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vyhurz's review
2.0
I recently decided to start reading shorter books so I could finish a story. In 2022, finishing a story was often impossible for me. I read Bodies of Water in about a month and it’s only 130 pages. I’m happy with that, and I hope I can continue to finish stories throughout the year.
This may be the first review I’ve done with spoilers. My issues with the story can only be addressed in that way. But before spoilers, let me explain the premise: Kirsten is living in present day and just moved into an apartment complex which was used as a hydrotherapy hospital in the 1870s. It’s close to the river, and Kirsten is fascinated by the water. But then strange things start happening. Every other chapter is from Kirsten’s point-of-view. The other chapters are Evelyn, who is a patient at the hydrotherapy hospital in the 1870s. In my opinion, her chapters are much more interesting with much more happening. There are more characters and action.
In general, though, the book is filled with exposition which gets very boring. The author also uses the word “water” and/or “river” in almost every single paragraph. I felt like I was getting hit over the head with something, and I just don’t know what it was. The story doesn’t connect any dots to really say anything. At the end, there are some lines about women being confined across centuries and needing the wide space of the river to, I’m not sure, have their own space?
SPOILER WARNING: After finishing the book, I realized my biggest issue is the lack of connection. There is nothing between Kirsten and Evelyn, other than Wakewater Hospital/Apartments. Kirsten’s story ends up being about satisfying the needs of female water spirits who are murderous, and for some reason water is leaking in all over Wakewater. There is no reason given for this. On Evelyn’s side, there is no mention of such water spirits until the very end, and even then they’re not murderous. Evelyn just sees them in the river. Kirsten apparently is seeing the character of Milly who was Evelyn’s lover, but why? Why is Milly out for an offering in the present day?
The more I write this, the more I am annoyed. I feel like the author wrote half the book and then didn’t know what to do. Or maybe they wrote Evelyn’s side since it was so much more interesting, and then needed something else and came up with Kirsten.
I’m giving this two stars instead of one because I really only give one star reviews to books I don’t finish. I obviously do not recommend it since it falls flat. It leaves you with questions, but not the curious kind. They’re the kind of questions that arise when a story doesn’t make sense from beginning to end.
tinyleafbooks.wordpress.com
This may be the first review I’ve done with spoilers. My issues with the story can only be addressed in that way. But before spoilers, let me explain the premise: Kirsten is living in present day and just moved into an apartment complex which was used as a hydrotherapy hospital in the 1870s. It’s close to the river, and Kirsten is fascinated by the water. But then strange things start happening. Every other chapter is from Kirsten’s point-of-view. The other chapters are Evelyn, who is a patient at the hydrotherapy hospital in the 1870s. In my opinion, her chapters are much more interesting with much more happening. There are more characters and action.
In general, though, the book is filled with exposition which gets very boring. The author also uses the word “water” and/or “river” in almost every single paragraph. I felt like I was getting hit over the head with something, and I just don’t know what it was. The story doesn’t connect any dots to really say anything. At the end, there are some lines about women being confined across centuries and needing the wide space of the river to, I’m not sure, have their own space?
SPOILER WARNING: After finishing the book, I realized my biggest issue is the lack of connection. There is nothing between Kirsten and Evelyn, other than Wakewater Hospital/Apartments. Kirsten’s story ends up being about satisfying the needs of female water spirits who are murderous, and for some reason water is leaking in all over Wakewater. There is no reason given for this. On Evelyn’s side, there is no mention of such water spirits until the very end, and even then they’re not murderous. Evelyn just sees them in the river. Kirsten apparently is seeing the character of Milly who was Evelyn’s lover, but why? Why is Milly out for an offering in the present day?
The more I write this, the more I am annoyed. I feel like the author wrote half the book and then didn’t know what to do. Or maybe they wrote Evelyn’s side since it was so much more interesting, and then needed something else and came up with Kirsten.
I’m giving this two stars instead of one because I really only give one star reviews to books I don’t finish. I obviously do not recommend it since it falls flat. It leaves you with questions, but not the curious kind. They’re the kind of questions that arise when a story doesn’t make sense from beginning to end.
tinyleafbooks.wordpress.com
laurenkara's review
4.0
This was quite different to what I was expecting, but it was a really eye opening and unique read. At times it was quite difficult too, but that's what I love. I'll try and have a review up soon!
mitrajiyan's review
3.5
I don’t feel like Kirsten’s story needed to harp on her Lewis backstory as much as it did, and I’m unsure how I feel about the ending. I don’t really read gothic novels and maybe the heaviness and certain kitschy choices go with the genre so who am I to judge. This was very atmospheric and eerie which I enjoyed. A quick and fun read!
antonyiah's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
nnicduffy's review
3.0
3.5 Stars. Bodies of Water written by V.H.Leslie
There was a moment in this book where both characters, one born in the nineteenth century and one born in today’s time, stand in the same place, divided by time. I’ve always found this a fascinating concept and whenever I go to an historic venue, this thought always crosses my mind ‘who has stood in this very place before me and what was their story?
This haunting gothic novella set on the Thames explores the water cure and 19th century ideas and practices associated with women’s health. It was intriguing and plunged me down my own watery hole of finding out more about the historic facts associated with the water cure, gaining a whole new understanding of the term ‘quack doctors’. It stands as another reminder of what women in the 19th century endured in the name of science.
I did feel that the story was slightly distracted by the love interest aspects of the book, finding myself more taken with the eerie watery environment and the women in their own right.
Definitely going to read more novellas this year.
There was a moment in this book where both characters, one born in the nineteenth century and one born in today’s time, stand in the same place, divided by time. I’ve always found this a fascinating concept and whenever I go to an historic venue, this thought always crosses my mind ‘who has stood in this very place before me and what was their story?
This haunting gothic novella set on the Thames explores the water cure and 19th century ideas and practices associated with women’s health. It was intriguing and plunged me down my own watery hole of finding out more about the historic facts associated with the water cure, gaining a whole new understanding of the term ‘quack doctors’. It stands as another reminder of what women in the 19th century endured in the name of science.
I did feel that the story was slightly distracted by the love interest aspects of the book, finding myself more taken with the eerie watery environment and the women in their own right.
Definitely going to read more novellas this year.
caitlinluter's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
illustrated_librarian's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
mickeymole's review
4.0
Fantastic debut novel. Gothic has to be really good for me to keep reading. I plowed right on through this. Fine writing. I would read it again.
sophiefrancoiselucie's review
4.0
I was certainly not expecting such an end. This is a sad book. Do not be fooled by the sisterhood or whatever vibe you might feel you're getting from this story on women and heroines. This is quite depressing. I don't really know how to feel and what conclusions to draw from my reading. I have to reflect on the symbols and meanings... so yes, this is THAT sort of book: the one which keeps you wide awake at night after you finished it, because whatever you do, you can't help but to wonder what it was all about. And besides this amazing opportunity for me to wonder on feminism and on the 19th century, the writing was just so good. It was all very mysterious and gloomy, and I ended up having this strange fascination for the river as well! I felt great in both epochs and as there were no much characters, and that I felt so immersed (no pun intended) in the story, that I felt like I almost knew the two heroines, Evelyn and Kirsten. The author tackles various subjects in here, in the end. I'm not perfectly sure what to make of all of them, but they were great. However, I don't want to spoil anything so this is where I'm going to stop. But just remember, there are some great and deep thoughts on love on this novel (or novella?) and some quotes were pretty mind blowing. Oh and, if you're a man who feels offended quite easily and who's not going to think a bit before shouting that 'women think blabla feminists blabla', maybe don't read this one. I might be very annoyed to hear what you have to say.