The Water and the Blood : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Realistic and scary
Review: Changing points of view give Frosty a first hand say in the story, while other characters are third person. I liked the way the Navajo part of the story is dreamy and full of images. All of it seems like a huge metaphore for the brokenness in some families, where one person is always left behind or left out. Frosty is a sad, angry kid living in a sad, angry family. Yet, in the end the reader knows she's going to be all right in spite of everything, because she sees but doesn't see, looking on the hearts of people instead of their skin color.

Rating:
Summary: A sad disappointment.
Review: For the many who read and loved "These is My Words" and looked forward to another lovely "read" by Nancy E. Turner, this book will be a huge disappointment. "The Water and the Blood" has none of the sweetness, humor and compelling plot development of her first novel. I couldn't work up much interest in either the characters or WWII homefront setting (though usually I love reading about this era). In fact, I was so confused about who-was-who and who-did-what-to-whom (the chapters switch back and forth in focus) that I did the unthinkable: I GAVE UP HALFWAY THROUGH!

Rating:
Summary: Realistic and scary
Review: I was enchanted by Nancy Turner's novel_These is my Words_; in fact, it was my personal book of the year.

Nancy Turner delivered a fresh novel, heavily burdened with baptist theology and ironic interpretations that were predominate in the pre-world war II days and post WWII.

Enter "Frosty" Summers, whose real name is Philadelphia. The contrast of names is not lost on the reader.

Born into one of the most dysfuntional families in East Texas, Frosty grows up amidst bigots and heavy bible thumping people who choose to preach but not obey.

Frosty is a sensitive soul, with an independence that becomes her savior. From the start of the novel, she is unknowingly weaved into a web of planned criminal behavior which feasts on the ugly issues ingrained in the history of whites vs. blacks. Frosty is not the typical child, reared back at this time to segregate herself and her life from the "dark" skins. Her life is constantly reinforced to follow programmed steps, and above all else, to never associate herself with those not like herself.

It is so obvious in this lovely, historic novel, that the most senstive, importantly holy people are those with "dark skin". The absolutely pure and christian beliefs that impart baptist theology are never more ironic than in this novel. The ugly reality of life of blacks were beyond the tolerance of any mortal soul. What makes their journey significant, is that the black people had to indure the disgusting offenses committed upon them by some of the most ignorant persons in the world, and holding the bible before them in complete security that their interpretation is that of the word of God.

Oh, how far from the teachings of the Lord can one ever be.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent work by Turner
Review: Once you get past the mixed POV (the main character's story is told in the first person, and other characters are brought in by the omnipotent point of view), this book is a very enjoyable read.

The story is of Philadelphia (Frosty) Summers, going from childhood to young adulthood during the time of World War II. She struggles to break from her family's stronghold and the ties that bind her to Sabine, Texas, her small, prejudice-laden hometown. Through her experiences, she learns independence and compassion - something she can only do by cutting the apron strings that bind her to Sabine.

This is a much different story than my all-time favorite "These Is My Words" but only slightly less compelling. I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I have become a huge fan of Nancy E. Turner and can't wait to read whatever she comes up with next!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing blending of multi-cultures in the '40's
Review: This book stunned and caught me, and I couldn't put it down. I just kept going trying to find out how the world of a Big Thicket girl could possibly be linked to a Navajo Code Talker. But Turner pulls it off. I was amazed by her accuracy in capturing the racist, backward attitude of an East Texas logging community and its errant teens, as well as the starkly contrasted Navajo community of Gordon Benally and his kin. What a shock that those two worlds met, came together, and struggled to survive!

The dysfunction of Frosty Summer's family is almost too much to bear. In fact, I almost thought the tale would never end. Frosty's parents, sisters and friends are so vividly real and cruel and stunted by their culture, rooted in the fundamental Bap-Diss church, that it is hard to understand how she clings to it as she does. But the old adage, "blood is thicker than water" certainly applies, and the injustices of this WWII world of racial hate are potent.

Turner's no chapter style and juxtapositioning of scenes out of the two very foreign cultures of the Thicket and the reservation are rather Faulknerian, yet, there are character names and distinct links. Working the puzzle, reading through and learning how things are connected is worth it. But the truths of racial prejudices, particularly in the first half of the 20th century are here and vivid.

To read this over 400 page volume requires a determination to plow through the hard times that both Frosty and Gordon experience. This is mostly Frosty's tale, however, and she is spunky, determined, capable of hard work and a true survivor, one of the tough women of times past, yet near.

Having read two of Turner's books, I wonder where her next female protagonist will hail from and how strong she will be. I will be curious, and I do recommend that you try "The Water and the Blood". It is disconcerting and memorable.

What a perfect title!

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and moving
Review: When I learned that Nancy E. Turner had a new book coming out, I was hoping for a sequel to the wonderful THESE IS MY WORDS. THE WATER AND THE BLOOD was an unexpected, and deeply rewarding surprise.

Ms. Turner is a remarkable writer. She has the knack of taking ordinary people and every day lives, no matter what the time period, and turning them into unforgetable characters and profound reading experiences.

This book is often painful to read, but impossible to put down. Ms. Turner takes us to a time and place that we sometimes don't want to visit. But every word she writes is true and strong.

Frosty's experiences with her family, neighbors, and school mates, are not at all out of place in a small Texas town in the forties. Still her relationship with a family who will never understand her,and the reaction of those around her,is sometimes painful to read. "Dysfunctional family" is a contemporary term, but unfortunately has been accurate for many previous generations.

The Navajo code talker, Gordon, who helps Frosty to change from adolescent to adult, is as realistic and sensitive a hero as one could ask for. Their love story is handled with such care, it was like reading about real people. For me, the true test of exceptional writing.

So, this is not the book I was expecting. I am still hopeful that Ms. Turner will gift us with a sequel to WORDS. But in the meantime, she has given us another extraordinary novel. Written with grace and passion, and that unique gift of writing about people whom we all might have known.

A profoundly moving amd powerful book about coming of age, doing the "right" thing, and that love and respect often come at an enormous price, THE WATER AND THE BLOOD is not to be missed.

I only hope that Nancy E. Turner receives the respect and accolades she so richly deserves. I am grateful she shares a truly special gift with all of us who love to read.