Let me start by apologizing to anyone who has commented and didn't see it published. Today I recognized I had over 10 comments in Spam awaiting approval. Many from friends and I don't know why on earth they went to Spam. In my haste, I clicked on "delete forever" instead of publish. So...some I won't know about as I only briefly scanned the list. Apologies.
Book chat / Under Water by Tara Menon. Look at that cover - it's visually stunning.
nThis is a story about Marissa and Arielle's deep friendship and the insurmountable grief that occurs with Arielle's death. This is not a spoiler as this is described in the book flap.
Marissa has PTSD. The beginning depicts a vile dream sequence, obviously symbolic of the loss of her dear friend Arielle.
The chapters of this book take us back and forth from Thailand in 2004 to New York in 2012. Disastrous events occured in both years, a tsunami and a hurricane, both involving catastrophic damage and death by water and wind. Marissa experiences both.
In present time Marissa starts her day writing copy for travel destinations to exotic places. I like the jar of words she has to evoke imagery such as secluded, sparkly, gleaming, cinematic, etc. I liked the ritual of her pulling a slip of paper with a description out of that jar. As you read about her life it's clear she hasn't reconciled her friend's death these many years later as it affects so many things in her daily rituals and thoughts.
In the 2004 time period in Thailand, and years as they grow up together, the narrative establishes their wonderful friendship. Both of their parents were marine biologists and this plays a part in their experiences and activities, especially in the water where they spend quite a bit of time.
There is much sadness in this book as Marissa dwells on environmental catastrophes and death. It's not a constant but it's enlightening. You will read about the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami as well as Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
I liked the vivid descriptions of marine life, the colors of everything from the sky to the beach and visuals you could just inhale as you read. The story was good but it would have been a stronger book if it didn't skip from 2004 to 2012 every other chapter. Let us read several chapters and really get into this friendship and their experiences and then take us to 2012 for a few chapters of that time line.
Based on the writing I would read another by this author. 3.75 stars
This was a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card.
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Next up is The Collector by John Fowles for my Classics Club goal and more of the library books to work on my summer goal.
I think when I start a new reading goal end of August I'll try and keep the reviews here short and elaborate more on Goodreads.
Oh, Women in Translation month is August and I plan to read Tata by Valérie Perrin. Are you going to participate in the WIT month? Any book suggestions you can share?
Good review of Under Water. She does muse on death and catastrophes a bit which was interesting ...along with grief .... and the natural world was well described. The cover is very appealing. Thx for reading this with me! And I hope you like your next reads.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan. I hope the tennis officiating is going well and you're having a good time.
DeleteThat was an interesting book to read with the environmental issues, the natural disasters, all of it. It was good comparing notes.
Currently hitting some of my classics before more library books come in for me. I may get Land soon. We will set up a time for Thirty Below 🙂
Under Water is gorgeous but I'm not sure it's the right book for me right now. I've been struggling with getting through books and some life stress so I'm sticking with upbeat or at least fast paced books. This does look gorgeous and moving and I'll put this author on my radar and maybe pick this one up when I'm in a different head space.
ReplyDeleteHi Katherine, it's a fairly sad book overall but there were very good passages, grea writing and so descriptive. I'd be interested in her next publication.
DeleteI'll be looking forward to what you think of John Fowles's The Collector. I've only read The French Lieutenant's Woman and that was decades ago.
ReplyDeleteJane, It is a creepy book and I just finished last night. It didn't end up as I thought it would. Fowles was a god author and I think I need to add The French Lieutenant's Woman for my next classics list, as a refresher. I read that in College so, it's been a while!
DeleteUnder Water sounds like a beautifully written and emotional story, and the marine setting really appeals to me. I like that you pointed out both its strengths and the timeline issue in your review. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kat. I appreciate the comment and I do try and put the pros and cons in my reviews. It was nicely written, so descriptive
DeleteGlad you like this one. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy! You as well.
DeleteI will try to read Tata for Women in Translation month too!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Marg, that's my plan! Hope your week is fantastic.
DeleteI like to read during themed months, but I'm honestly tired of sticking to this month's theme, so I think I'll read at will next month rather than participating in the Women in Translation Month. I have my blog set to automatically approve comments for the first two days, but then everything else goes into manually approve. It's the only way I've been successful at eliminating spam.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb. I used to be gung ho on the themed events but I found them to be exhausting in the end. Last year's Paris in July and others got me comments from people who honestly had zero interest in my content and basically signed Here's My Post! With a link. The only one I look forward to is WIT and I go at my own speed.
DeleteI appreciate links from my friends, those are always helpful.
I like the linkups, and I enjoy seeing what others are reading during themed months. But, yes, I agree, the events can be exhausting, and sometimes the comments feel rushed. For me, though, it was the blogging events that first made me feel part of the blogging community and that led me to meet many of the bloggers I still know today. Reading has been something I've loved since I was little, but it was a solitary activity until I became a blogger and joined a book club. Events and challenges are still fun for me if I don't get too carried away! lol
DeleteDeb, way back in 2008 I wrote on my blog as an extension of my handwritten journals. I was absolutely stunned to see a comment on my blog post one day! From there I joined in on I Heart Cooking Club and the socializing was fun, and unique. And honest. For the most part it still is genuine.
DeleteIt's definitely up to us to rein ourselves in regarding all these themes and events. I used to participate in quite a few many years ago. Imagined myself actually socializing. I ought to write you a letter... :-)
I forgot all about Women in Translation month and have decided to lean into AUsten in August this year. Maybe I can find a short one to slip in before the end of the month though. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I'm going to finally read Valérie Perrin's latest one Tata. I've been looking forward to the English translation. Austen is a good plan!
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