Rating: 
Summary: Not a Page Turner!
Review: I could not get through this book.
Ended up skimming through it to find the juice...BORING! Another yuppie soap-opera about infidelity with a twist, ha ha - gee it's on a boat.
Rating: 
Summary: The Weight of Water, a novel to learn from
Review: The Weight of Water, by Anita Shreve shows what really happens when a woman is pushed to her breaking point. The novel eloquently weaves the past and present through the parallel stories of Jean and Maren. Both woman experience the death of a person close to them due to a slight event which happens.
This novel causes the reader to look at his or her life and ask ¡°What if?¡±. Jean recalls her life as if it were on a loop, ¡°And each time the loop plays itself, I will see I have a chance a choice.¡± Shreve also teaches the reader to learn the value of not dwelling upon tragedy. Instead of being consumed by a loss, the author tries to teach the reader to move past what has happened and live his or her life. Shreve does not want the reader to forget their misfortune but to take their pain and use it to change the remainder of his or her life.
Coincidentally, this book is a perfect corollary to today¡¯s news, in which the double murder of Laci and Baby Conner Peterson is being revealed. The reader should take the knowledge about loss which they have learned from this book and use the past to excel them into the future.
I strongly recommend this novel. With its twisting plot and mysterious murders The Weight of Water is a book which will catch your attention on the first page and keep your attention until the last.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth the wait
Review: For most high school students, English class is an eye-stabbing, boring aspect of the early morning the involves reading such dreads as Emma and The Odyssey. However, as a senior in high school who has suffered through four years of English class, reading the Weight of Water by Anita Shreve has been well worth the wait. The book not only captivates the reader as a murder mystery unfolds, but also follows the life of five individuals on a skipper off the coast of Stuttynose Island. Jean, a modern day photographer, is on a mission to investigate a century old murder on the harsh island of Smuttynose. While investigating the murder, she is faced with personal issues and past resentments such as her marriage to an alcoholic poet and his new affection for another, younger woman on the the boat. As the book unfolds, the reader begins to notice parallels between the murder accounts of a Norwiegian immigrant who was the only eye witness to the murder, and the modern day scenario of hostility amongst the four adults on the sailboat. As the environment around the characters in both the past and present day becomes more intense, so does the true personality of each individual. The novel includes love affairs, raging jelousy, and even the death of an unexpected character. How could a high school student not love this novel? The novel keeps the reader captivated and intrigued. I recommend this book for anyone looking to read a future classic. This novel truly breaks the stereotype for high school students who believe that classics have to be cardboard entertainment
Rating:
Summary: Impressive use of the past into the present.
Review: I have never read a book that was merged with the "real" past and the present, that was so entertaining. I loved the way the author let you feel her insecurities about herself and her marriage by describing the "other" woman on the trip. I was so shocked by the ending too. I thought that I had it all figured out, and then all of a sudden I realized I was wrong! I am a bit biased, I have read most of Anita Shreve's books, and I rank this in her top three so far.
The only issue I had was an editing issue. I found certain descriptive passages to be a bit long and drawn out. It was a quick paced book, and these excessively long passages felt like speed bumps on the road to the truth. They detracted from my overall reading experience. But in the end, a very well written book.
Rating:
Summary: The unalterable shape of passion, past and present...
Review: Shreve has an undeniable gift for storytelling, as evidenced by the popularity of her novels. More importantly, the strength of her tale lies in fertile and seemingly endless permutations of the human condition. The Weight of Water is finely balanced between action and emotion, often juxtaposed in such a way as to move from the plot line of the protagonist to the historical personal documents she is reading. Jean, a photojournalist, is researching a century-old crime on one of the islands of The Isle of Shoals, Smuttynose Island, off the rough-hewn New Hampshire coast. Seduced by the intensely personal memoirs of the lone survivor of the murders, Jean's thoughts are constantly drawn to the difficult and barren life of Maren Honvent. At the same time, she is instinctively aware of an imbalance in the tensions among the four adults sailing to the island. The presence of Jean's small daughter alleviates some of this tension, her youth allowing a measure of levity and innocence.Originally structured, the novel moves forward flawlessly, with a stunning and unexpected climax. Shreve's natural mastery of images and language is accomplished. Yet I think of Shreve's work as an ensemble of possibilities, a "skimmer", an action-oriented story that flows toward denouement. A compulsively quick read, I am left desiring more. I crave more substance from her characters, increased depth and motivation, less facile, albeit dramatic, resolution of issues. It's all there, "skimming" the surface, teasing the imagination, but I need something additional from this gifted writer. I cannot help but wonder what a hundred or so pages would bring, a fleshing out of her multi-faceted ensemble. With a style similar to that of Alice Hoffman, another wonderful talent, Shreve offers lyrical phrasing and an interesting themes, but, selfishly, I would love to see this artist's work mature, fulfilling its rich promise.
