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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Good writing. Gritty story, reminding me of how blessed I am to not have lived in the era. My only complaint is that the narrator voiced the crooked sheriff like an over-the-top John Wayne, which took me out of the moment lol.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really loved the depth of the characters and narrative style. Took me a second to catch on to it, but really quite enjoyed the read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Didn’t get on with the audiobook, will try the print version later
// The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
The Sweetness of Water is an incredible debut by Nathan Harris, one that has been longlisted for The Booker Prize 2021. The story, which is set just after The American Civil War revolves mainly around four characters; George and Isabelle who own farm lands and are unlike other white people in town. And of Prentiss and Landry, two brothers who are newly freed black men. When the four accidentally meet, they form a bond in ways they never expected to. It was perhaps inevitable that in a town so small, tongues would wag when the brothers started working with George and were paid fair wages as any other white men. This was the beginning of a snowball effect, one that ultimately turns the lives of the entire townsfolk upside down.
For most of the book, Harris explores the idea of freedom. A concept so rare for the slaves but often dreamt of nevertheless. Through Prentiss and Landry, we learn about a life lived within the confines of a farm, with bleeding hands and broken jaws. While Prentiss took up most of the pages, it was Landry's silence that pierced my heart. The two brothers were each other's shadow, casting a protective shade around them. By living and working with George and Isabelle, they are briefly cocooned in safety although that doesn't last very long. What took me by surprise was how Isabelle's character unfolds in the latter part of the book. The character development in this novel plays a significant role in enhancing the story. Harris takes his time in unraveling each of them, almost like peeling an onion to expose their vulnerable selves. The Sweetness of Water is a slow burning story, all it's elements coming together perfectly in the end
But ultimately he leaves us with the the thought that one must hope even in the face of tragedy.
As Harris says 'Yet sometimes - just sometimes - hope was enough.'
The Sweetness of Water is an incredible debut by Nathan Harris, one that has been longlisted for The Booker Prize 2021. The story, which is set just after The American Civil War revolves mainly around four characters; George and Isabelle who own farm lands and are unlike other white people in town. And of Prentiss and Landry, two brothers who are newly freed black men. When the four accidentally meet, they form a bond in ways they never expected to. It was perhaps inevitable that in a town so small, tongues would wag when the brothers started working with George and were paid fair wages as any other white men. This was the beginning of a snowball effect, one that ultimately turns the lives of the entire townsfolk upside down.
For most of the book, Harris explores the idea of freedom. A concept so rare for the slaves but often dreamt of nevertheless. Through Prentiss and Landry, we learn about a life lived within the confines of a farm, with bleeding hands and broken jaws. While Prentiss took up most of the pages, it was Landry's silence that pierced my heart. The two brothers were each other's shadow, casting a protective shade around them. By living and working with George and Isabelle, they are briefly cocooned in safety although that doesn't last very long. What took me by surprise was how Isabelle's character unfolds in the latter part of the book. The character development in this novel plays a significant role in enhancing the story. Harris takes his time in unraveling each of them, almost like peeling an onion to expose their vulnerable selves. The Sweetness of Water is a slow burning story, all it's elements coming together perfectly in the end
But ultimately he leaves us with the the thought that one must hope even in the face of tragedy.
As Harris says 'Yet sometimes - just sometimes - hope was enough.'
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a tricky one. The prose was beautiful and the characters were engaging. But it just didn’t keep me interested, which is why it took so long to finish.