Write your own review!
Ayushmankr
It's a good book according to me
The moving examination of human perseverance in the face of hardship seen in Bonnie Jo Campbell's "The Waters" Through his deft narrative weaving, Campbell transports us to the simple yet nuanced rural American settings and personalities. Though Campbell's narrative reveals moments of beauty and courage despite the hardships, the protagonist, Margo, travels through a traumatic journey marked by adversity. A heartbreaking and thought-provoking read, "The Waters" showcases Campbell's storytelling talent with its rich picture of nature and the human soul.
Beverly J. (Waldorf, MD)
Swamps and Secrets
Fierce women, an atmospheric setting, weighty secrets, simmering rage, and magnificent storytelling are the necessary ingredients for noirish storylines.
Campbell's setting is an off-the-grid island in Michigan's Great Massasanga Swamp, "The Waters," and is home to the aging Hermine "Herself" Zook who has provided solace and solutions to women in the surrounding hardscrabble male-dominated communities.
The outside world starts to close in, and traditions and boundaries unravel, threatening long held explosive secrets to endanger not only a way of life but families and relationships.
This touching enchanting story
…more is buoyed up by the endearing, often quirky, characters which will have readers turning pages until the very end. (less)A bit slow in the beginning. I really enjoyed the setting & the characters.
It is set in the swampy area of Michigan. A healer of sorts & her granddaughter live in an old cottage, with a dog, donkeys and chickens. Donkey is more comfortable around the donkeys, which gave her her name, & the chickens than people. Hermine/Herself take care of the people with folk medicine & 'herbs'. So many things occur throughout the book & it takes a while for things to start to come together & make sense, but it is worth the wait. Part dark fairy tale, part coming of age & adventure.
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
…more 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. (less)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
…more 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. (less)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.
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
…more 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. (less)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.
 (1).gif)
