Book description
Byron Aldridge, heir to a timber empire, returns from the First World War a changed man and finds refuge as a company policeman in a backwoods Louisiana sawmill. Soon his younger brother Randolph tracks him down, assuming charge of the mill in the hope of rescuing his former idol. But…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Clearing as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
This was recommended to me by a friend who knew I was writing a sci-fi story that takes place in South Louisiana, where my story is set. Gautreaux’s story is enjoyable, but it is the vivid descriptions of the logging camp and its surroundings that held my attention: the thick, almost suffocating damp air, the smells of decay, and the dark mocha of mud puddles that never seem to dry up.
Though my own story isn’t set specifically in a swamp, this gave me the punch I needed to describe the Louisiana town where my story is set.
From Steven's list on The best books offering insights into the tapestry of your story.
If you love The Clearing...
December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…
Want books like The Clearing?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 83 books like The Clearing.
Share your top 3 reads of 2026!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
170
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Clearing, you might also like...
Sexy Selfie Nation
The problem is not with the actions young women take but with the toxic, sexist conditions they are responding to.
Tanenbaum found, based on six years of interviews with young people ages 14-30, that young women are navigating a culture littered with gendered dress codes, revenge porn, and sexually explicit…
In This Together
In This Together explores how we can harness our social networks to make a real impact fighting the climate crisis. Against notions of the lone environmental crusader, Marianne E. Krasny shows us the power of "network climate action"—the idea that our own ordinary acts can influence and inspire those close…
