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A review by thebookboy
Summerwater by Sarah Moss
3.0
I went into Summerwater expecting big things, especially as I hold Ghost Wall as one of my favourite reads from recent years. Unfortunately, though there's a lot to be enjoyed here, Summerwater didn't quite live up to expectations.
I loved the format of it - the different interweaving stream of consciousness narratives, the ever-pervading wetness and rain of Scotland - it was all very atmospheric and brilliant, plus some of the characters were masterfully done. I particularly liked the mother who is granted an hour of time to herself and effectively worries it away for various reasons. I also liked the young woman arguing her fantasies and what she should be allowed to fantasise about with herself during sex and exploring those themes that way - it was a refreshing perspective and again a nice touch of real humanity. Moss manages to weave in a lot of different subjects in a short time, and that's no mean feat.
However, I think my problem with Summerwater stems mostly from my inability to really believe in the younger characters of the cast. Some seemed far older than their years, and I also found them quite interchangeable in places, despite them obviously meaning to be very distinct. The ending was also altogether a bit convenient and I struggle to believe that a fire would ultimately only kill certain people it was aimed towards when it was enveloping a whole building with such speed - I basically finished the book feeling a bit underwhelmed which is a real shame.
Still, the writing is fabulous and Moss' powers over atmosphere are commendable as always - I just don't think this one quite hit the mark for me.
3 stars
I loved the format of it - the different interweaving stream of consciousness narratives, the ever-pervading wetness and rain of Scotland - it was all very atmospheric and brilliant, plus some of the characters were masterfully done. I particularly liked the mother who is granted an hour of time to herself and effectively worries it away for various reasons. I also liked the young woman arguing her fantasies and what she should be allowed to fantasise about with herself during sex and exploring those themes that way - it was a refreshing perspective and again a nice touch of real humanity. Moss manages to weave in a lot of different subjects in a short time, and that's no mean feat.
However, I think my problem with Summerwater stems mostly from my inability to really believe in the younger characters of the cast. Some seemed far older than their years, and I also found them quite interchangeable in places, despite them obviously meaning to be very distinct. The ending was also altogether a bit convenient and I struggle to believe that a fire would ultimately only kill certain people it was aimed towards when it was enveloping a whole building with such speed - I basically finished the book feeling a bit underwhelmed which is a real shame.
Still, the writing is fabulous and Moss' powers over atmosphere are commendable as always - I just don't think this one quite hit the mark for me.
3 stars