Reviews

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

jenmangler's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed reading this. I particularly loved Isabelle, Landry, Mildred, and Clementine.

djxs76's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

eloiseatthelibrary's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

Emotional, challenging, hopeful and all beautifully written. I really enjoyed that the book wrote from a number of unique and unexpected perspectives, while maintaining naturalness and authenticity. 
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cmerritt's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

vagabondreader's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

amoore126's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

monica_m's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

ellen_willaert's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.75

missyjohnson's review

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3.0

this seemed to take a really long time to read. The story of Prentiss and Landry, and the Walker family from Old Ox Georgia. Prentiss and Landry are brothers and slaves on Ted Morton's farm. George and Isabelle Walker have the farm next door. Their son Caleb has been conscripted in the Civil war. Caleb is reported to be dead but shows up at home a short while later. He has some shame in his cowardice as he ran from a battle and was captured as a prisoner. Caleb is quiet and is in love with his childhood friend, August. They keep their relationship secret, (but it is not all that secret). At the end of the war, the slaves are freed and Prentiss and Landry go to work for George. The town of Old Ox resents that George is paying former slaves and reject the Walker family. August beats Landry to death after he catches Caleb and August together in the forest. The town does not believe that August did anything wrong when he is blamed by Caleb for killing Landry. Prentiss is arrested for spitting on Wade, (August's father) and held to for the judge. Caleb breaks Prentiss out of jail and they run North. in the meantime, someone burns the crops the George, Landry and Prentiss had planted and the fire then burns the town of Old Ox. George helps Caleb and Prentiss travel north then is shot in the leg by the sheriff for brandishing a weapon. George dies, and Isabelle now has run of the farm. This story seemed to jump around a bit and never really settled on a character to expound on. the freedom that Isabelle experiences after George's death could have been a good story but it did not really go anywhere. I think that one of the reasons that I took so long to read this is because it was so sad. No one ever really rose above the struggles that they were born into.

robyn_stine's review against another edition

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dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0