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erinwea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Interesting concept but could have been better. The French was a little annoying, as others have said.
Am I the only one bugged by the constant mention and care of his contacts?! And they lasted 2 years??
Am I the only one bugged by the constant mention and care of his contacts?! And they lasted 2 years??
blueberry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
shareen17's review against another edition
4.0
At first this book seems like it's going to be very similar to the movie Cast Away. It's about two people who survive a plane crash and find themselves on a remote desert island. It becomes a look at what makes a meaningful life.
jordanwilde's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I can honestly say I was emotionally involved with the characters from start to finish. At its core, it's a survival story. The author allows you to connect with the characters on their own, and reminds us why we keep rooting for them. At first I felt like the book was missing a huge plot point at the end, but really it's not. I think that comes from me wanting it to end differently, but alas, that's not the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Minor: Suicide
booksconnectus's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book-devoured it, actually. At first I thought it was nothing like I usually read and that perhaps I wasn't going to like it-but I did and I wanted more after the last page was turned. I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I needed to know how the ending came about...but maybe I need to go back and re-read a bit....I know I am being really vague here-but I do not want to give anything a way. This book was everything-a bit of mystery, lots of humor, a love story, survival story and really good, easy prose.
csbooklove's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
This book is a different style and tone than I’m used to reading. In the beginning, it was almost hard to get into. I kept waiting for some hook to draw me in that wasn’t coming, but I felt like I needed to keep pushing forward, rather than give up on it. Soon I found myself immersed in this story. I think it’d be easy for me to discredit the book because of its unique style, because everything isn’t laid out perfectly and wrapped with a little bow. I came to appreciate the style and format in which the story was told, and feel like what wasn’t written and given to the reader was just as important as what was. Certainly this won’t be a book for everyone, but I’m definitely glad I got the chance to read it.
colpenbewley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
novelvisits's review against another edition
4.0
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/castle-of-water-by-dane-huckelbridge-review/
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Begins at the Ending – I always like a story that starts with the end as Castle of Water did. In the very first chapter we see a man going to a grave and leaving a bunch of bananas there. It doesn’t take long to realize who that man was, but the question of what he’s doing, and why, lingers throughout the story. As a reader, you know this is where you’ll end up and in this story that worked especially well.
Easy to Like Characters – I don’t need to like characters in order to love a book, but it’s always a nice addition when I do. Both Barry and Sophie, our stranded couple, were easy to like. Sophie had a biting quality to her in the beginning, as one would expect after the shock of a plane crash, losing a husband while on her honeymoon, and coming to realize they were truly alone.
“Right then and there, the trapdoor on both their lives clicked and fell out from under them. A brief, sinking sensation, and then the cold thump of reality. No one was looking for them. Not one boat, not one soul.”
Barry was a little inept and nerdy. Both grew as individuals and a team as day, after day, after year on the island progressed.
Side Stories That Work – Oftentimes side stories can drag the main storyline down, but in Castle of Water Huckelbridge’s only added to his overall plot. I especially loved a running storyline that had Barry and Sophie alternately telling the other a fictional account of what their life might be like off the island. It highlighted the people they had grown into being.
Great Narration – I loved the voice of the narrator in this book. There was just something so mater-of-fact about the way the story was told. I loved that element!
What Didn’t
A Lot of Unlikely Coincidences – The book did require you to do a little suspending of disbelief. Barry and Sophie benefitted from some unlikely coincidences, like the fact that centuries ago, Polynesians had used their atoll as a stopping place on long journeys. Those Polynesians had conveniently planted coconut and banana trees on the island and had seeded the nearby lagoon with clams. Sophie had had survival training at the feet of her grandfather, and Barry operated a shortwave radio as a child. And the biggest one of all? The one little Bic lighter, after three years it was still working!
{The Final Assessment}
It was easy to breeze past the minor flaws that made island life possible for Barry and Sophie and to instead focus on the people they were and the relationship they developed. Yes, the book was a little on the sappy side, but you know what? There’s room in the world for a sappy love story every now and again. Castle of Water was a really lovely, easy, fast read. We all need that sometimes!
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Begins at the Ending – I always like a story that starts with the end as Castle of Water did. In the very first chapter we see a man going to a grave and leaving a bunch of bananas there. It doesn’t take long to realize who that man was, but the question of what he’s doing, and why, lingers throughout the story. As a reader, you know this is where you’ll end up and in this story that worked especially well.
Easy to Like Characters – I don’t need to like characters in order to love a book, but it’s always a nice addition when I do. Both Barry and Sophie, our stranded couple, were easy to like. Sophie had a biting quality to her in the beginning, as one would expect after the shock of a plane crash, losing a husband while on her honeymoon, and coming to realize they were truly alone.
“Right then and there, the trapdoor on both their lives clicked and fell out from under them. A brief, sinking sensation, and then the cold thump of reality. No one was looking for them. Not one boat, not one soul.”
Barry was a little inept and nerdy. Both grew as individuals and a team as day, after day, after year on the island progressed.
Side Stories That Work – Oftentimes side stories can drag the main storyline down, but in Castle of Water Huckelbridge’s only added to his overall plot. I especially loved a running storyline that had Barry and Sophie alternately telling the other a fictional account of what their life might be like off the island. It highlighted the people they had grown into being.
Great Narration – I loved the voice of the narrator in this book. There was just something so mater-of-fact about the way the story was told. I loved that element!
What Didn’t
A Lot of Unlikely Coincidences – The book did require you to do a little suspending of disbelief. Barry and Sophie benefitted from some unlikely coincidences, like the fact that centuries ago, Polynesians had used their atoll as a stopping place on long journeys. Those Polynesians had conveniently planted coconut and banana trees on the island and had seeded the nearby lagoon with clams. Sophie had had survival training at the feet of her grandfather, and Barry operated a shortwave radio as a child. And the biggest one of all? The one little Bic lighter, after three years it was still working!
{The Final Assessment}
It was easy to breeze past the minor flaws that made island life possible for Barry and Sophie and to instead focus on the people they were and the relationship they developed. Yes, the book was a little on the sappy side, but you know what? There’s room in the world for a sappy love story every now and again. Castle of Water was a really lovely, easy, fast read. We all need that sometimes!
lindseyslittlelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
A bit more literary than I usually read but it really worked. You can't help but fall in love with and be completely invested in the characters.
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
5.0
Loved. My ONLY complaint was all the French! Reading on my phone I had Google Translate open the whole time.