Gathering the Water

Book Review

Robert Edric

Gathering the Water is the story of Charles Weightman, who has been given the unenviable task of supervising the flooding of the Forge Valley . The board has built a dam, which requires that the bulk of the valley be flooded in the name of progress. The consequence of this is that most of the valley's inhabitants will lose their homes. Needless to say, they resent Charles, and do not seek to make him welcome. Charles is aptly named, for he bears not only the weight of the town's hardship, but also the heavy heart of a man whose beloved fiancée has passed away. His only pleasure lies in the company of Mary Latimer, a widow who has returned to her hometown to take care of her mentally challenged sister. Charles struggles to complete his task as he increasingly identifies with the townspeople.

Robert Edric is a good writer and a competent storyteller, however it is difficult to sustain enthusiasm for this novel. Perhaps it is a matter of taste, but the TurboBookSnob thought this novel was a bit of a snooze.