A shockingly beautiful yet painful read. Stunning

 

 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ Still Water is a darkly heart-wrenching, poetic novel I couldn't put down. Jane's mother, Sylvia, disappeared when Jane was young so what happened to her is a mystery. Tension builds as Jane copes with her own turmoil upon reading her mother's newly found diaries began when Sylvia was a girl before, and during, pregnancy and beyond. It is a visceral tale that does not shy away from painful thoughts and deeds, be warned.

An emotive read, the power of description makes even the smallest, inconsequential element palpable and raw. It is beautifully wrought making flesh and blood of Jane, Sylvia and the deep intense emotions and thoughts that drive them both. Not for the faint of heart, this story packs an emotional punch that will stay with me well beyond finishing the final page. To say I loved it feels disrespectful and flippant but the heavy anguish perfectly suited the chilly rain pelting down as rough waves beat the coast. I couldn't be in a better setting to read this novel. I have been touched by it and am in awe of the skill to draw forth such powerful feelings. An exceptional way to start 2023.