By Sara Gruen
Spiegel & Grau, 2015. 369 pgs. Fiction.
Sara Gruen -- well known author of Water for Elephants -- is a master of transporting readers to a different time and place. In Gruen’s latest novel, she leaves behind the 1920s traveling circus and instead takes readers to the 1940s Scottish highlands. In this story, Madeline and Ellis Hyde escape social and familial chaos by embarking on an adventure to Scotland as they search for proof of the Loch Ness monster. Through the course of their adventure, Madeline is brought to startling realizations about the real toll of World War II as well as realizations about her marriage.
I enjoyed Gruen’s novel. As in her previous novels, Gruen creates characters and settings that really bring these periods to life. And similar to Water for Elephants, Gruen includes a prologue that will have readers hooked by page one! All in all this is a fun and engrossing read, but readers should be aware that this book contains language and sexual content similar to that found in Gruen’s previous novels.
CNC
1 comment:
Even though Water for Elephants has been on my to-read list for ages, At the Water’s Edge was my first Sara Gruen novel, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Gruen is a master at gradually revealing characters’ pasts and who they really are. I was horrified by the transformation of some characters and charmed by the growth of others. The Scottish locals were especially likable. Overall, this was one of my favorite reads of 2015. I listened to the audiobook read by Justine Eyre, and I recommend it.
SR
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