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Juliet in August

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 918 ratings · 238 reviews

With writing reminiscent of Alice Munro, Carol Shields, Larry McMurtry, and Elizabeth Strout, Juliet in August uncovers the incredible drama beneath the inhabitants of a sleepy prairie town.Juliet, Saskatchewan, is a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of town—a dusty oasis on the edge of the Little Snake sand hills. It’s easy to believe that nothing of consequence takes place ther...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published July 5th 2012 by Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (first published 2010)

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Aug 25, 2012 Cynthia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

Sand Dunes and Families

Juliet is a small town in Saskatchewan Canada. It’s a place like most others where people want the best for themselves and their loved ones, a place where the tough economy is a major concern but also where loving relationships are even more important. Most people are farmers or come from a farming background. Animals are important to them not only for companionship but also as work helpers. They’re tied to the land and its weather conditions. All the action takes place in...more

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Nov 13, 2012 K rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Come start an August day with the inhabitants of the small Canadian prairie community of Juliet and follow them as they go about an ordinary day of work, love and hope in the sand dunes and grasslands of Saskatchewan.

Lee owns a ranch that he inherited from Lester and Astrid, his adoptive parents. With his dog Cracker he tries to run the Torgeson farm the same way it had been for many years but it is a lonely and sad life for the young man. That is until a lost Arabian horse wanders onto his far...more Come start an August day with the inhabitants of the small Canadian prairie community of Juliet and follow them as they go about an ordinary day of work, love and hope in the sand dunes and grasslands of Saskatchewan.

Lee owns a ranch that he inherited from Lester and Astrid, his adoptive parents. With his dog Cracker he tries to run the Torgeson farm the same way it had been for many years but it is a lonely and sad life for the young man. That is until a lost Arabian horse wanders onto his farm in the early morning hours and leads him to dream of the past and future.

Willard owns the Desert Drive-In that is slowly crumbling away but still attracts viewers besides the pesky kids who keep trying to burn it down. He leads a solitary life even though his sister-n-law Marian, the widow of his brother Ed, lives with him. Willard spends his time worrying that Marian is ready to move on to new life that won’t include him.

Blaine and Vickie Dolson with their 6 children live on the old family farm that was once large. But due to Blaine’s financial difficulties the family has only a home and barn with one old horse left in their name. Their oldest child Shiloh is going through teen angst as he begins to try to find himself. Vickie wanders through life no matter how hard Blaine tries to keep her mind on the needs of the home, including preparing the buckets of beans that must be canned.

Norval and Lila Birch are considered pretty well off since he is the banker in the town. Their only child, Rachelle, is pregnant and Lila is focused on giving Rachelle a great big wedding to boyfriend, Kyle even though both don’t act mature enough to start a family. Norval is haunted by the past due accounts of various residents of Juliet, including the Dolson account, knowing that more bankruptcies and foreclosures are in the future.

Hank Trass, a neighbor to Lee, meets a widowed woman at a campsite outside of town as she looks for her lost horse. That short meeting starts a chain of suspicion when his wife Lynn, owner and operator of the Oasis Restaurant, later finds the women’s name and phone number written on a piece of paper that fell out of Hanks pocket.

All these lives start off as separate stories but they slowly merge together to form a moving picture of the lonely small town of Juliet one day in August. Author Dianne Warren’s first novel (she has three previous collections of short stories) has garnered much praise including the 2010 Governor General’s Award for fiction, one of Canada’s most prestigious literary prizes (under the Canadian title Cool Waters). And it is hoped that more of her work will come in the near future.

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Oct 25, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: local-interest

So, I have a confession.

