Summer Water by Sarah Moss

Published: 2020, Picador

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Scotland, Scottish weather, Scottish holiday park, families

My rating (out of 5): ❤❤❤

It's raining.

Several families are on holiday in wooden lodges overlooking a loch in Scotland.

It keeps raining.

Mothers and fathers attempt to keep their children amused/safe/dry.

Plenty more rain.

Sarah Moss introduces us to all the families who have taken up temporary residence in the little settlement of lodges and. through their individual chapters, we come to understand who they are and what they think about.

Did I mention the rain?

The woods around the lodges are living, organic ecosystems that move and breath just as much as the humans.

Rain drips off the leaves and makes patterns in the water.

The story takes place over a period of just 24 hours and for every family there are micro-risks snaking through their ordinary day. You know something bad is coming because there are hints everywhere, but just remember patience is a virtue.

Meanwhile, more rain.

To be fair, constant rain and being trapped indoors doesn't bring out the best in people, but the characters are not terribly interesting, and I found myself looking forward to the bad thing happening just to liven things up a bit. I think I am in the minority with my negative thinking as other reviews such as those published in the Times, Independent and Sunday Times are highly complimentary, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I might.

Comments

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