Memory of Water

A Novel

De: Emmi Itäranta

Narrado por: Amy Landon

An amazing, award-winning speculative fiction debut novel by a major new talent, in the vein of Ursula K. Le Guin.

Global warming has changed the world's geography and its politics. Wars are waged over water, and China rules Europe, including the Scandinavian Union, which is occupied by the power state of New Qian. In this far north place, 17-year-old Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father, a position that holds great responsibility and great secrets. Tea masters alone know the location of hidden water sources, including the natural spring that Noria's father tends, which once provided water for her whole village.

But secrets do not stay hidden forever, and after her father's death the army starts watching their town - and Noria. And as water becomes even scarcer, Noria must choose between safety and striking out, between knowledge and kinship.

Imaginative and engaging, lyrical and poignant, Memory of Water is an indelible novel that portrays a future that is all too possible.

©2014 Emma Itäranta (P)2020 Tantor

Thought-provoking

I really enjoyed this story for a number of reasons. The world building was executed very well. Amazing attention to detail! I loved the character development. The premise of the book is outstanding.

All that being said, I felt like the story ended about halfway through the rising action. This read like Rogue One - a tragic yet heroic fight against the evil empire - with less than half the action and less payoff. It reads like a prequel but there's no major story to explain. I hope to God there will be a sequel just to give the reader some actual resolution.

Quite a Visit to Elsewhere

Well told story with delightful imagery, creatively appealing new words, foreign traditions, unknown things and engaging.emotions.

Just as the reader becomes fluid the book becomes

The story has some lovely writing, particularly the first half. The performer struggles the first half of the recording. Maybe I just don't like fragmented speech, melodrama of pregnant pause. The middle of the book takes a sudden departure from the carefully crafted world building. I have to be honest, I couldn't stay engaged and finished the book with a shrug.