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There are currently 16 member reviews
for The Waters
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Barbara O. (Red Bank, NJ)
A treat for the senses!
"The Waters" by Bonnie Jo Campbell starts out slow but gradually the reader finds themselves sucked into the lives of Hermine (Herself) Zook and her three daughters just like the swamp that surrounds their island.
Although the geographic location is northern Michigan it feels more like the South. Dark and mysterious, filled with descriptions of the natural habitat, the island is another main character in this story. Although the book is set in modern times, it's female characters and the secrets revealed in the book are ageless. Set just outside the rural community of Nowhere, the mysterious "Herself" is a provider of natural ointments, tinctures and teas that serve the community's needs. The women of Nowhere are frequent seekers of these natural remedies but their menfolk and the local church community are not so approving despite their own secretive pursuit of Hermine's natural remedies.
I loved all the characters, their personalities and their secrets. I could hear the wildlife, vividly picture the rich, muddy environment and smell the fertile soil. "The Waters" is a thoroughly enjoyable book.
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Kay D. (Strongsville, OH)
Intense Lyrical Read
Well worth the read. The cover art depicts a lush, natural, overwhelming feel and truly represents how I feel about this book. A deep wander into a unique place. Strong female characters who also have their weaknesses. Male characters who swing from strong to weak and from evil to good. Add in snakes and you almost have a modern garden of Eden. Beautifully written. Tough subject matter at times on various fronts countered by strong emotional ties, community and family values from various perspectives. Small town, rural life enhanced by natural remedy medicine and mystery. At times a mashup of so may subjects the reader may need to pause and reflect before continuing. Not always an easy read but the blend of reality and fantasy are addictive. Would make a good book club read as there would be lots of discussion points.
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Wendy F. (Kalamazoo, MI)
The Waters
The Waters is full of rich characters and secrets. We meet a family of women healers who need their own healing. While we watch Dorothy, Donkey, grow up and learn so much about her family and life itself, the mysteries of the Waters unfold. Many times I felt like I was reading about a swampy area of Louisiana rather than the setting of Michigan. This book is a bit of a roller coaster, both in the story and the writing. It is a slow start and worth the time spent getting through that to enjoy the adventure of this strange and loving family.
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Carol N. (San Jose, CA)
Strong Women of "The Waters"
Bonnie Jo Campbell has introduced her readers to a new novel, "The Waters, a story about 5 exceptional women and the small town of Whiteheart, Michigan. The "Waters" is located on an island in the Great Massasauga Swamp. When I first started to read, I felt like I was in the swamps of south Florida instead of Michigan.
The main characters include an eccentric herbalist, Hermine aka "Herself," her three estranged daughters. and one granddaughter. Herself inspires reverence and fear from the people of Whiteheart as well as her youngest wayward daughter, Rose Thorn; the oldest daughter, Primrose, lawyer in Southern California; Molly, a local hospital nurse and Rose Thorn's only daughter, eleven-year-old Dorothy , "Donkey." Donkey spends her days searching for truths, waiting for her wayward mother to return and longing for a father. She is unaware of family secrets. While rage simmers in this small town with those on both sides of the divide, the only bridge seems to be Rose Thorn.
I must admit I found the story's beginning a bit slow but since it is character driven, it took me a while to get involved. So be patient, the story is worth finishing.
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Ilene M. (Longmont, CO)
Slow grind
Write what you know about. That advice seemed to be followed by the author of this book. Unfortunately, it did not appeal to me. The tale was too long and the characters not appealing to me. I am afraid of snakes and the fact that snakes play such an important role in the book was difficult for me to read. The divide among the townspeople is not dissimilar to the divide in our country today. Perhaps the author was trying to address that issue in this book. Unclear to me.
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Carla A. (Winter Park, FL)
The Waters
I recently read The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell. Although the writing was good, I found the reading to go slow as the story didn't hold my attention. I struggled to make my way through the book. The story follows a family of women and the lives they live in a marsh on the outskirts of a Michigan town. Their primitive life seems difficult to comprehend. Their struggles with love and identity are very real. I found myself feeling very sorry for the younger members of the family as they deserved better than being sequestered away from the world only to safeguard them from the bad behaviors of the men in town. I will not be recommending this book to my book club friends.
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Margot P. (Mandeville, LA)
Emotional disconnect
This is a lush, sensual novel set in the rural swamps of northern Michigan. I really tried to get into the story but found it a slog most of the way. I think if you are interested in herbal medicine and nature, especially snakes, it would be enjoyable as Campbell is a good writer. It definitely picks up speed in the second half but not enough for me to not be very glad when it was over. Think this one will have limited appeal to the general reading audience.
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