The Well by Catherine Chanter

Title: The Well

Author: Catherine Chanter
Read by: Nicola Barber
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Length: 12 hours and 57 minutes
Source: Review Digital Audio from Simon & Schuster – Thanks!

What would our future hold if rain suddenly stopped falling?  As our water supplies dwindled and crops stopped growing, what would happen to our world?  This is a question I ponder in my profession, but in The Well by Catherine Chanter, it is reality for Ruth and Mark Ardingly, a couple who live in England in the not too distant future.

After Mark is wrongfully accused and exonerated from a crime in London, he and his wife of twenty years, Ruth, buy a new place, The Well, in the country to make a fresh start.  They are happy being farmers in the country at first, until an inexplicable drought happens across England, but mysteriously does not affect The Well.  While they have plenty of water, green grass, and crops, others across England are starting to panic.  This panic leads to people wandering in bands across the land and to mysterious religious orders becoming prevalent.  When one such order moves to the well, Ruth finds herself swept up by the mysticism of the Daughters of the Rose. This causes her to obsess with the religion and emotionally leave her husband, troubled daughter Angie, and grandson Lucien behind.

When tragedy strikes at the Well, Ruth and Mark’s world is shattered.  After being incarcerated for a period of time, Ruth returns to The Well and tries to piece together what happened.  Who committed the murder and why?

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel.  I like how the social order declines rapidly with the lack of water as I imagine it would in the real world.  I also liked how everyone seems to turn on the Ardinglys for still having water and how that impacts their relationship.  I also really like a good mystery and enjoyed finding out what really happened in this case.

Nicola Barber was an excellent narrator who provided and unique voice and presence for each character. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook on my daily commute. 

The novel switched time frames from the newly returned Ruth trying to figure out caused the tragedy to the past Ruth recounting their lives at the well.  I thought this worked well to solve the mystery, although I did feel that the novel did drag a bit in the middle.  Once the action and plot picked up again, I was absorbed through the end.  I also liked that Ruth was not always a reliable narrator.  After you learn how she was swept up by the cult of the Rose, I started to wonder if anything she was saying was real.

Overall, if you are looking for a unique story with a good mystery, damaged characters, and very interesting premise, I highly recommend The Well.

Unlocking Worlds: A Reading Companion for Book Lovers by Sally Allen (Review and GIVEAWAY)

Unlocking Worlds is a delightful book for the book lover.  Writer, teacher, and book lover Sally Allen writes about reading and the love of books while also putting together 15 themed lists of great books with wonderful descriptions.

I learned by reading Allen’s thoughts and lists that not only is she a “bookworm,” but her taste in books also match mine.  I loved reading her descriptions of books I have read and loved, but I also really loved her descriptions of books that I haven’t read yet.  My copy of the book is literally stuffed full of colored bookmark sticker tags marking new books that I want to read for myself and also excellent suggestions that I believe my book club would also enjoy.  Each chapter started with description of the overall theme before it listed each book with a brief description.

A great list for read this time of year is “Chapter 16:  Reads for the Fall and Winter Holidays.”  A new short story I want to read is by one of my favorite classic English authors, “Christmas at Thompson Hall” by Anthony Trollope.  I also love Edith Wharton and will need to read Tales of Men and Ghosts next Halloween.

Sally Allen and I both share a love of British novels (Chapter 13).  I have read many of her suggestions including Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, etc., but I have read High Fidelity by Nick Hornby or White Teeth by Zadie Smith.  I know that we share a love for the same types of British novels and now I have some ones to try out!

I love “Novels that Play with Time and Space (Chapter 3)” and was surprised that I haven’t actually read any of the books in this chapter.  I have plenty of new books from this chapter on my “to read” list including Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, and Landline by Rainbow Rowell among others.

I love one of the last chapters entitled “Reconciling with the Inevitable:  We Can’t Read All Books.”  I remember once having this discussion with my favorite English teacher and friend Mrs. Smith.  Allen gives tips on how to get the most enjoyment out of reading such as keeping track of the books you read (I do with my blog), reading a book referenced in a book you just read, and reading a beloved childhood favorite.  I love all of these tips and more that are included in the book.  I also enjoyed her tip about author talks.  She states that if you can’t attend them in person, you should listen to them on YouTube.  I don’t know why I have never done that!

Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the ending where her young niece asks why she has a book in her handbag.  She replies:

“’I always carry a book,’ I said.

There is really no explanation.  I mean, at what point, exactly, had I been thinking I should pull out my book and read?  While driving?  While strolling at the campgrounds?  While dining with four adults and three children at a restaurant?  But still.  I can never resist bringing a book with me.  Of all the ‘essential’ items I’m likely to leave behind when rushing from my home – my mobile, my wallet, even my keys – I cannot recall ever forgetting to bring a book  Just in case.”  

I live in exactly this way myself with a book always on hand.  Overall, Unlocking Worlds by Sally Allen is a love letter to readers everywhere.  If you love books, you will love reading this book about reading, loving books, reading about great books to remember an old beloved book or find some ideas for a new read.  

Book Source:  Review Copy as a part of IRead Book Tours - Thanks!

GIVEAWAY

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Sit! Stay! Speak! By Annie England Noblin

Addie Andrews has left Chicago to her late Aunt’s home in Eunice, Arkansas after her beloved Aunt’s death.  Her plan is to fix up the home and sell it.  She also has experienced a personal tragedy back in Chicago and wants to be somewhere far away from it.  Shortly after moving to Eunice, Addie comes across a dog wounded and left for dead in a garbage bag.  After rushing him to the vet, Addie makes a new friend in the sassy red headed vet technician Wanda and also meets the handsome lawyer turned farmer Jasper Floyd.

Addie names her new dog Felix and she discovers that he is a scared, gentle, and loving pit bull dog.  Not satisfied with being told to leave this matter alone, Addie starts her own investigation to determine who would do such a thing to a pit bull.  All roads lead back to the town bully and more danger for Addie.  Addie also tries to overcome her past to learn how to trust and start new relationships both romantic and for friendship.  She is very frustrated by the mixed signals she gets from the attractive Jasper Floyd.  Will Addie find happiness?  Will she discover who hurt Felix?  Will she figure out what she wants to do with her future?

I love animals, fixing up old houses, cooking, and friendships and this book had all of that for me.  It also had a good hero in Jasper.  I also loved the mystery of what happened to Felix.  There were a lot of great characters around the Southern town of Eunice that I loved to read about.  The only downside is that I felt the story did meander awhile without focusing on where things were going.  I started to get annoyed by our hero and his holding back of his feelings, although it was all explained at the end.

Overall, this is a good mystery with great characters, romance, and dogs.  A perfect book to read when you are inside for the winter.

Book Source:  Review Copy from William Morrow – Thanks!