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| ☆☆☆ |
at water's edge.
sara gruen.
Publisher Spiegel & Grau
Publication Date:March 31,2015
Genre:Historical Fiction | Romance.
Format|Pages:Hardcover|348
Source:Goodreads|Library.
In her stunning new novel, Gruen returns to the kind of storytelling she excelled at in Water for Elephants: a historical timeframe in an unusual setting with a moving love story. Think Scottish Downton Abbey.
After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve of 1942, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Ellis’s father, a former army Colonel who is already embarrassed by his son’s inability to serve in WWII due to his being colorblind. To Maddie’s horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his father’s favor is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster and when he finds it he will restore his father’s name and return to his father’s good graces (and pocketbook). Joined by their friend Hank, a wealthy socialite, the three make their way to Scotland in the midst of war.
Each day the two men go off to hunt the monster, while another monster, Hitler, is devastating Europe. And Maddie, now alone in a foreign country, must begin to figure out who she is and what she wants. The novel tells of Maddie’s social awakening: to the harsh realities of life, to the beauties of nature, to a connection with forces larger than herself, to female friendship, and finally, to love.
After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve of 1942, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Ellis’s father, a former army Colonel who is already embarrassed by his son’s inability to serve in WWII due to his being colorblind. To Maddie’s horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his father’s favor is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster and when he finds it he will restore his father’s name and return to his father’s good graces (and pocketbook). Joined by their friend Hank, a wealthy socialite, the three make their way to Scotland in the midst of war.
Each day the two men go off to hunt the monster, while another monster, Hitler, is devastating Europe. And Maddie, now alone in a foreign country, must begin to figure out who she is and what she wants. The novel tells of Maddie’s social awakening: to the harsh realities of life, to the beauties of nature, to a connection with forces larger than herself, to female friendship, and finally, to love.
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I loved Sara Gruen’s WATER FOR ELEPHANTS which I had read multiple times so when I saw that she came out with a new book, I knew I had check it out especially once I noticed that it would a historical fiction which is one of my favorite genres. AT WATER’S EDGE was an interesting novel with quite bit historical facts however it didn’t quite grasp my attention way that Water for Elephants had. Yet I still had to force myself to put down this novel, there were few parts in the book that will get you hooked and you will not put it down, due to fact that you wanted to find out what was going to happen next with the characters. Of course I loved fact that it took places in Scotland, the one place that I want to visit. I also noticed how much Maddie changed from beginning of the book, through the book and the end of the novel. I believe she was one character who changed the most in the novel. She was one of my favorite’s characters in this novel.
AT WATER’S EDGE was a book that was bit hard for me to get into at first. To me it felt like it was dragging a bit at start. Of course once it picked up you will want to keep on reading the novel. The novel was supposed be about them going after Loch Ness Monster but there was actually not much of that in the book, it was more about Maddie. Another thing that I didn’t like was Ellis and Hank and how they treated Maddie, especially Ellis. I was starting to suspect after a while if he actually loved her or not. The way he treated her is not a way that a husband should treat his wife. Ellis and Hank were spoiled; I hated how they treated everyone as if they were their servants. To me it seemed that only thing that they cared about is themselves. I did hope that Maddie would realize he didn’t care and get out of the marriage and fast.
I did love the relationship that Maddie develop with Meg, Anna. I noticed how her view of them changed from beginning of novel to when she befriended them; she even started helping them out. I believe that it changed her view of the world, or at least the world that she was used to. Maddie was used to almost having everything, to working hard. That’s what I loved about her. Angus and Maddie, now what the two of them had that was what love should be. I had a feeling that there was some sort connection between two of them, way he tried to protect her the first time, before anything even happened between the two of them. I knew that he cared for her even if he didn’t show it at first. I am glad that both of them got their happily ever after, they deserved it. Both of them.
I thought that At Water’s Edge was an interesting read. Despite not turning out what I expected, it’s interesting enough to keep your attention. It’s not book just about love but war, friendship, family and acceptance. A novel worth picking up and giving a chance.
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