Customer Reviews

Haweswater: A Novel (P.S.)

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As the first reviewer, I'll summarize the story, which is a fictionalized account of the construction of an actual dam called Haweswater in the Lake District of northern England, resulting in the flooding of a valley by the reservoir, and the loss of the community and its traditions. The water company, towns and other landmarks actually existed; the individuals did not and the timing also differs somewhat.

In 1936, Jack Liggett comes to town to prepare for the construction of the dam and the destruction of life as the locals know it. Some grudingly accept the inevitable and others hold out for a change in plans that never comes. The first 40 pages (the book is only 266 pages in paperback) set the scene of the hard, rural life and introduce Janet Lightburn and her family.

Then Jack arrives to sell the plans and move the project forward, prepared to deal with the natives' resistance, and we get another view of local life from his perspective and his changing appreciation for what it offers. Jack isn't quite the elite city boy he appears to be. We can easily tell that Jack and Janet are headed for a relationship and that trouble will result. The author is not particularly light with the touch in describing Janet and her mother and their respective emotional turmoil. Hall is better with how Janet works closely with her father in the menial chores raising sheep and farming. The inevitable relationship seems a bit forced. After all, Janet is only 18 and Jack is 30-something, and, to be honest, not much happens between them other than passionate, rough rendevous. No introspective dialog or philosophizing about a life together, or even romance, for example.

Eventually Jack and Janet's affair (he's married) becomes public, and it's also time for the locals to evacuate. A terrible accident occurs, setting in motion the rapid decline of one of our main characters and an explosive climax.

Sarah Hall writes wonderfully, and her debut novel shows talent that could well lead to future, successful novels. (Her second novel was well-received.) Hall's love for the scene of Haweswater and respect for the rural life, its people and its tradition all come through clearly. Many passages are quite evocative and imaginative, although occasionally overwritten, when simpler language would have sufficed. I felt Janet's character was a bit much, too, pushed to a rather unrealistic position. Janet's father Samuel is a more sympathetic, stronger and better drawn character.

The previous reviewer did a lovely job laying out the basic plot. Perhaps one of the flaws with the book was just how basic the plot was--with such a simple storyline, the author had to work very hard to include enough complexity to maintain a full-fledged novel. One place that could have used more complexity--likely improving the book as a whole--was the character development. There remained throughout the book a certain distance that I felt we never breached between the reader and the characters. Janet was difficult to know, as were her family members and certainly her love interest.

The writing, however, was nearly without exception very lovely to read. Her phrasing and descriptions are beautiful and original, and she translates her fascination with the place and time into interest for the reader.

Without giving anything away, I have to admit that I found the ending somehow both predictable and disappointing.

Worth reading for the lovely prose, and I expect that her second effort (I have yet to read it) will deliver more sustenance in terms of story.