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emmalemonnz's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully evocative of coastal and central Otago. As you read, the colours become a part of your world, the air becomes static, you are transported to the small towns, to Lake Aviemore, to the greyness of Dunedin and the cage of the psychiatric ward.
A love story that reveals the ache of betrayal and the equal ache of needing to escape. The pain and love that comes with family. Thalia Henry is a brilliant writer who is surely only beginning to fill the world with her stories.
A love story that reveals the ache of betrayal and the equal ache of needing to escape. The pain and love that comes with family. Thalia Henry is a brilliant writer who is surely only beginning to fill the world with her stories.
laurenmidna's review
4.0
Beneath Pale Water was much more than I was expecting when I picked it up. Written almost lyrically, the whole book is packed with beautiful details and scenery, and is almost nostalgic in style.
Delia is a sculptor, who we learn early on lost her boyfriend. Jane is Delia's model and had a past relationship with Luke, and Luke is a wandering nomad who resembles Delia's lost boyfriend. Throughout the book, we learn the unlikely ways that all three lives are intertwined in a beautiful and memorable story.
The story that was interwoven between these three characters delves deep into their psychology, making for an intricate story that left me guessing all the way until the end. The end did seem a little rushed, but not enough to take away my overall enjoyment from the story.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, but that doesn't effect how I'm reviewing this book.
Delia is a sculptor, who we learn early on lost her boyfriend. Jane is Delia's model and had a past relationship with Luke, and Luke is a wandering nomad who resembles Delia's lost boyfriend. Throughout the book, we learn the unlikely ways that all three lives are intertwined in a beautiful and memorable story.
The story that was interwoven between these three characters delves deep into their psychology, making for an intricate story that left me guessing all the way until the end. The end did seem a little rushed, but not enough to take away my overall enjoyment from the story.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, but that doesn't effect how I'm reviewing this book.
nebulous07's review
4.0
"Beneath Pale Water" is an intricate read that sheds light on the mindset by Luke (vagrant), Delia (sculptor) and Jane (model) against the backdrop of beautiful landscapes of New Zealand. This is certainly a visual treat and I felt that I was transported to the South Island.
Thalia Henry has really developed memorable characters along with the supporting characters of Helen (Delia's mother) and Alfred (Luke's father). They really complement the overall plot centred around a sense of belonging and identity and it is interesting to gain a parental perspective. I took a bit of time to get into the writing style of the author but I was engaged and couldn't wait to unearth what would happen. It is an unconventional book that presents a realistic overview on grief and reliving the past.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thalia Henry has really developed memorable characters along with the supporting characters of Helen (Delia's mother) and Alfred (Luke's father). They really complement the overall plot centred around a sense of belonging and identity and it is interesting to gain a parental perspective. I took a bit of time to get into the writing style of the author but I was engaged and couldn't wait to unearth what would happen. It is an unconventional book that presents a realistic overview on grief and reliving the past.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
emmal_'s review
3.0
3.5 stars!
This novel is so different from the realistic fiction I’ve read before. The writing was lyrical and beautiful; I could see the landscaped described. This book has a melancholic yet tranquil feel with flawed main characters. I enjoyed it!
I might have missed out on some nuances that would have made my reading experience better, but this is still an interesting novel.
In terms of the characters, I found them to be complex and realistic. All three characters, Delia, Luke and Jane, are each dealing with their own problems that everyone can relate to. Delia’s yearning for freedom, Luke’s loneliness and Jane’s yearning for love created an interesting dynamic between the characters, that I can’t help but root for each of them.
I was pleasantly surprised at the plot reveals. Henry did an amazing job of linking all the character story arcs, creating a satisfying ending.
Overall, a beautiful story and I would recommend to anyone wanting a change of scenery or a novel with beautiful writing and flawed characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This novel is so different from the realistic fiction I’ve read before. The writing was lyrical and beautiful; I could see the landscaped described. This book has a melancholic yet tranquil feel with flawed main characters. I enjoyed it!
I might have missed out on some nuances that would have made my reading experience better, but this is still an interesting novel.
In terms of the characters, I found them to be complex and realistic. All three characters, Delia, Luke and Jane, are each dealing with their own problems that everyone can relate to. Delia’s yearning for freedom, Luke’s loneliness and Jane’s yearning for love created an interesting dynamic between the characters, that I can’t help but root for each of them.
I was pleasantly surprised at the plot reveals. Henry did an amazing job of linking all the character story arcs, creating a satisfying ending.
Overall, a beautiful story and I would recommend to anyone wanting a change of scenery or a novel with beautiful writing and flawed characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
anjukris's review
1.0
This total drag of a novel is testament to the fact that Goodread reviews are unreliable metrics to assess books. The pace and so-called realism of this plot infuriated me, and I only managed to finish it by sheer will. Not only are the main protagonists insipid but also their respective backstories. One star for the backdrop being New Zealand, because the descriptions of Dunedin got me nostalgic.
megami's review
4.0
This beautiful, lyrical novel manages the difficult task of combining multiple time lines and characters, with jumps back and forth in time, yet it all flows coherently and is not at all confusing.