My confession is that I don't really like literature-y literature. Yes, I like Tolstoy, Austen, Bronte (Emily, not Charlotte), and bunch of other dead people whose work persists today. But often times, I find that I don't enjoy the modern books that are noted as literary by winning prizes or critical acclaim, (see: most of the books I read for book club). Thus, I'm always happy when a prize-winning, critically acclaimed book comes along that captures my attention. It help...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Richda Mcnutt rated it 4 of 5 stars

An ordinary town with ordinary people who have ordinary lives - yet this is not an ordinary book. The novel covers only a full day and night, yet conveys lifetimes. The characters could be your family, your neighbors, your workmates. The geography of Juliet, Saskatchewan, is another character in the novel - the sand constantly shifting, covering life from years past, revealing relics from lives lived. We progress through the day with Lee, a young man who inherits a piece of land from his adoptiv...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 5 of 5 stars

After racing through several action packed, the-world-is-in-danger, paranormal adventure quests it was a pure pleasure read this character rich novel just right for thoughtful savoring. Author Dianne Warren proves the truth of Jane Austen’s writing advice to her niece that three or four families in a country village is the very thing to work on. Juliet in August takes place during one extended summer day in a small Saskatchewan town surrounded by sandy desert hills. Though nothing earthshaking h...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Lydia Presley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, favorites, fiction, western

Juliet in August is one of the most understated, beautifully written books I've read in 2012. Dianne Warren has created a book that, with the subtlety and grace of a racing horse, has completely taken over my imagination and whisked me away to a little town in Canada named Juliet.

Juliet in August begins with a horse race - a story which is the foundation of the short tales that follow it. In a way, this book is a mixture of a bunch of short stories, strung together in such a pitch-perfect way th...more

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May 02, 2012 Sheila rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Interesting book. Not a lot happening although I did enjoy it. Gives a glimpse of some of the inhabitants of a small town in Saskatchewan. Story occurs over a period of 1 or 2 days. We see a highlight of Vicki and Blaine, with their 6 children, a couple who inherited a farm but poor management has forced them to lose all of it except for one quarter. Blaine is working with a road construction crew while his wife struggles to manage at home with their 6 children. Lila is married to Norval, the ba...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Emilie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian, reviewed, short-fiction

http://edwardsmagazinebookclub.com/20...

Published by HarperCollins 2010

It’s amazing how, when I mention Canadian literature, people’s eyes glaze over and their mouths are filled with angst and prairie dust and memories of having to read Who Has Seen the Wind in high school English classes. However, this book is a wonderful example of everything that Who Has Seen the Wind was not. The prairies surrounding the fictional town of Juliet are dry and hot and dusty, and not much seems to happen, but it...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Alexander Inglis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction, canadian-author

A day in the life of Juliet, Saskatchewan. The lives of several families examined. Struggles, minor succeses, a death, an epiphany. Secrets kept, secrets unleashed. Love requited. Hopes renewed. A 100 year old horse race, 100 miles in length, rerun 100 years later. And thereby hangs a tail or two. And a tale or three.

I wondered if I read the same book the jurors of the GG prize read. They wrote: "The place is a small Saskatchewan town, the time spans barely more than a day. In this exquisitely c...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Aban (Aby) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I reserve a five star rating for books that will (I feel) be loved by readers across the world and will be equally appreciated by generations to come. I am not sure that "Cool Water" has quite this quality, though I might be wrong. Anyway, I loved the book though not on the first reading. I had to read it a second time in order to truly appreciate its quiet, understated beauty. I loved the structure of the book, its characters, language and its gentle humor.

"Cool Water" is really about an area -...more I reserve a five star rating for books that will (I feel) be loved by readers across the world and will be equally appreciated by generations to come. I am not sure that "Cool Water" has quite this quality, though I might be wrong. Anyway, I loved the book though not on the first reading. I had to read it a second time in order to truly appreciate its quiet, understated beauty. I loved the structure of the book, its characters, language and its gentle humor.

"Cool Water" is really about an area - the Sand Hills in rural Saskatchewan - and consists of chapters devoted to several different families who live in that region. The stories are interwoven brilliantly and, sometimes, so subtly that it would be easy to miss the connections. I loved the way Lee Torgeson's ride duplicated the ride of Ivan Dodge and Henry Merchant a generation earlier and Lee's finding of the watch lost by Henry during his race. I appreciated the bringing together of various characters in the shops and the restaurant in the town of Juliet.

