Into The Water by Paula Hawkins
Why?
Basically because my mum handed it to me and said "It's written by the same woman who did "the Girl on the Train" but it is much better, Much."
What?
Otherwise known as amazon spiel:
Just days before her sister plunged to her death, Jules ignored her call.
Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules must return to her sister's house to care for her daughter, and to face the mystery of Nel's death.
But Jules is afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of this small town that is drowning in secrecy . . .
And of knowing that Nel would never have jumped.
Now Nel is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules must return to her sister's house to care for her daughter, and to face the mystery of Nel's death.
But Jules is afraid. Of her long-buried memories, of the old Mill House, of this small town that is drowning in secrecy . . .
And of knowing that Nel would never have jumped.
Rusty words ***
"The river can go back over the past and bring it all up and spit it out on the banks in full view of everyone, but people can't. Women can't."
This is a book that requires reflection. It was not difficult to read but difficult to articulate or even understand how much I really liked it. The book moves like the river at the heart of it; it is often fast and you get pulled along by the tide, unable to stop. Other times it slows to the extent that you have too much time to stare at the river banks. This is a book about love and the many many forms it takes. The love between siblings, within marriage and between lovers. Love that is strongly shared and experienced and love that is painfully unrequited. The love of a parent is explored both obviously and in a very subtle manner. The strongest love story is between two teenage girls and the character of Lena who originally presents as if love is inaccessible.
There are characters within this book who I still not decided if they are good or pure evil. But perhaps that is life without a media spin on it or any unconscious bias. Read this book and take time to consider it please. My initial vague disappointment was replaced by an appreciation for the cleverness of the book. Perhaps this has taught me a lesson that I should take time when considering the impact of a novel. Reading is an opportunity to step away from the fast paced world where social commentary judges every step and decision.
PS I did read the amazon reviews and there were comments about more characters being in the paperback version. I read the hardback - has anyone read the paperback version?
There are characters within this book who I still not decided if they are good or pure evil. But perhaps that is life without a media spin on it or any unconscious bias. Read this book and take time to consider it please. My initial vague disappointment was replaced by an appreciation for the cleverness of the book. Perhaps this has taught me a lesson that I should take time when considering the impact of a novel. Reading is an opportunity to step away from the fast paced world where social commentary judges every step and decision.
PS I did read the amazon reviews and there were comments about more characters being in the paperback version. I read the hardback - has anyone read the paperback version?
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