⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Water is a short read, but it certainly isn’t short on content. I do think that because it’s only a short read, it was lacking in depth to some degree.
 
The characterisation is superb and the prose gives us a perfect sense of time and place.
 
An enjoyable read that certainly makes you think.

In 'Water' by John Boyne, a woman arrives on a small island off the West coast of Ireland and the first thing she does is shave off her shoulder-length blonde hair and change her name. What is she hiding from and what the repercussions be if the locals uncover her true identity?

All the Broken Places
John Boyne is one of my favorite authors at present as he has a wonderful ability to weave story and character into a page-turner that isn't afraid to tackle big themes. ‘All the Broken Places’ was one of my favourite books this year, a thought-provoking follow-up. to ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

As the old question asks, you can run but can you hide? Vanessa Carvin may have become Willow Hale but when you've been involved in a high-profile media case, there's always a chance that someone will work out who you are. The island might be on the opposite coast to Dublin, but Irelands not that big.

'Water has been the undoing of me. It has been the undoing of my family. We swim in it in the womb. We are composed of it. We drink it. We are drawn to it throughout our lives, more than mountains, deserts, or canyons. But it is terrible. Water kills.'

Living in a remote cottage on a small island also provides Vanessa with the opportunity to think about her past. There's a daughter who won't respond to her messages and another she can barely mention. How complicit was she in the events that led up to her fleeing to the island?

Her only visitors are a cat called Bananas and her abrupt neighbour Mrs Duggan and her son. There are two pubs she frequents, handy for phone coverage, where she keeps to herself, but the local Nigerian priest Ifechi takes an interest in her. Even if she were a believer, would being absolved of her sins be something she's interested in? The priest encourages Vanessa to see the church as a place of refuge, but does she even believe she deserves to find peace?

Boyne keeps us guessing throughout. Obviously, we learn more about her family history and the crime associated with her throughout the book, so I won't spoil that storyline. Vanessa is an interesting character, and not unlike Gretel in his previous book, Boyne creates his characters with such empathy.

At 172 pages this is a novella and Boyne does well to tell a complete story and create a believable and compelling character. And there are a lot of themes here - abuse, suicide, powerful men abusing power, conniving politicians, and complicity.

It's also about remorse, and how families are splintered by tragic events, struggling to put themselves together again, if they ever can. Can you live in the shadow of something so terrible, and how can you ever cope with the remorse that you feel? It's about trying to learn to live with yourself again.

‘We are none of us innocent and none of us guilty, and we all have to live with what we’ve done for the rest of our lives and that the only way through this terrible thing, if we are to survive it at all, is to be kind to each other and to love one another.’

The dialogue and interactions are natural and Boyne as usual excels in having a bit of humour in his story, a bit of light to balance out the dark. His storytelling skills are well-honed at this stage of his career, and it takes a certain talent to tell a full story in a novella and not leave the reader feeling short-changed. Another recent author I can think of doing the same is Claire Keegan.

Boyne is a writer at the peak of his talents and his books are a must-read for me. This is a title that tackles difficult issues with sensitivity, whilst asking thought-provoking questions of the reader and telling a story that will have you tearing through the pages. There aren't many better than doing that and John Boyne delivers again.


Thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

When you pick up a John Boyne book, the only certainty is a well-written and compelling story. Water is no exception. In this short novella, the author explores many thought-provoking themes with tact and sensitivity. Each character has depth and complexity, which add layers to the narrative. I can’t wait for the next book by this talented and prolific writer.

Unfortunately, I was unable to download this book before it was archived and so am leaving this as a review/explanation. I have already bought a copy and will leave a review on places like Amazon, Goodreads, Waterstones, etc, once I've completed it and formed my thoughts on it. Apologies for any inconvenience and thank you for the opportunity.

John Boyne writing will never fail to unleash a million of raw emotions, all at once. Proof that you don’t need 600 pages to pack a punch in a story.
Water is a beautiful portrait of sorrow, grief, motherhood and making peace with yourself. Even if you have not experienced the horrific things our main character has (and I hope you never will) the author’s writing is so sublime tat makes you feel you are her, feeling it all under your skin, experiencing shock and heaviness in your heart.
I am not sure what took me so long to pick this up, but I am so glad I finally did. I cannot wait for the rest of the elements novels to be released.

