The Weight of Water

BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN

Wonderful, heart-wrenching, gripping story. The way the narration intertwines makes it even more intriguing and mesmerizing. The prose reads like poetry and this has become one of my favorite books.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Perfect

This was a wonderful story that dipped from the present to the past, and excavated an old mystery - one that actually occurred.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Headache ~~~~

So during the Hurricane Irene, I thought let me pick up this book and start reading it. I belong to a book club and this was required. I tried 3X and I still could not get into it. I am sorry but I really have a tough time with this author.

not my favorite

This book wasnt terrible but for me I could have done without the 2 stories. It annoyed me going back and forth back and forth and most of the part of the murders I just didnt read, it was boring too me untill they actually started talking about the murders, I would have rather read about the "real life part" and left out the boringness of the woman talking about her life and how she came to the island.

Unsettling page turner

I liked this book despite the emotional heaviness. It drew me in from the very start and was difficult to put down. The story and emotions stayed with me for days after I finished.

Poignant story

Very poignant story with interesting characters. A great read for book clubs and conversation.

GREAT WORK

Anita Shreve has done a great job by combining different styles and the way she creates a weave in story telling.
A Must Read.

I was very pleased with this book.....

I really enjoyed this book. I havnt read any other of Anita Shreves books but im planing on it. I loved how you could really tell the difference between Jean and Maren, they were two completly different people. I was happy with the way the book was set up, like it was two different books all in one but very related to eachother. For me the ending to both the womens stories was unexpected, but very good! I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read.

An ending worthwhile

While I struggled to get through the book, it did deliver at the end, leaving me in a state of shock. I feel it's worth the time put into it, as long as you finish.

Could not put it down or stop thinking about it after I was through.

Anita Shreve is an incredibly talented author and The Weight of Water is her best book. I have read this book numerous times and each time I am enthralled. I highly, highly recommend this book.

NOT HER BEST BOOK

This book was a difficult book to get through. Some areas of the book were interesting however most of the book was slow.

didn't deliver

I kept reading hoping something would make it worth it but it just didn't deliver the thrill that I was expecting. Overall, there was just way to much boring background then there were a couple of pages of suspense and then that was it.

Boring

It took alot to finish this book. Normally, I can finish a book in two, maybe three days, tops, but this one has me dragging it out. I wish I would have read the online reviews before buying this book.

Shameful

Having grown up near the islands, the first thing that came to mind after reading this book was, 'What was the purpose of even claiming this novel had anything to do with the historical events?'. To anyone, save the paranoid, the historical facts weave as close to an open and shut case as there could ever be. In modern terms, the case was a slam dunk for the prosecution, and Wagner couldn't have been more easily convicted if he confessed. Instead of telling the true story of the murders, Shreve instead dismisses the proponderance of evidence against Wagner and asks us to believe that it is more probable that Maren was in love with her brother, and killed her own sister. She also ignored descriptions of the actual persons and re-creates each as a character that no where near resembles what is known about the true individual. Karen, for example, was highly thought of by Celia Thaxter, whome Karen worked for, and was described as a very affable person. John was a good husband, and he and Maren were known to be very much in love. Anethe was admired by all who knew her. Instead of telling the true story, Shreve changes the facts and demonizes the innocent victims while exhaulting the cold blooded killer as some sort of martyr. If Shreve actually believes this could be true, then she obviously did not do all of the research she claims to have done. Although this may appeal to some chronic armchair conspiracy theorists, it actually smears the reputation of good, albeit long dead, people, and eploits their tragedy to sensationalize it. My question to her would be, 'Why not simply change the names, not mention the actual murders, and promote the story as it really is; as pure fiction?'. Besides the problems I have with her shameful exploitation of this tragedy, the book has two other major shortcomings. First, Thomas is such an unsympathetic character, that one can scarcely believe any love could have ever existed between he and Jean. Furthermore, the ending, which was obviously meant to have an unexpected plot twist, instead seems completely off the wall and it is too hard to believe that such things could occur.

Couldnt put it down

I have a one month old, but this story was so riveting I couldnt put it down. i found time to read at every nap. I love Anita Shreves' books, and this one definently kept me glued till the end.

EXECELLENT BOOK!!!!

I have to say that I am completely in love with this book...the writing style is beautiful and haunting and had me hooked from page one! The words sing off the page...

Must keep reading to see its beauty

This book really is a good one, personally this is the 3rd book I have bought by her, and it wasn't my favorite. I didn't like it in the beginning, but I kept reading, and then started to enjoy it. It's weird how things turn out, it makes you think a little.

OKAY story line

The plot or the story line in this book is good. However, its development is poor and confusing. I was disappointed in the book. I expected more from this author.

WHAT A BOOK!

Believe me, the book is much better than the movie. Shreve is such a great writer. You can never put her novels down. This is one of her best. I love how she ties characters in w/ her other novels. I can't wait to dive into another one of her stories-asap!

It was okay- not her best

I read Last Time They Met before I read this book and I was expecting more from it than I actually recieved. It had a good story line but the constant weaving made the book boring at time. I usually finish books in two days and this one took me about two weeks to finish. I am glad I read it, I just wish it was what I had expected. Definitely read it, but read it before you read Last Time They Met