BOOK BRIEF

The Weight of Water

Anita Shreve
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The Weight of Water

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

Book Brief

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Anita Shreve

The Weight of Water

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998
Book Details
Pages

246

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Smuttynose Island • 19th Century

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve, a photojournalist named Jean travels to an island with her family for an assignment, uncovering details of a century-old murder that parallel her present-day turmoil. The novel intricately weaves past and present, exploring themes of relationships, betrayal, and the human condition.

Reviews & Readership

3.9

30,345 ratings

59%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Anita Shreve's The Weight of Water intricately weaves dual narratives of a historical murder and a modern-day marital crisis. Critics praise its atmospheric prose and complex characterizations, but some find the pacing uneven. Ultimately, Shreve's storytelling prowess delivers a haunting exploration of isolation and human frailty.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Weight of Water?

A reader who enjoys The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve likely appreciates historical fiction intertwined with contemporary narratives. Fans of Susanna Kearsley's The Winter Sea or Geraldine Brooks's Year of Wonders will find Shreve's exploration of past and present, intricate character development, and atmospheric settings particularly engaging.

3.9

30,345 ratings

59%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

246

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Smuttynose Island • 19th Century

Publication Year

1998

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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