Ursula Major by B. Robert Conklin (Book Review #2192)

In Ursula Major, B. Robert Conklin crafts a haunting and poignant family saga that delves into the fractured landscapes of memory, trauma, and the unbreakable bond between siblings. Set against the backdrop of 1970s Appalachian Ohio, the novel is as much a personal reckoning as it is a beautifully layered exploration of truth, resilience, and the complexities of love.

Told from the perspective of Jeremy, now middle-aged and in therapy, the narrative circles around a singular refrain from his childhood: “Take good care of your sister.” Ursie, the spirited and vulnerable younger sister, becomes both a symbol of innocence and the emotional anchor of a family unraveling. Their father’s abrupt departure to Alaska and their mother’s descent into a radical religious sect leave the siblings to face a gauntlet of abandonment, abuse, and ultimately, betrayal.

Conklin balances the tragic with touches of dark humor, capturing the absurdities and sorrow of adolescence with grace. His prose is clean, evocative, and emotionally precise. What truly elevates Ursula Major is its exploration of memory—how it warps, shields, and sometimes deceives—and how we define truth in the aftermath of pain.

This novel doesn’t flinch from difficult subjects, including sexual trauma, religious fanaticism, and psychological unraveling. Yet through it all, there’s tenderness and hope—a testimony to the enduring power of sibling love and the human capacity to question, heal, and reimagine the past.

For fans of literary fiction that cuts deep, Ursula Major is a brave and unforgettable read.

Written by Jeyran Main

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