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anitaofplaybooktag 's review for:
The Water Cure
by Sophie Mackintosh
There are two ways to read this book: as some kind of feminist themed dystopian novel with a big important message. Or, as a story of a dysfunctional family with a father who has the appeal of a cult leader. If you read it as the former (and my sense is that the book is being promoted that way), I think you will be sorely disappointed. Review to be published first at The Reader's Room blog.
**UPDATE** My review
There are two ways to read this book: as some kind of feminist themed dystopian novel with a big important message. Or, as a story of a dysfunctional family with a father who has the narcissistic appeal of a cult leader. If you read it as the former (and my sense is that the book is being promoted that way), I think you will be sorely disappointed.
I loved the language and foreboding atmosphere of the book, the unrelenting tension. But I didn't see it as an important novel or as one with a whole lot to say. The author is purposefully ambiguous and that creates interesting work for and engages the reader. The writing itself is really evocative, and I loved it. However, at the end of the day, the story seems to be merely one of family dysfunction at a new level, but derivative of other books about cults or other situations where people are entrapped by the mentally ill. Man Booker worthy, hmm, I don’t think so. An interesting literary excursion, yes. I am just not sure you can pin a theme on a book after you've written it. Either one has emerged, or you edit it to enhance a theme you had in mind from the get go - - but I feel like the marketers of this book are trying to retrofit it with an importance that isn't actually there.
**UPDATE** My review
There are two ways to read this book: as some kind of feminist themed dystopian novel with a big important message. Or, as a story of a dysfunctional family with a father who has the narcissistic appeal of a cult leader. If you read it as the former (and my sense is that the book is being promoted that way), I think you will be sorely disappointed.
I loved the language and foreboding atmosphere of the book, the unrelenting tension. But I didn't see it as an important novel or as one with a whole lot to say. The author is purposefully ambiguous and that creates interesting work for and engages the reader. The writing itself is really evocative, and I loved it. However, at the end of the day, the story seems to be merely one of family dysfunction at a new level, but derivative of other books about cults or other situations where people are entrapped by the mentally ill. Man Booker worthy, hmm, I don’t think so. An interesting literary excursion, yes. I am just not sure you can pin a theme on a book after you've written it. Either one has emerged, or you edit it to enhance a theme you had in mind from the get go - - but I feel like the marketers of this book are trying to retrofit it with an importance that isn't actually there.