Water is only 176 pages long, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in propulsive pacing and drama, deftly packing a powerful punch.

Vanessa Carlin, or as she’d rather be known now, Willow Hale, is a woman seeking escape. Escape from her past traumas and grief. Escape from unfulfillment. Escape from her innermost thoughts. Maybe by moving from the hubbub of big city Dublin to a remote island off the west coast, she’s searching for soul cleansing of almost baptismal sorts.

Once the well-groomed wife of a powerful man, she is used to luxury, the VIP lifestyle afforded her on the back of her husband’s successes, but it wasn’t all plain sailing.

Her husband a glaring misogynist and selfish bully, and now he’s landed in prison - his crimes to be unveiled as the story evolves. Was Hale complicit? Is she deserving of blame? As the saying goes, ‘there are none so blind as those who will not see’. Or perhaps her notoriety simply invites society to judge her harshly?

In an act of penance as much as desperation, she hacks off her hair, leaves her face bare, rents an austere cottage and settles into a spartan life. Slowly, as she meets various Islanders, Hale reveals her story in sharp-witted yet melancholic prose that draws the reader in from the start.

Withdrawing into this isolated island community is not quite the catharsis Hale seeks. Sure, this is a place where time seems to stand still, and the old ways are starkly in conflict with the new. Instead of providing solace, it draws Hale into reflective contemplation of her life, perhaps much needed if she is to confront the past, feel the remorse and make good on a better future.

There’s skill in bringing characters to vivid, emotionally charged life in such few pages and with such a multilayered range and depth of subjects covered. I’m highly looking forward to reading more from this interlinked quartet of ‘The Elements’.

4.5⭐

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for an, as always, honest review.

Absolutely flawless. John Boyne thank god you keep writing for us. This series is so beautiful and will not just keep me going until your next creation. It will enrich and inspire and usually makes me feel alive. Thankyou

Packed with a punch is this emotionally charged story that is full of hardships. The plot is hard but forgiving.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected. The way in which the full backstory is fed through slowly and in small pieces made it a hugely engrossing read and one that sticks with you long after you have finished it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC

This is one of those rare novels- brutal and delicate in equal measure. I always forget how good John Boyne is as a storyteller. Especially when he uses a female voice.

This is a story about exile and shame and guilt. in places it’s actually hard to read, but it’s very much part of the world we live in and the backstory will sound familiar to anyone who reads the news. It will make you angry and sad, but at least there’s a cat called Bananas.

This intriguing short novella is written by the author of the Boy In The Striped pyjamas and, as always John Boyne explores some uncomfortable issues.

A middle aged woman moves to a remote island after her husband  is sent to prison for some sickening crimes and she is implicated by the press.

The storyline explores Willow Hale's guilt over the events that lead to her husband's incarceration and the death of her youngest daughter. Is she partly responsible for turning a blind eye to some of her husband's antics or was she a victim too?

Thought provoking and beautiful, another great read from John Boyne

"Water has been the undoing of me. It has been the undoing of my family. We swim in it in the womb. We are composed of it. We drink it. We are drawn to it throughout our lives, more than mountains, deserts, or canyons. But it is terrible. Water kills."

Vanessa Carvin is looking to escape the hell her life has become. She moves to an Irish island with a population of 400, changes her name, and shaves off her hair in the hope that no one will recognise her. This is her time for reflection. The questions she needs to answer are whether she is complicit in her husband's horrific crimes, or whether she is responsible for her daughter's suicide.

This short book is the first in a quartet by the author based on the four elements. Brief as it may be, it packs a punch. It's about whether we can forgive ourselves our sins, about escaping abusive and controlling men, about whether finding peace is possible after grief. It's moving, beautifully written and definitely worth a read. My only criticism is that I feel it could have been a bit longer, giving it a bit more depth, and the reader to know the protagonist just a little better.

Vanessa Carvin is a woman on the run from her past. She moves to a remote island off the coast of Ireland where she shaves off all her hair and assumes a new identity.
Gradually it becomes clear what she’s running from: the guilt and shame she feels about having been married to a man who has been exposed as a serial abuser of young girls. Was her eldest daughter, who committed suicide in mysterious circumstances, among them? And were there warning signs that she missed or refused to see?
In the seclusion of the island she wrestles with the demons from her past.
As with all of Boyne’s novels, the writing is superb but when I got to the end I felt a little short changed – it seemed there should have been more to the story. I actually turned back to see if I’d accidentally missed a few chapters!
Turns out Water is the first in a quartet revolving around the theme of the elements. The next in the series, Earth, is due out next year, so I’m going to reserve judgement for now and hope Boyne finds a way to pull it all together.