Rating: 
Summary: The weight.
Review: The book was written well but lacked any compelling interest to turn the page. My sister, during the recent holidays, seemed so interested in reading this book that I simply had to know what she found so interesting. After I read the book, I asked my mother to read the book so that my mother, my sister and I could discuss the book and what it meant. Self absorbed women who cause great tragedy to those they supposedly loved dearly and then shirk their responsibility placing blame and allowing others to suffer the consequences. Clearly this book illustrates how some people can and do justify thier actions (by refusing to acknowledge their own culpability.) The author had a story to tell, to me it was horrible and since all the men in the book seemed to be good or at least not bad, and since the two main characters are women (Jean the the author of the letter) and were able to get on with thier life to the larger degree, by allowing others to take the blame, I found the story itself deplorable. I find it deplorable because I think this is precisely how many of todays women are.
Rating:
Summary: A good Read
Review: Be prepared to think when reading this book. There are so many facts and people to keep straight. At first, I was not sure I would make it through the entire book because I just could not get into it, and I found the style of writing difficult to follow. I think this is typical however, when reading a new author, you have to get in tune with that author's voice and style of writing. I kept pushing myself to finish because I knew it would be good. About 1/3 of the ways through the book I was totally into it and anticipating what would happen next. I like the way the author held out details and left alot for you to put together, she really made you work for the story and I found this refreshing. I hate it when I can figure out what is going to happen too soon. Although I had my suspicions I was surprised at the ending. At the end of the book I wanted more. I did not like the way it ended. It told basically two stories throughout the book, but it only fully completed one of them. The other story jumped over a huge expanse to the end. I wanted more details. In an earlier review I see that another book follows so this is probably why the author chose to do this. If you like books that are deep and challenge your wits you will probably enjoy this book. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Literature at it's BEST!
Review: I hate saying this, but this is truly one of the best pieces of literature that I have ever read. Shreve's ability to narrate in the first person is simply stunning and despite the fact that some of the characters are highly unlikable, there is a continuous charge in the tone to find out what they will do or speak of next. The plot is textured and rich and the ending is simply shocking. If you read a book in 2003, read this one!! I'm now a huge fan of Anita Shreve.
Rating:
Summary: parallel stories of impending doom
Review: The setting of the book along the coast of New Hampshire is stunning. Couple this with 5 people on a sailboat, a photography assignment researching a true crime 1873 mysterious double murder and off you go! I was unfamiliar of the famous century old murders that has provoked numerous books, stories, speculations, internet sites and movies which took place off the coast of Maine on Smuttynose Island. The murder, involving three women and a small dog on a barren coastal island left many unanswered questions. The event has generated a sustained interest and speculation among the people who live in the area. The book takes liberty of this to create a sensational reconstruction of that fateful night.
Jean is a photographer who is on assignment to photograph the island where the murder took place. Her husband had arranged for his brother to sail them on his boat to the islands and port her back and forth to the island sites which are isolated except to mariners. Jean, her poet husband, Thomas and their daughter Billie embark on this adventure with Thomas's brother, Rich and his girl friend Adaline. There is tension aboard. Jean's and Thomas's marriage seems unstable, though both dote on their little 5 year old daughter with obvious adoration. Rich is seduced by Adaline, and every morning the sounds of the affection resonate through the sailboat creating furthur tension for Jean and Thomas. Jean feels Adaline is flirting with Thomas, quoting his poems and carrying on with him while he is caught up in her attentions. Rich feels Adaline is becoming more distant, and in general it is an emotionally insecure foursome ripe for crisis. The skill the author uses to incorporate the parallel stories is obvious as the tension plays out.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: This was my second book of Shreve's and I thought it was just great! I was totally impressed with the writing and the way she was able to get into both stories so well. I could not put this book down for a minute. You are totally wrapped in both lives of the story. I can't wait to see the movie!!!
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