I enjoyed the author's writing style, but the subject matter--grieving the loss of a loved one--is the overriding theme and essence of this book. I kept waiting for something else to transpire from the depths of grief, and there is a culminating scene. The final event isn't enough, however, to compensate for the darkness that the reader has to go through to reach that point.
This novel for me was deeply moving. The story of 13 year old Nico who's older sister has died and she is learning to move on with her female adolescence feelings and really no one to help her cope. She engages in a seductive dangerous relationship with her sisters boyfriend where much sexual tension has over come her. It is a novel of death, life, heartache, and growing up. I found it to be haunting in that after i was finished it was still with me for days. I enjoy this read and would read it again.
The elements of this book (drowning, dealing with grief, coming of age, illicit love) SHOULD have made for an interesting novel. But I found this book Boring with a capital B. Even though it's less than 300 pages, it took me months to get through and when I got to the end, I wished I hadn't bothered. The writing is good but the story-telling is lacking. I hardly ever say this, but if you have this on your reading list, skip it.