'Water' by John Boyne. I really enjoyed this short novel! I really rate Boyne as a writer and loved 'The heart' s invisible furies". This novel is set on an unnamed island off the coast of Galway where the protagonist is trying to escape her life in Dublin and the scandal that engulfed her family. This could have been boring or clichéd but it's neither. It's told very simply and with restraint and I loved the main character and her interactions with the other islanders and her daughter. This felt really authentic and I would really recommend it. Thanks @netgalley
5*

#bookstagram #irishwriters #bookreview

This novella was short but powerful with well written characters despite the length of the story. We meet Vanessa as she arrives in a remote Irish island, we don’t know what has led her there but bit by bit her background is revealed. Dealing with challenging events from a different perspective this read explored the question of personal responsibility for wider groups. Interested to see how the rest of the elements build on this story. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC

This is an exceptionally enjoyable story of a woman dealing with life changing circumstances. The setting is beautifully described; the colours, sounds and smells of the landscape come to life and add so much to the narrative. The characters are diverse, believable and so interesting. Although it’s a short book and a quick read, it certainly packs a punch. I’m never disappointed when I read a book by John Boyne.

My thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this latest from one of mt favourite authors.

“Water has been the undoing of me. It has been the undoing of my family. We swim in it in the womb. We are composed of it. We drink it. We are drawn to it throughout our lives, more than mountains, deserts, or canyons. But it is terrible. Water kills.”

My thanks to Random House U.K. Transworld for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Water’ by John Boyne.

This is the first in Boyne’s Elements, a quartet of interlinked novellas based on the four classic elements of matter.

Vanessa Carvin arrives on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland and immediately changes her name to Willow Hale. She reinvents herself as an outsider looking to escape Dublin and live a hermetic existence in a small cottage. She crops her blonde hair, ditches her makeup, and dresses differently. Basically putting distance between herself and her past.

Boyne slowly reveals Willow’s backstory including why she has left her old life behind and the reasons for her husband’s incarceration. Before his arrest he had held a prominent position as the Director of the National Swimming Federation.

During her year on the island Willow finds healing through reflection and her interaction with the islanders, many of whom have secrets of their own.

I have always admired Boyne’s writing. His prose is both economical and lyrical. He has the ability to create believable characters that are very easy to relate to. Boyne also clearly knows cats as here Willow’s occasional feline visitor, Bananas, steals every scene he is in.

Throughout the book water in its many forms is incorporated into the story: the body of water that separates this tiny island from the larger one, the torrential rain that lashes her cottage, the holy water in the font at the local church. Swimming and boating also feature.

Throughout water serves as a metaphor for renewal and rebirth. Even the name that Vanessa adopts ‘Willow’ is a tree that often grows near water and has associations with water in folklore.

Overall, I found ‘Water’ an outstanding work of literary fiction, beautifully written and multilayered. In it Boyne doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable subjects as he recounts Willow’s journey.

Having read this moving novella, I look forward to the next in the quartet, ‘Earth’, due to be published in May 2024.

As ever, this is a hard-hitting, makes you feel all sorts of things book from John Boyne. I wonder what it’s like for the author to write such emotive books?

It’s a short book but it packs a punch, following Vanessa/Willow as she moves from Dublin to a remote Irish island to escape the aftermath of her husband’s trial. The story is told in two narratives, from present day and chronologically from the past, but it’s done so seamlessly you hardly notice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Vanessa arrives on a small island off the Galway coast having fled from Dublin after her husband has been jailed for hideous crimes.

A beautifully written short story looking at the aftermath of this sensational news story and Vanessa’s struggle to survive the guilt and shame.

I love Boyne, all his books are beautifully written and this one is no exception. I adored this, such an intriguing read right from page 1. It’s a dark read but there is humour and light too.

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this, I would def recommend and it’s out now!

Vanessa Carlin retreats to an isolated island cottage, cuts off her hair and changes her name to Willow.

This short book delivers a lot in a short space.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC