While I'm waiting to interview Anne Spollen, I decided to post my review of her first book, THE SHAPE OF WATER. I thought her latest book, LIGHT BENEATH FERNS, came out on February 1, but I just got it delivered from Barnes and Noble! (shh!). I've already ripped it opne and probably won't be able to stop. This one appears to be a paranormal, *sigh*. Well, heres' my Shape OF WATER REVIEW.
I read this book because my critique mate, Dhonielle Clayton. told me it had changed her life. Knowing D's taste and her own magical gift of language, I was intrigued. After reading the first page, I was swept away by the beauty and lyricism of the language. The Shape of Water is rich with elemental metaphors that connect to the underlying themes of loss, grief and recovery.
Magda is cast adrift after her mother's death, floating dreamily in a neglected beachy community in the outreaches of Staten Island, NY she thinks of as the Drift. The Drift is the wild place she and her mother co- existed in a dreamy world of their, with little to connect her to The Standard, the controlled “safe” area of her community. The Standard is a place she feels she can never gain acceptance to, that her mother gave her no "tools" with which to enter there. The book is filled with metaphors of water that underscore Magda's sense of alienation and grief. In her numb state, she imagines a campy family of talking fish that gradually reveal the truth behind her parent's marriage. Eventually, Magda believes that she has discovered the “shape” of the water that holds her and that she can, at last, swim out. The shape of water is a metaphor for the shape of Magda's grief. While submerged, it seems boundless, but as she continues to paddle for shore, she can discern its shape, and her release from it. This is a hopeful book, a story of one girl's journey toward self awareness, healing and self-acceptance.
Hope some of you will read this book, so we can discuss!
I adore Anne's blog, so I was so excited to read this post! And now can't wait to read her books!!
ReplyDeleteGreat, Katie! We can have a book discussion when you're done.
ReplyDeleteHaven't read this one yet - thanks for enabling more book-buying, Lis!
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think, C. I know you have SO much spare time to read. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely intrigued!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I will have to check this one out. Oh and I love that picture. It's so different and beautiful! : )
ReplyDeleteHave a great day.
Thank you, Kimberly. So far, I like her new one, but it's a bit less lyrical and more matter of fact than Water.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds wonderful! I'll definitely have to read it. Thank you for the review!
ReplyDeleteWhoops..Hi Cole! Hi Nisa...do check it out. I give the book my full endorsement..and if you've been hanging around my blog awhile, you'll get the sense that I'm pretty fussy about what I read. THE SHAPE OF WATER manages to combine beautiful literary eloquence with—lo and behold—an actual PLOT!
ReplyDeleteSounds intriguing. I like a good read like that. I'll check it out. Thanks, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThat cover is just gorgeous! I can't wait to read this book, especially after this glowing review. Gorgeous language with an actual plot is a rare find indeed! And the title? I have total title envy right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elana. Thanks L and L. Don't forget to come back and discuss when you finish. I know. I have title envy too. And her new one rocks, too. I'm a title freak. And a cover freak. Why has no one heard of this book? It's been out a while. I never would have if not for my critmate. And that was after I commented on Anne's blog quite by accident.
ReplyDeleteAnn should be stopping by her soon. I hope she enjoys her little party!
Oh my! I just read that review and bless you, Lisa, you GOT it! Thank you, thank you, thank you. One day I am going to blog about all the interpretations of Magda ("she goes quite insane and believes she is an invisible fish")
ReplyDeleteI have received over the last year and a half. It's a tremendously satisfying feeling to have a reader connect and understand with what you intended.
I almost feel famous - which is amazing considering I just came in with a load of groceries from Pathmark and I was folding socks when I hijacked my son's computer to sneak over to your blog.
The comments are amazing. Talk about encouragement...
Yes, "Light Beneath Ferns" is not as lyrical. It started out that way, but I toned it down because I didn't want to become thought of as, you know, "that lyrical YA writer." It's also intended for younger readers. I wanted "LBF" to have a strong, female character with a distinctive voice. I hope I achieved that -
But yes, we'll do the interview tomorrow if that works for you. I don't think I've ever felt quite so uplifted while facing the laundry room.
Anne! So glad you could join your "party" I am so glad I "get you". I've got to get my critmate Dhonielle in on this chit-chat. She is the one who alerted me to your book. If you read her work, you'd understand that you are sisters in writing for sure. She's not published yet, but she will be.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we'll get a nice discussion going on here. In the meantime, I'm going to put some questions together for you.
Her book cover has always fascinated me, and it's a book I have on my list to read. Thanks for the review. I'll be back for the discussion.
ReplyDeleteThank you, ummm..can I call you Slide?
ReplyDelete