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The Sweetness of Water

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The Sweetness of Water

By: Nathan Harris
Narrated by: William DeMeritt
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About this listen

An Obama Summer Reading Choice and New York Times best seller

An extraordinary novel of life after slavery for listeners of Washington Black, The Underground Railroad and Days without End.

In the dying days of the American Civil War, newly freed brothers Landry and Prentiss find themselves cast into the world without a penny to their names. Forced to hide out in the woods near their former Georgia plantation, they're soon discovered by the land's owner, George Walker, a man still reeling from the loss of his son in the war.

When the brothers begin to live and work on George's farm, the tentative bonds of trust and union begin to blossom between the strangers. But this sanctuary survives on a knife's edge, and it isn't long before the inhabitants of the nearby town of Old Ox react with fury at the alliances being formed only a few miles away.

©2021 Nathan Harris (P)2021 Hachette Audio African American Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt War

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Critic reviews

"Better than any debut novel has a right to be." (Richard Russo)

"A fine, lyrical novel, impressive in its complex interweaving of the grand and the intimate, of the personal and political." (Observer)

"[A] highly accomplished debut." (Sunday Times)
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I loved this book. It is beautifully written and the characters are clearly observed. The theme of the supposed end of slavery in America after their Civil War is thought provoking. I found William DeMeritt’s gentle and sensitive narration enabled me to immerse myself fully into the story.

Loved it

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Loved this - it will stay with me and I highly recommend it. Such a tender tale set in a harsh time in history.

Beautifully Written Excellent Narration

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Gentle lovely story beautifully narated. I can imagine a follow-up one day. Thank you

Lovely, heartrending story

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This story really allows the reader to travel back to the time depicted with all its hope, and prejudice. You are completely immersed. It is so well written and beautifully crafted. The narrator brings it to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Beautiful

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I highly recommend this book. It is voiced by a talented performer who draws you into the story. The story itself is wonderful it starts off a little sad but the ending is wonderful.

Fantastic read... No spoilers

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Really good story but it times felt it dragged. Wonderful narrator. Recommend this book.

Fantastic narrator

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Thoroughly recommended this sensitive and educational book about racism, Southern defeat in the American Civil War, and the existence of decency among barbarians. The writing is not sweet or sentimental, but gripping and written with subtlety and feeling. The quality of the writing reminds me of Colson Whitehead’s “The Underground Railway”. Listen.

Reflective and Subtle

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the narrative is preformed very well. bit the story is the very best part. as it should be with such a award winning novel.

awesome debut novel

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I liked that this was a specific time and situation that I haven’t read of often - and there is a lot to think about in the aftermath of the war which is touched upon in this book. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is because I didn’t feel strongly about the characters, except perhaps Clementine who I think was the best written. There was an interesting balance of qualities in all the characters but I think that may be why I didn’t feel so won over. Rethinking my number of stars now but leaving the text!

An interesting time to capture

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A little put off by the alow start and strong accents, this built quite quickly into a really good story and the narration improved it further. Interesting slice of American history.

Glad I stayed with it

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