Haweswater

by Sarah Hall

Book Overview

"Here is a writer of show-stopping genius: everyone should buy this novel."--The Guardian

A remote village is threatened by industrialization and by a scandalous love affair in this debut novel by the author of Burntcoat and the Man Booker Prize finalist The Electric Michelangelo

The village of Marsdale is a quiet corner of the world, cradled in a remote dale in England's lovely Lake District. The rhythm...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060817259
• ISBN13: 9780060817251
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

lyrical, crafted writing with decent story

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.