61. Water | John Boyne
A woman retreats to a remote Irish island following the collapse of her life, in the first of a series named for the four elements.
Friends,
I can’t mention too much about the plot or it will give the book away, but I will say that when I read the opening two paragraphs I knew she was going to be a page turner.
“The first thing I do when I arrive on the island is change my name.”
Vanessa Carlin - who changes her name to Willow Hale - retreats to an isolated island cottage following the traumatic collapse of her life. With each chapter we learn about the traumatic family events that preceded this move, the eccentric islander community that Vanessa now finds herself among and her journey of recovery.
I can’t wait for the second in this series (Earth - out in the UK May 2024) followed by Air and Fire.
Recent reads & other media
“I love that I’m financially and physically independent, and that I can enjoy what I’ve built — but I don’t feel hungry anymore in a wildly ambitious way. I love that I have learned how to say no to people, and to understand that they will survive their disappointment, just as I can survive my disappointment when people say no to me. I love this age more than any I have yet experienced. We’re in a good vibe right now.”
The 35th anniversary of the Charleston Festival is in May 2024. Grayson Perry, Es Devlin and Nitin Sawhney have been announced as speakers *excited squeal*
Upcoming retreats in France and India, plus a recipe for Keralan Fish Molee