Bodies of Water

By T. Greenwood

Book Overview

*LAMBDA Literary Award Finalist*

Alternating between past and present, a forbidden love story blooms in the sexually oppressive early-1960's in T. Greenwood's shimmering, haunting novel that explores the nature of memory, aging, feminism, lust, and most importantly, love in a tumultuous era.

In this deeply tender novel, acclaimed novelist T. Greenwood moves deftly between the past and present to create a poignant and wonderfully moving story of friendship, the resonance of memories, and the love that keeps us afloat.

In 1960, Billie Valentine is a young housewife living in a sleepy Massachusetts suburb, treading water in a dull marriage and caring for two adopted daughters. Summers spent with the girls at their lakeside camp in Vermont are her one escape--from her husband's demands, from days consumed by household drudgery, and from the nagging suspicion that life was supposed to hold something different.

Then a new family moves in across the street. Ted and Eva Wilson have three children and a fourth on the way, and their arrival reignites long-buried feelings in Billie. The relationship that deepens between the two women offers a solace Billie has never known, until their secret is revealed and both families are wrenched apart in the tragic aftermath.

Fifty years later, Ted and Eva's son, Johnny, contacts an elderly but still spry Billie, entreating her to return east to meet with him. Once there, Billie finally learns the surprising truth about what was lost, and what still remains, of those joyful, momentous summers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 149673923X
• ISBN13: 9781496739230
• Release Date: February 2022
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Very deep, honest and startling dealing of 1960s married life

This was not what I expected, thinking just a fluffy interesting story of two families, it goes so far beyond to some extremely enlightening facts of how husbands believed and got away with how they abused their wives and the children who lived with that behavior. I lived in early 70s with such a husband as Ted and can attest to this mind-set of men. The love story was totally unexpected and so haunting and heart rendering. I've read 3 of Greenwood's book so far and will eventually I'm sure read all of them. Each story so very different and intriguing. Solid reads!

I wanted to start the book over and read it again as soon as I finished. Incredible.

I am still in awe over this book. I was so filled with emotion the entire time. Happy, sadness, rage, and everything else between. I cannot even explain how vividly this book captured interactions between people and the emotions they were feeling. I have never plowed through cardio at the gym like i did when i read this. Wow. I cannot believe the impact this book has. I’m speechless. I want to immediately start the book over and read it again.

The best book I have ever read.