The Weight of Water : A Novel Tag: Author of Resistance and Strange Fits of Passion

Rating:
Summary: It Moved Me More Than Any Other Book EVER
Review: Please do not assume that this book moved me tremendously because I relate personally to its story; quite the contrary. I have little in common with the either the characters or the events they experience in the book. The fact that this book, without reminding me of my life in any way, could grab hold of my soul and turn it inside out demonstrates how hugely stunning a work it truly is. I had to take a two-hour drive after reading it, and then returned home to start it all over again, wanting to catch the nuances in the beginning of the book that hint of what's to come -- the nuances I didn't catch the first time around. I read avidly -- a book a week -- and have never, ever been so moved by a book. The last few chapters literally made me moan and sob and cry out, "No, no, NO!" At one point my eight year-old son came into the room and looked at me lying on the couch, book in hand, tears running down my face, gasping for breath. He stretched himself across me and said, "Gosh, Mom, you don't look so good." The point is this: I cannot adequately praise this book -- not for its story, nor for the phenomenal way its written. It was a reading experience of a lifetime. I don't see how another book could possibly be as intoxicating for me. It is a tragedy that should become a classic, along with Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. Ms. Shreve, my admiration for you knows no bounds. I first read "Where or When" -- it was terrific. Then I read "The Pilot's Wife" -- it was even better. Next I read "The Weight of Water" and am left wondering -- despairing, really -- if I have, at age 34, reached the zenith of my reading experience. Of course, if I were able to find and read other books that do the same thing to me this one did, I'd probably collapse from emotional exhaustion and never get anything done. Forget the five stars: I give it a TEN.

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