I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A beautifully written and engaging story that simultaneously breaks your heart and restores your faith all at once. The back drop of war and emancipation juxtaposed with the soft romance and love ticked all the boxes.

A really wonderful read that I would highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The writing in this book on a sentence level was truly beautiful. I really look forward to seeing what the author does next.

The novel is hard to describe - perhaps reminiscent of March in some ways. The characters for the most part were subtly drawn with nuance, although the villains may have been slightly too villainous.

I sort of avoided this because of the subject matter but it was handled deftly and lingered more on the unexpected and good. That said, there are still many scenes that cause sorrow, and that is unavoidable in a novel such as this.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this. I would especially recommend to A Level students of English Literature. Would be a rich comparison with other books which deal with underrepresented stories from historical periods. Totally deserving of all the praise it has had.

🌿BOOK REVIEW🌿

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

“Maybe with time there were parts of the past that could be forgotten, their sway over him toppled, but there would always be certain memories that survived the fall and stood amid the rubble. Monuments of loss.”

After being “freed” by the Emancipation Proclamation, brothers Prentiss and Landry are seeking shelter when they stumble upon the land of George Walker and his wife, Isabelle. Wading through the grief of losing their only son to war, the Walkers hire the brothers to help on their farm while hiving them food and shelter. The Walkers hope to form a friendship to stem their grief, while the brothers are focused on saving money to travel north.

In parallel to this story, two young Confederate soldiers are in a forbidden romance that places both of their lives at risk. Although they hold their meetings in the dark of the woods, one day their secret is discovered which unleashes a chain of events resulting in death, destruction and chaos.

I really didn’t know much about this book apart from the fact it was long listed for the Booker Prize so when I saw it available as an audiobook I snapped it up. This is a harrowing story surrounding a group of people who want to find love, acceptance and peace in the turbulent time following the Civil War. The story of Prentice and Landry was heartbreaking as these two men who have technically been freed continue to face such hatred and condemnation.

Isabelle was such a stand out character for me in this book as she rises through the chaos of grief and hate to become a leader in her community and a support for those around her. She has some fantastic relationships with other women in the town who rally around each other.

This was such a breathtaking, beautiful book that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction with themes of race, friendship, love and grief.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

⚠️CW// racism, violence, death

This book was amazing. I read this book ravenously. I haven't read a 300 page book from start to finish in a day for such a long time. It is beautifully written with emotion and care. If you want civil war gay romance, murder, betrayal, and strong female characters, this book is for you. Absolutely wonderful.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Deep South is reeling. Two brothers born into slavery but emancipated by the war are unsure how or where to go. A farmer and his wife have been devastated by the loss of their son and are struggling to survive. The two families come together for mutual benefit but old segregation views die hard and their neighbours struggle to understand.
This book has been long listed for the Booker Prize and I can understand why, it ticks a lot of boxes for the judges. It's well-written, with a 'now' theme and a nod to history but it didn't really do it for me. I felt I should have liked and admired it more than I did, finding the book interesting and moderately enjoyable rather than gripping.

Moving, infuriating, and utterly heartbreaking at times, this is a book that will both break you and renew your faith in people at the same time. The Sweetness of Water is often horrifying and not sweet at all but still there are beacons of light that shine throughout.

Lots of fiction has been written about the experience of slaves on the plantations but I’ve come across very little about how their lives might have changed during Reconstruction. This is an interesting exploration of that period, and follows brothers Prentiss and Landry who, upon the end of the civil war, leave their enslaver to go it alone. Although slavery is officially over, life is never simple and tensions run high between the old and new orders. Their lives become entangled with the Walker family who live on a neighbouring farm, and when soldiers begin to return from war things grow increasingly complicated, leading to life changing consequences for them all.

I loved the characters in this novel, sweet George and strong Isobel, innocent Landry and reliable Prentiss and even lovely Ridley the donkey. I kept worrying something was going to happen to him but it didn’t ❤️ so animal lovers it’s ok! Mildred and her sons were great side characters too, as was Clementine, and there’s one other character who earns our respect by the end but I won’t mention them by name as it’ll spoil it for you. At times I thought surely there couldn’t have been people as forward-thinking and fundamentally good as George and Isobel during the era in which this is set, but perhaps that’s just me being pessimistic. I’d like to think there were people like that around but I worry that, even given this story’s sadness and awful events, as a representation of a southern town in the late 1800s it feels a little too good to be true? Who can say though really.

Either way, the plot kept me hooked throughout and I was desperate to know what would become of all the characters. I’d have liked to have known more about the fate of some, but I guess the author couldn’t have taken it much further without making it too unbelievable. All in all though I was satisfied with the ending as, even though it was still a little melancholy, it did provide us with some level of hope.

If you like historical fiction, this is definitely a book worth picking up and I’d recommend it. It will make you cry though so have your tissues at the ready if you do!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tinder Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

such a heart breaking yet hopeful book with characters that will stay with you for a long time after you finish the novel. It is a book to savour for sure!

Heartbreaking yet hopeful.

I was captivated by the writing of this book and the stories intertwined within. This book is a tapestry of emotions and a beautiful depiction of human relationships.

