Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
The Sweetness of Water stirred many emotions in me. First, the anger at those who committed heinous acts against their fellow human being and justified it by quoting scripture and perpetuated race hatred by denying the humanity of their fellow human being. Secondly and more profoundly I felt heartened by the lessons the characters learn and impart to one another and to the reader.
TSOW is more than a depiction of slavery, war and its repercussions, it is the story of the bonds we form, strengthen and revere. The sacred bond of brotherhood shared by the silent Landry and his often frustrated brother Prentiss is at the heart of TSOW. Landry, who has gone virtually silent following beatings administered by the overseer at the direction of the vicious and sadistic plantation owner, Tom Morton. Landry’s silence is not just a physical response from having his jaw broken, but an emotional one and perhaps the only appropriate reaction to the violence he is subjected to and witnesses. Despite this he is filled with love for the natural world and exultant in simply being among the flora, fauna, the rivers, streams and ponds.
Isabelle, George and Caleb Walker, are white land owners in the community of Old Ox. Never quite acceptable to the Old Ox community, with George’s father, an outsider from up north and buying a great deal of property in Old Ox and George adhering to his own principles that often conflict with the community. Isabelle like George is happiest in her own company and doesn’t shy from speaking her mind runs afoul of the women of Old Ox. Not a picture perfect marriage, but rather a realistic picture of two thinking people spending a lifetime adjusting themselves to one another and a deep abiding love they share.
Into this mix returns the Walker’s son Caleb from a war. Caleb has joined the confederate army not out of any desire to fight for the southern cause but to keep an eye on Augustine his beloved friend and lover. Caleb is not suited to fighting and in fear allows himself to be captured, and will find himself as tormented by the Union boys as he was by the southern boys who immediately detect his otherness. His return to Old Ox is the inflection point of this novel and the springboard on which all action will follow.
Well crafted and heart tugging. Highly recommend.
TSOW is more than a depiction of slavery, war and its repercussions, it is the story of the bonds we form, strengthen and revere. The sacred bond of brotherhood shared by the silent Landry and his often frustrated brother Prentiss is at the heart of TSOW. Landry, who has gone virtually silent following beatings administered by the overseer at the direction of the vicious and sadistic plantation owner, Tom Morton. Landry’s silence is not just a physical response from having his jaw broken, but an emotional one and perhaps the only appropriate reaction to the violence he is subjected to and witnesses. Despite this he is filled with love for the natural world and exultant in simply being among the flora, fauna, the rivers, streams and ponds.
Isabelle, George and Caleb Walker, are white land owners in the community of Old Ox. Never quite acceptable to the Old Ox community, with George’s father, an outsider from up north and buying a great deal of property in Old Ox and George adhering to his own principles that often conflict with the community. Isabelle like George is happiest in her own company and doesn’t shy from speaking her mind runs afoul of the women of Old Ox. Not a picture perfect marriage, but rather a realistic picture of two thinking people spending a lifetime adjusting themselves to one another and a deep abiding love they share.
Into this mix returns the Walker’s son Caleb from a war. Caleb has joined the confederate army not out of any desire to fight for the southern cause but to keep an eye on Augustine his beloved friend and lover. Caleb is not suited to fighting and in fear allows himself to be captured, and will find himself as tormented by the Union boys as he was by the southern boys who immediately detect his otherness. His return to Old Ox is the inflection point of this novel and the springboard on which all action will follow.
Well crafted and heart tugging. Highly recommend.
This is a rare book for me, much like Where the Crawdads Sing, that lives up to the hype surrounding it. And it taught me yet another lesson about jumping to conclusions about how a story will unfold based upon the type of story it seems to be at the beginning. I love when an author can surprise me, especially in character choices and development.
We all know that people are complex. And that antiheroes have become the order of the day. But I love when an author boldly starts from a foundation that people are full of goodness and good intentions and is then willing to explore the darker ways in which hatred, fear, and loneliness can lead to bad choices and devastating outcomes.
We all know that people are complex. And that antiheroes have become the order of the day. But I love when an author boldly starts from a foundation that people are full of goodness and good intentions and is then willing to explore the darker ways in which hatred, fear, and loneliness can lead to bad choices and devastating outcomes.
This one has me conflicted. This slow burner is in the South and covering the affects after the Emancipation Proclamation when all slaves are made free people. I really loved the character George, how he goes against society’s conventions and ways, and Prentiss and Landry as they struggle to adjust to life as free men and to fit into the same community that does not agree with the Proclamation. Their journey toward each other was truly unique.
There were moments in this story that were really beautiful, and in those moments this story would have been an easy 4 star read, but sadly most of the story felt too drawn out. Harris’ writing style really makes you feel like you’re in the 1860s, and I really enjoyed some of the relationships between the various characters and how Harris explores what it means to be free.
There were moments in this story that were really beautiful, and in those moments this story would have been an easy 4 star read, but sadly most of the story felt too drawn out. Harris’ writing style really makes you feel like you’re in the 1860s, and I really enjoyed some of the relationships between the various characters and how Harris explores what it means to be free.
Listened to the audiobook, and it was so somber, it was hard to get engaged.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought the characters had depth and were written beautifully. The story line was hard to read in some parts, but I couldn't put it down in other parts. I really liked it.
This is a complicated book reminiscent of [b:The Underground Railroad|30555488|The Underground Railroad|Colson Whitehead|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493178362l/30555488._SX50_.jpg|48287641]. There's that mix of historical fiction and magical realism, interesting and complicated characters... and that tiny spark of hope. This was Nathan Harris's debut, and I'm looking forward to more.
This is a wonderful debut novel set in Georgia at the end of the Civil War. George and Isabelle never kept slaves, but have found out that their son was killed during the last days of fighting. A pair of brothers, Prentiss and Landry have left the farm next door, trying to figure out how to get North and find their mother. George hires them to work on his land and pays them a fair wage which angers and outrages almost all their neighbors. Slow in spots and thoughtful, Nathan Harris has written a sobering look at the immediate consequences in the post War South.
V slow start, I wasn’t really into it until the last third. Such a good story/plot but it didn’t hook me like it should have. Kinda boring honestly. Writing is good but it gives a fake deepness to the characters… I feel like I don’t actually know anything about any of them besides Prentiss.