A review by jadeitebttrdish
The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish by Katya Apekina

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Deeper the Water, the Uglier the Fish feels like an incredibly well-written and captivating car crash - it encourages a twisted sense of "can't look away." The rotating first-person perspective is an exceptional way to approach the complicated and fractured family dynamics among mother Marianne, distant father Dennis, and sisters Edith and Mae. Everyone has their own perspective on the situation, and every character is sympathetic in their own way. The different ways Edith and Mae grapple with the hospitalization of their mother and their new relationship with their father sharply divide them. I did find this to be a novel where its threads are laid bare; I felt as though I could watch the author weave elements of the story together in writing as opposed to being surprised by those threads later. Personally, though, I appreciated this - it is a wonderful novel to learn from as a writer. I found the ending slightly disappointing, but I feel this is likely more of a personal taste or preference dislike than a skill-of-the-writer one. Overall I found this book absolutely captivating and elegant at handling its difficult subject matter.
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