If you like historical fiction then you’ll love ‘The Sweetness of Water’. Set just after the American Civil War, the story has many facets but mostly centres around brothers Prentiss and Landry who have been recently freed from slavery. Now freemen, the brothers accept paid work from George Walker, a nearby land owner who doesn’t follow societal norms. Causing racial upset amongst the local white soldiers returned from the front, aswell as local plantation owners who are in denial about slave emancipation, the brothers and George alike, must decide to either stick with their new way of life or give in to the local pressure. Throw in subplots and this novel makes for excellent reading!

As a debut novel, Harris has written a great piece of work. I wouldn’t say that the main characters are all together likeable, most are flawed but that adds to the genuine feeling of the story. I thought there was great depth to them also. My one critique would be that I found it a little too long. I would have preferred it to have been wrapped up a bit earlier- I won’t give away any spoilers though as to when, as that would be telling.

This book is absolutely stunning. A very beautiful story set during the civil war. I was surprised after I read it to find out this was the authors debut, actually. Outstanding.
This is a story that will stay with me for a long time and thank you for the opportunity to read it.

The Sweetness of Water is a beautifully written novel set in Georgia at the end of the American Civil War. George Walker finds two freed slaves, brothers Prentiss and Landry, camping out on his land. His decision to offer them paid employment and accommodation on his land does not go down well with the local people. George and his wife Isabelle’s refusal to treat the brothers any differently from other employees does not go down well, and when Landry witnesses something he shouldn’t, a tragedy occurs.
This novel isn’t easy reading at times, but shows how the bravery of a few who are prepared to affect a change, can achieve great things but unfortunately, sometimes not without sacrifice.

5⭐️ A profound epic debut novel akin to The Underground Railway and Steinbeck . It’s based on two brothers Landry and Prentiss who are freed from years of torture and slavery towards the end of the Civil war in Georgia .As they begin their unknown journey into their newly found freedom they are hired by George and Isabelle an older couple who are grieving the loss of their only son . Soon the small town of Ox reveals its deep rooted prejudice and it seems that freedom has a hard price to pay .

Throughout the novel we are struck by the authors ability to describe almost lyrically the emotional turmoil of each character . We are struck by the multilayered depiction of grief and resilience . This is a story that will inspire for many generations to come and it’s no surprise that Obama and Oprah are huge fans .A great book club choice as there is plenty to discuss .
Thanks to #NetGalley for an Arc

*contains spoilers*

I really enjoyed this book, it tackles family relationships, homosexuality, race and freedom. Its wonderfully written and describes the era post American civil war. It’s a slow read with many descriptive paragraphs, at times I would have appreciated more pace to the story.

Given the length of the book I hoped that by the end I would feel that I really knew the small cast of characters, but that wasn’t the case with all of them. I loved the characters of Clementine & Prentiss and really warmed to both of them.

This book tackles difficult issues and does it well, it’s heavy going at times but also filled with hope for a different future. The book is set 150 years ago and what’s sad is that these issues still exist today.

What a beautiful book. if only the world was filled by people such as George and Matilda with their strong sense of fairness and compassion. Set immediately post American Civil War it combined many themes relevant to war, emancipation of slaves, womanhood and small town politics and corruption. At the same time the story weaved throughout taking us on an interesting uplifting journey. Highly recommended.

The Sweetness of Water is an interesting take on the usual slavery era American novel. By focussing on the post emancipation South as freed slaves try and find their way to independence, Harris provides a moving portrayal of the disquiet caused by change. Primarily focussing on the lives of the Walker family and the patriarch George as his role as an outsider is further condemned by his 'adoption' of two freed slaves. Landry and Prentiss try to find some dignity and hope in their newfound freedom by working honestly for George as he turns his hand to peanut farming for the first time. The accompanying narrative of George's son Caleb's return from the Civil War adds another layer of intrigue. Long held relationships are repaired, new ones forged, and old ties broken, as racism and homophobia threaten the new era of supposed equality. Beautifully crafted, heart breaking, but full of pride, reverence for a new possibility and the belief that each small act of courage will be rewarded.

The Sweetness of Water is a hugely moving book. Arthur and his wife live in an isolated farm waiting to hear from their son who is fighting in the civil war. Out walking one night, Arthur discovers Landry and Prentiss, two freed slaves. All these lives are bought together to explore the injustices, secret lives and internal battles experienced by those living in this time period.

So much happens in this novel, yet the pace is measured and the novel feels character driven. I loved the character of Arthur and many of the other characters in the book who are all dealing with their own complex issues. Although the book focuses on dark themes and moments in history there is always a sense of hope running through.

I read this book for free thanks to netgalley.com in exchange for a true and fair review.

This is a very powerful book, telling very moving stories from the end of the American civil war. It's a slow-paced and moving story about lives affected by the freeing of slaves and the effect this has on whole communities. George and his wife Isabelle, the freed slaves they find living on their land, Prentiss and Landry, and the story of George and Isabelle's son Caleb who is thought dead in the war but subsequently returns, are all characters that are explored in the book, with touching points for all of them. Their lives are interwoven and their interactions are sensitively explored, as the outside world gradually impacts on them and tragedy ensues.

Beautifully written, the story weaves its way around you and won't let go, well worth spending time slowing down to savour it at a slow speed and take it all in.