran and not on drugs.

[Emily Gwinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise Gregory’s newly released novel "The Clayfields" might need to come equipped with a warning: not for the lactose intolerant. On more than one occasion did I pause my reading to slice a hunk of cheddar off the block in my fridge. I Googled “cheese curd soup” in hopes of finding the perfect recipe. As much as these intertwined stories revolve around the promises and pain of a Midwestern farming community, they also disclose the distinctive food culture of small-town America. From funeral potlucks teaming with crockpots and casseroles to the tart, lemon-cream of fresh goat cheese, community in the Clayfields means filling your neighbor’s fridge after accidents – leaving pie in place of heartache.

In rural America, where life and livelihoods are dictated by something as seemingly innocuous as the weather, it is fitting Gregory divides her “novel in stories” seasonally into phases of the moon. In farming culture, the moon acts as planting guide: a new moon for lettuces, cabbage, and grains; a full moon for beans, tomatoes, and squash. It’s this sense of ancestorial knowledge – a family recipe shared for generations – that brings a sense of authenticity to The Clayfields. The goat-rearing, cheesemaking, and bartending are unquestionably believable, and Gregory’s characters are genuine and alive.

The main women in the story, Terra, Emile, Lupine, and Helen, all embody different phases of the feminine. From tragedy and loss to infertility and birth, the women themselves become moon-like, negotiating planting and tilling in a masculine terrain, all while proving themselves as tough and capable as any farmhands. The women in this story don’t negotiate, but move headfirst into relationships, bar doors, and barnyards. My favorite character, Lupine, propels this story and herself unapologetically into womanhood – with curiosity and grace. Gregory’s experience as a poet resonates throughout the collection, with every new love and loss, the parallel tracks disappeared with the coming winds.

This is a book to be read and shared – I already gave my original copy away to a friend.
Just be sure to provide ample snacking cheese.

[Tracy Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

At least a 4.5 for this one.Each time I opened this book, I felt like I was slipping into a cozy, worn woolen sweater while drinking honyed hot tea. Each story is a little gem that weaves its way into a treasure trove of a book. It had me reliving the feelings I had while reading Laura Ingalls Wilder and fall back in love with our temperamental Wisconsin weather and ways. What a beautifully crafted book this is!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although stuffed with a surplus of vignettes--and indeed they are interesting on their own-- it seemed a bit cluttered with all episodic minutiae. Were all the characters necessary? Was it necessary to record every trope of rural life?
Unfortunately, the copy I read was also abundant with textual errors which were confusing, jarring and distracting.
I think with a good editor this would have made a wonderful novel.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clayfields is thoroughly Midwestern in its sensibility and oh-so-universal in its themes. The masterful novel-in-story plunges the reader into the lives of a broad cast of characters: their assets and flaws, their challenges and triumphs. By the end, I felt I knew—and loved—these people and didn’t want my time with them to end.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and poignant.