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Loading... Eternal on the Water (edition 2010)by Joseph Monninger
Work InformationEternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. One of the most touchingly beautiful love stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading ! ( ) A variant on a common tale: two not-so-young people—Cobb, the narrator, and Mary—meet and immediately fall in love. Each recognizes in the other the soulmate neither expected to meet any more. Sound like a fairy tale? In a way, it is. But the shadow of illness hangs over their happiness; their idyll is doomed to last but a short while. The book put a human face on the topical issue of assisted suicide. The story is well-told. I especially enjoyed the skilfully-evoked settings: the Allagash River, Bali, and Yellowstone (yes, these two get around in their brief time together). The writing is simple and straightforward, yet uneven, at times sloppy. One character “made Mary and I stand side by side.” The two lovers go for a swim in the ocean, leaving their clothes in their hut; then they come out of the water and sit down to a meal with her (dressed) brother and some others at beachfront. And just how does one dial a number on a cell phone? I found it odd, too, that the author describes characters such as Mary’s brother Freddy in a detailed way, yet contents himself with repeatedly writing that Mary is beautiful. I only learned the color of her eyes when he described Freddy’s, “blue like Mary’s”. The only other physical detail I recall is that her long hair was the color of cord wood. Nevertheless, Mary’s dialogue and personality make her a memorable character. It was worth reading the book to become acquainted with her. This book made me feel very conflicted. I loved the way the author used his words and wrote such powerful visual images for the reader. I was also saddened by the story (it was very sad) and conflicted about how I felt about the characters. It may not make sense but, I felt the depth of the emotions the characters shared but I didn't feel the depth of the characters themselves. So...I am going to stay neutral on this book and tell you to read it and decide for yourselves, then let me know. There are no fast paced dramatic scenes in this book and every page turned slowly--because I didn't want to leave such beautiful scenes. The conversations between characters, the descriptions of nature's magic, all so lyrical and flowing. I adored every character in this book--not just Cobb and Mary, but their family members and friends as well. I felt like Googling these people, finding them, meeting them somehow...amazing. There are no words to describe the love story between Cobb and Mary and the love story between the two of them and their loved ones. I was reading a borrowed copy of this book and ordered my own copy after reading just a few pages--this one deserves my shelf space without a doubt. The book was heart-felt and touching and the story was certainly memorable, but I just wasnt able to make a full connection with the characters. I believe the reason is because the tragedy hung over the entire story. I guess I might say that, in this case, it was a mistake to set the tone from the beginning, as the story never got out from under the tragic death. no reviews | add a review
Fiction.
Literature.
Romance.
HTML: From the day Cobb and Mary meet kayaking on Maine's Allagash River and fall deeply in love, the two approach life with the same sense of adventure they use to conquer the river's treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easilyâ??and neither does their love. When Mary's life takes the cruelest turn, she vows to face those rough waters on her own terms and asks Cobb to promise, when the time comes, to help her return to their beloved river for one final journey. Set against the rugged wilderness of Maine, the exotic islands of Indonesia, the sweeping panoramas of Yellowstone National Park, and the tranquil villages of rural New England, Eternal on the Water is at once heartbreaking and upliftingâ??a timeless, beautifully rendered story of true love's power No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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