The Weight Of Water

Rating:
Summary: Excellent weave of both past and present.
Review: I feel that Anita Shreve did an amazing job working her two storylines together into one rewarding novel. Although not recommended as a quick summer read I do feel this is an interesting and highly thoughtout book. Readers who became acquainted with Shreve through The Pilot's Wife may be surprised at how different the style of Weight of Water is.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful interweaving of two tales
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Two tales of jealousy and irreconsilable hurt are cleverly interwoven, occuring in the same location but 100 years apart. My only reservation in with the story itself, near the end. Maren's rage, so well suppressed for so long, makes the murders understandable (not right, of course, but understandable). But what seems unreasonable and unforgivable is her framing an innocent man and letting him be hanged. According to Maren's own thinking, what more did she have to live for?

Rating:
Summary: Definitely Shreve's best
Review: Having read all of Shreve's fictional works, I would call this book my favorite. As she has done in her previous novels, she alternately weaves the past and present, a writing style which I love. The difference here is that the two stories are only related by themes and not by the actual characters (usually, it is past and present of the characters involved, like Eden Close and Strange Fits of Passion). It is so effortlessly done--you can just feel the jealousies of the female lead in each story rise to the surface. I am surprised that many readers of Pilot's Wife did not like this book as I have always found this to be Shreve's best.

Rating:
Summary: don't buy it
Review: If you have to read this book, take it out of the library. After I read it (I had bought it a few months before), I left it at a subway stop. It's one of the darkest, most depressing books I have ever read, with little or no redeeming value.

Rating:
Summary: Two storylines that at times leave the reader confused.
Review: The writing style was totally different from "Pilot's Wife". Was disappointed that so much time was spent telling a historical story when I expected a current story line with just references to the 19th century events. Had to force myself to finish the book in hopes it would get better. --

Rating:
Summary: The worst book I've read in a long time
Review: I took this book on vacation after hearing some positive comments about the author. I hated it so much I left it at our vacation spot. I found this book both depressing and boring. Shreve seems more interested in shocking the reader with ideas like lesbianism and incest than in telling an interesting story. Thumbs down.

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful; Another great one from Anita Shreve!
Review: The Weight of Water is full of suprising turns of events and is guaranteed to keep the reader's interest. Anita Shreve is a great storyteller and proves herself with this book.

Rating:
Summary: A very enjoyable book
Review: I read the Pilot's Wife, and just finished The Weight of Water. In Anita Shreve's books, there really aren't any surprises. The stories are predictable, and from a lesser writer, would be dissapointing. So, despite the fact that an attentive read will unravel the plot very early, you will still keep reading. Anita Shreve has a remarkable gift for making you feel what her characters feel.

Rating:
Summary: Over-rated
Review: The Weight of Water is a great title, but once you see the book cover it's a downhill ride. I love well-rounded women characters and wonderful themes like some of the best Oprah books offer, or a riveting story of love and dedication like in THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY, which was a BEAUTIFUL experience despite the presence of so much fighting. Maybe I missed something and many of you will find THE WEIGHT OF WATER worthwhile, but I doubt it

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but could of been so much more
Review: I first read the "Pilot's Wife" then this one. I have to admit her style of writing is interesting and keeps you involved, but overall she must be a depressed person to be able to write these novels. While I had to pay attention so as not to get confused between past and present I found her writing lacking any emotion except utter sadness. Good thing I was already feeling down in the dumps when I began her book.