One of the problems – or, perhaps, the best things – about Gothic Horror is that it does tend to be sad. Usually, there are at least one or two characters who don’t deserve whatever is happening to them, or who have done something which is being punished in a way which does not in any way fit the crime. M.R. James’s writing is perhaps a constant reiteration of the old proverb, “curiosity killed the cat”, but curiosity in itself isn’t a bad thing; while Jonathan Harker in Bram Stoker’s Dracula finds himself in the initial dangerous situation through no fault of his own. Perhaps the saddest story in this anthology is The Lady Who Dances in the Ashes , which was first published by Sley House in Tales of Sley House 2022 . Here is the story of a man who is facing professional and financial ruin as a result of suggesting that mental health patients can be treated in the community rather than institutionalised. He is one of the most sympathetic narrators you will find in the book, but he bad...
The Tale of Truthwater Lake
by Emma Carroll
This book marks my first book review for Middle Grade Mondays. I wish I could do more reading, but I work four days a week, and I'm crazy enough to be doing a science degree, and setting unrealistic New Year goals at the same time!
This book, however, I read in no more than 24 hours. Not that it's a short book. It is a good length for a middle grade novel, but I became more and more invested in the characters the more I read.
Why did I choose this book?
I bought this signed copy some time ago from an online independent bookshop. I can't remember exactly what had happened, but the shop had posted that they had somehow been disadvantaged and, as I know how difficult it is to be an independent business in the book world, I wanted to support them.
I searched through their booklist, and decided this book was the one that most appealed to me.
I do love beautiful chapter headings!
What is the book about?
The book begins in the not-too-distant future, when the world has altered because of climate change. The main character, Polly, is interested in swimming but not very good at it. When she and her brother go to visit their aunt in the country, Polly investigates a reservoir which is drying up in the heatwave. While swimming, she finds herself being pulled towards the lost village beneath the water, and becomes a girl from the 1950s. This new main character, Nellie, is a star swimmer and has a burning ambition to swim across the English Channel, although her hopes are dashed when a privileged boy from the neighbouring valley is chosen for a televised swim across to France.
The story follows these two main characters, one and the same, and yet so different, and details their friendships and their worries.
The Review
There is no doubt that this book is well written and presented. The dual narrative is told partly in present, and partly in past tense. While I struggled to get into the present tense, I appreciated why the author chose this method, and it worked well for the story.
The characters were all believable, and refreshingly different from each other. I didn't particularly like many of the characters, but that's real life, isn't it! You don't always like everyone! It was refreshing to have two main characters who were not portrayed as saints. I think my favourite character was Joel, and I felt rather sorry for him at various parts.
The author dealt with tragedy in the book extremely well, not just the obvious loss of a loved one, but the loss of a home and a way of life. I found myself distressed when I considered that it could be my home that is submerged in water because of people's greed. The anger and helplessness was painful, but excellently portrayed!
There was a little twist to the story, and I do love a good twist! I won't say much more about this part because I don't want to ruin any surprises!
I have read many wonderful books with dual timelines, and I am happy to class this book amongst them. However, I feel I would have enjoyed it more if it had not been a time travel story. The story did not lend itself to that science fiction element and left me with a few too many niggling doubts about how easily the character morphed into someone completely different. I would have felt happier for the story to have simply been a dual timeline that came together naturally towards the end.
However, it was a very good book, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in mid 20th century history, or rural issues. There are some very astute points made sensitively and delicately.
What's New with Crowvus?
It's all systems go right now for our upcoming children's non-fiction book "Sir Louis Curlewy" by Susan Crow. I can't show you the cover yet, because it hasn't been revealed, but it won't be long!
The illustrations are complete, the interior is formatted, the cover is finished, with the blurb... we have been so busy!
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