Crossing Waters
By Luisa Etxenike

Although this story is barely the length of a novella, it has the emotional scope of a doorstop saga. Translated from the Basque by Lilit Zekulin Thwaites, it is an exploration of sensorial impediment told from three points of view, a dress designer who has become permanently and totally blinded in an accident, a young emigrée from Colombia who cannot allow touch, and her young son who is so terrified to disturb the status quo with a secret, he refuses to speak.

This poetically written, sparse but highly perceptive narrative reveals sadness and pain, but the lightness of tone and redemptive arc make it a story I would happily press into the hands of any reader, with a modicum of caution for HSPs.

Kudos to the translator for capturing the poetic nuances of the original.

Publication date: 22nd October 2024
Thanks to #netgalley and #columbiauniversitypress for the eGalley

In this short but powerful book, we first meet Irene, who is having her daily dip in the ocean in spite of having been blinded in an accident. She used to be a fashion designer and is now coming to grips with her new reality and contemplating her existence. Manuela works for her, doing work around Irene's house and attending a story-sharing group with other immigrants. She considers perhaps writing her story in fictional form one day. She is building a new life, but there is pain in her past life, too, and she is hoping for healing and a fresh start. Manuela's son, Juan/ Juan Camilo, has stopped speaking since he left Columbia. He communicates in writing, does well at school, and gets along with his classmates, but he dares not speak lest he lie or give away a secret that was cruelly thrust upon him. He feels trapped by this secret. All three have experienced trauma.

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down. I was eager to discover if/how each of these characters would move forward in their lives and find healing. I wanted to know what the secrets were and how/if they would be revealed. I wanted them all to be OK.

The book is beautifully written in short chapters, each from the point of view of one of these three. This is more a character-driven book than one that is plot-driven. Even so, it never lagged or got boring. No words were wasted. The bond that formed between the three characters was lovely to read as the book progressed. This is an excellent book and I'm so glad I read it.