Set in a small New Zealand town, we are brought in to the world of a small cast of characters and through following them we explore large themes - longing, grieving, mental health, families, belonging, love. All of the characters - from sculptor Delia, her model Jane and nomadic Luke, to the parents of some of the characters - feel very real and complicated rather than just archetypes or token characters written to advance a plot point.
The author also writes beautifully about the landscape, following the water, mountains and sky throughout the seasons. It is as though the landscape is another character rather than a backdrop.
There are some very local terms in this book - not sure many US readers will know what things like 'Stubbies' are - but as an Australian I got them all. I like that the author has considered that her readers will be smart enough to figure out what these terms are from context or go find them out if they really need to.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Set in a small New Zealand town, we are brought in to the world of a small cast of characters and through following them we explore large themes - longing, grieving, mental health, families, belonging, love. All of the characters - from sculptor Delia, her model Jane and nomadic Luke, to the parents of some of the characters - feel very real and complicated rather than just archetypes or token characters written to advance a plot point.
The author also writes beautifully about the landscape, following the water, mountains and sky throughout the seasons. It is as though the landscape is another character rather than a backdrop.
There are some very local terms in this book - not sure many US readers will know what things like 'Stubbies' are - but as an Australian I got them all. I like that the author has considered that her readers will be smart enough to figure out what these terms are from context or go find them out if they really need to.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
kimreadsnwrites's review
4.0
Delia is a sculptor, who is very imaginative, and a little obsessive. Jane models for her. By the lake, Delia meets Luke. He is a drifter with a lot of secrets, and we find out early on that he resembles Delia’s boyfriend who died. Delia takes a liking to him and envies the freedom of his lifestyle.
About a third of the way into the book, the pace picks up a bit as we start uncovering more about how the three lives are intertwined, and the relationships are as complex and psychologically deep as real life. It almost feels as if we are chasing the three around the lakes, orchards and pubs of Otago, getting confused and backtracking as we try to unravel what is real and what is not.
This book can be confronting and a bit uncomfortable at times. It is a dark read, almost gothic in its outlook. Although I found the characters quite hard to relate to initially, I think this story is perhaps more about who we are, than who we wish we were. The characters are all trying to come to terms with loss in healthy and unhealthy ways. It is about the masks we wear and the realities we create for ourselves and about freedom and responsibility. Beautifully written and vivid descriptions make a haunting tale.
More reviews at www.writersideoflife.com
About a third of the way into the book, the pace picks up a bit as we start uncovering more about how the three lives are intertwined, and the relationships are as complex and psychologically deep as real life. It almost feels as if we are chasing the three around the lakes, orchards and pubs of Otago, getting confused and backtracking as we try to unravel what is real and what is not.
This book can be confronting and a bit uncomfortable at times. It is a dark read, almost gothic in its outlook. Although I found the characters quite hard to relate to initially, I think this story is perhaps more about who we are, than who we wish we were. The characters are all trying to come to terms with loss in healthy and unhealthy ways. It is about the masks we wear and the realities we create for ourselves and about freedom and responsibility. Beautifully written and vivid descriptions make a haunting tale.
More reviews at www.writersideoflife.com
littlelionbooks's review
5.0
Thank you to BookSirens for a free ARC of this book.
This is possibly one of the best and most beautiful books I have ever read. I'm a huge fan of 'experimental' and emotionally raw stories, and Henry writes every emotion under the sun in such a realistic way that I connected with the characters more than I have with any other in a long time.
All three of the characters are in different places in their lives, but are somehow emotionally intertwined - I really enjoyed the interactions between them. Henry's portrayal of New Zealand is also so uncannily accurate. The country really has a unique feel to it and this novel brought back so many memories of travelling there.
The book toes the line between novel and psychological analysis so so well - it's not for everyone but it is for most. If you enjoy characters motivated by their own emotions - grief, anger, confusion - then I whole-heartily recommend this book.
This is possibly one of the best and most beautiful books I have ever read. I'm a huge fan of 'experimental' and emotionally raw stories, and Henry writes every emotion under the sun in such a realistic way that I connected with the characters more than I have with any other in a long time.
All three of the characters are in different places in their lives, but are somehow emotionally intertwined - I really enjoyed the interactions between them. Henry's portrayal of New Zealand is also so uncannily accurate. The country really has a unique feel to it and this novel brought back so many memories of travelling there.
The book toes the line between novel and psychological analysis so so well - it's not for everyone but it is for most. If you enjoy characters motivated by their own emotions - grief, anger, confusion - then I whole-heartily recommend this book.
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