Although there was no one main character, the author portrayed a vivid picture of the families, their backgrounds, their trials and tribulations. The characters came to life for me and I was able to relate with each and everyone of them . . . a remarkable achievement, considering there were so many of them.

The book is superbly written. Diane Warren's language is always simple, understated, and exquisite as she guides the reader through the sights, sounds, and (sometimes) smells of the Saskatchewan countryside. I lived in Saskatchewan for thirty years and loved its vast spaces and its gentle beauty. The author does full justice to this beauty through her writing.

I also loved the humor in the book. As with every other aspect of the book, it is quiet and gentle. There is humor in the story of the camel, Antoinette, in the diffidence of Willard to Marion's approaches, and in so many small touches throughout the book.

I would recommend this book without hesitation: it's delightful!
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Jan 25, 2011 Louise rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature-fiction

Okay, try as I might, I just couldn’t get into this book at all. I found it quite boring and lacking flow, the characters were boring and not very well developed, the story moved way too slowly and I just couldn’t force myself to finish it. So...in lieu of a review, I’ve left you with the synopsis from inside the front cover of the book. Perhaps someone else might find this novel fantastic, you just can’t please all of the people, all of the time.

“JULIET, Saskatchewan. You might imagine that not...more

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Jun 16, 2010 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cool Water leads us through the lives of the residents of Juliet. There's Lee and his farm; Willard and Marian, who run the drive-in; Norval, the banker and his wife Lila; Vicki and Blaine and their 6 children; Lynn, who works in a restaurant and her husband Hank; and of course the camel. Like a lot of small towns, everyone is connected to everyone else in this anything-but-sleepy town in drought-prone Saskatchewan.

I loved this book. It worries me a little when I hear such good things about a b...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian

Except for the prologue, which is historical, this book takes place within a period of just over 24 hours. Set in the small town of Juliet, near Swift Current, this book follows several people from town through their day. From the escape of a horse from its trailer in the wee hours one morning to camping in the sand dunes in the wee hours of the morning of the next day, this book follows the events in people's lives. Some are mundane, some life-changing, but all have their own resonance here.
We...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Shirley Schwartz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-5-star-reads, prize-winners

This book is mesmerizing. At first glance it seems so simple, but as you get further in, you realize how complex these characters are. And yes, this book is about the characters. The time frame for the book is about 24 hours, and it takes place in a sleepy little town called Juliet which is smack dab in the middle of the Little Snake sandhills. This area is close to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and it is where I was born and grew up. I loved the walk down memory lane with the area in southern Sa...more This book is mesmerizing. At first glance it seems so simple, but as you get further in, you realize how complex these characters are. And yes, this book is about the characters. The time frame for the book is about 24 hours, and it takes place in a sleepy little town called Juliet which is smack dab in the middle of the Little Snake sandhills. This area is close to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and it is where I was born and grew up. I loved the walk down memory lane with the area in southern Saskatchewan that I know so well. But I truly loved the study in human nature that I found between the covers. In a deceptively simple language and beautifully descriptive prose, Ms. Warren explores human nature in a truly unique way, by a number of seemingly unattached characters, we get to see what human nature is really like. There are about 10 or 12 characters in this book that are going about their daily business. We have a recently bereaved young man who has lost the two main people in his life. We have him coming to terms with his life which began as a foundling in a laundry basket on a porch. He discovers himself as he rides a horse for 100 miles in this one day, in the sandhills. We have a young mother who is just trying to keep her large family together while all that they hold dear is at risk of disappearing because of unpaid debts. Vicki is a scatter-brained, but sweet woman who is trying to remain positive for her family in the midst of the chaos. Then we have a frustrated bank manager who has such a strange day while trying to arrange things in his life and his daughter's who is pregnant at 18 and planning to marry the feckless teenager who got her in the position she is in. Unfortuantely, his day does not end well at all, but it does cause his shallow wife to reexamine her life and goals. I could go on, but I'd have to go on for as long as this book. I just recommend that you read it, It is truly a marvel and a worthy winner of the Governor General's fiction award. And it certainly reaffirms my faith in Canadian fiction.(less)

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Sep 27, 2010 Lorraine rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Lorraine by: Giller Prize Long List

Shelves: canadian, z2010

I read this book because it was on the Giller Prize long list and I wanted to get a start on the shortlist before the winner is announced. (I say this every year but only get two or three read.) This book was the only one currently available in the library.

