The Water Dancers : A Novel

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Summary: A real greek tragedy.
Review: I borrowed this book from a friend in hard cover. I gave it back barely read after 6 weeks.I was embaressed to keep it any longer.The ponderous descriptions and vocabulary, derived obviously with thesaurus in hand, were making it a trial to read . It became, my put me to sleep book,and would over come my insomnia.I am glad it came out in paperback.Now maybe I can get through it with no more embaressment.I normally get through a book that size in no more than two evenings. I know it is going to take a while but once I start something I like to finish it.I'm a Taurus and stubborn.I also live in the area Terry is writing about and when others discuss it I feel like I should read it to be knowledgeable.I also noticed another local writer wrote a book Sweet Grass and Smoke which seems to have almost the same underlieing theme.As Sweetgrass was published first does the term plaigarism mean anything in this day and age?

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Summary: A reader from Vermont
Review: I loved this book. It is spare and poetic and packs a real punch. I could feel and see and smell the setting (Beck's Point) in Michigan, and felt that the characters were real and compelling. It was hard to let them go. I bought three other copies to give to friends.
This love story is set among the richest AND the poorest in American society--their interactions and assumptions about each other, and Rachel and Woody's attempts to bridge the gap are wonderfully rendered.
I hope Terry Gamble writes another novel soon. I'll be first in line at the bookstore.

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Summary: Water Dancers is a great read
Review: In this thoroughly enjoyable first novel, Terry Gamble tells the story of a young Native American girl, Rachel Winneppee. Rachel find herself in the employment of a wealthy family and becomes the caretaker of the family's son Woody who has lost a leg in World War II. Their relationship, which forms the core of the book's plotline is rendered with great care and originality. The story takes some unexpected turns as the lives of Woody and Rachel intertwine. At one point the story takes a deeply sorrowful turn, but by the end a hopeful and forward looking resolution is reached.

Read this book for the engrossing story, but as importantly, look for the character development. These are people you care about. Several of the minor characters, such as Ada and Bliss, two older women who look after Rachel are delightfully
drawn and help keep the book balanced between its somewhat somber central theme and more lighthearted moments.

It is obvious that Gamble is at home with language; one only wishes that some of the descriptions of the northern Michigan land and seascapes were allowed to be a little longer. The writing is, however, elegant and spare, often poetic, especially when probing the inner lives of the people who inhabit the book. This is a wonderful read.