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A review by tania_kliphuis
The Memory of Water by J.T. Lawrence
3.0
At first I wasn't sure about old Slade Harris and his suffocating self-destructive attitude. For at least 30% of the book, I really did wonder where this was all going. But I kept reading because, for all of his faults, he was a rather interesting character (I guess that's why someone as lovely as Eve is friends with him?).
Things really got going for me in the middle of the book.
And then the ending fell a bit apart for me. Look, at least it didn't end with the false ending that Harris initially penned in his cell. And I completely believed that PyschoSally could've done it. But, even so, I have so many questions still:
1. What the hell was the whole Mrs X thing about (not to mention the exploding car in the middle of Duduza)? Was he having a manic episode?
2. Is he that self-involved that he didn't realise that "Denise" was his stalker?
3. Who was Susannah? This was resolved in the false ending, but not the actual ending. Or is it meant to apply there too?
4. What really happened to Francina? Did PyschoSally get rid of her (and I don't mean by sending her to Mauritius)?
All-in-all though, I am really liking J.T. Lawrence and it seems like this is one of her earlier books (which may explain why it's a bit less "polished" plot-wise than Why you were taken)? South African fiction can be so up-itself and it often tries so bloody hard, but I find Lawrence's writing interesting and enjoyable to read and most definitely not up-itself. I managed to get this one for free on Amazon, but I shall be forking over my own money for more of her work.
Things really got going for me in the middle of the book.
Spoiler
The mystery. The suspense. Did he? Didn't he? If not him, then who?And then the ending fell a bit apart for me. Look, at least it didn't end with the false ending that Harris initially penned in his cell. And I completely believed that PyschoSally could've done it. But, even so, I have so many questions still:
1. What the hell was the whole Mrs X thing about (not to mention the exploding car in the middle of Duduza)? Was he having a manic episode?
2. Is he that self-involved that he didn't realise that "Denise" was his stalker?
3. Who was Susannah? This was resolved in the false ending, but not the actual ending. Or is it meant to apply there too?
4. What really happened to Francina? Did PyschoSally get rid of her (and I don't mean by sending her to Mauritius)?
All-in-all though, I am really liking J.T. Lawrence and it seems like this is one of her earlier books (which may explain why it's a bit less "polished" plot-wise than Why you were taken)? South African fiction can be so up-itself and it often tries so bloody hard, but I find Lawrence's writing interesting and enjoyable to read and most definitely not up-itself. I managed to get this one for free on Amazon, but I shall be forking over my own money for more of her work.