It takes place in Juliet, Sask., and the town has the status of character in the novel, it is mentioned so often. But to say what the story is about? I couldn't. It's about horses. But it's not, they just work as a prominent motif, along with...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Linda Bouley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: character-study, family-relationships, small-town-life

This book was not so much a story as it was a sort of observation tower looking over Juliet, Saskatchewan, a small town nestled against some sand dunes in a rural area filled with struggling farmers and ranchers. Although there were stories told as we plow through the minds of various individuals over the course of a day and a night, the focus is on the people themselves. The key characters are Lee, Norval, Lynn & Hank, Vicki & Blaine and Willard & Marion. The most rigorous aspect of...more This book was not so much a story as it was a sort of observation tower looking over Juliet, Saskatchewan, a small town nestled against some sand dunes in a rural area filled with struggling farmers and ranchers. Although there were stories told as we plow through the minds of various individuals over the course of a day and a night, the focus is on the people themselves. The key characters are Lee, Norval, Lynn & Hank, Vicki & Blaine and Willard & Marion. The most rigorous aspect of the novel is the deep examination of what drives these folks and how the lives they live - and naturally the lives we all live - can produce shifts from the most unexpected events and moments. Lee is a young man living alone on the ranch he loves and has inherited from his adoptive parents - he misses them and is seeking an anchor to help him move forward on his own. A gray Arabian horse arrives on his property and he gets on it and rides what turns out to be the re-visiting of a horse race that took place in the town many years before. Willard and Marion, widow of Willard's brother Ed, are living in the house they all shared before Ed passed away. They have been living as brother and sister for quite a few years now and running the local drive-in theater and are dancing around their growing feelings for each other. Lynn and Hank are married, but he cheated in the beginning and she finds a phone number in his pocket and suspects an infidelity, so she begins calling the number & hanging up. Vicki & Blaine, the parents of six, are rapidly losing the farm his family left him. Vicki is cheerful, supportive and long-suffering as Blaine bad-mouths her in front of the kids and deals with his growing anger at having to work construction to make ends meet. Norval is the banker who holds their loans and is dealing with his increasing guilt. His daughter has just graduated high school and is pregnant. His wife, Lila, is planing a big fancy wedding and driving him nuts. What they all have in common is struggle and over the course of the book we hear their inner conversations and the resulting behavior that it generates. We listen in as they come in contact with each other for various reasons and as they search their hearts and propel themselves forward to the next thought. The writing is fluid and the prose draws you into these lives allowing you to learn along with them and experience the transformations and revelations. I would recommend for its authenticity and its passion for the human spirit.(less)

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Jul 29, 2010 Janet Berkman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian

Cool Water is a novel, but with a lyrical structure of intertwined short stories. Set in a small Saskatchewan town, it follows the lives of individuals and families over the period of a few days. As in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, these stories intersect. The reader is able to look down on the town and watch as the stories overlap and interconnect. We read of a mother struggling to cope with her children as the family farm is in the process of being repossessed; the ban...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Jill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

If you’re wondering whether Juliet in August is a book for you, ask yourself one question: are you a fan of character-based novels in which not a whole lot happens externally?

In my case, the answer is a resounding “yes.” I happen to love books that integrate a strong sense of place with authentic, sometimes quirky, sometimes poignant characters that could walk off the pages and take residence in your own area. So it’s no surprise that I reacted so positively to this debut book.

Juliet is not a ch...more If you’re wondering whether Juliet in August is a book for you, ask yourself one question: are you a fan of character-based novels in which not a whole lot happens externally?

In my case, the answer is a resounding “yes.” I happen to love books that integrate a strong sense of place with authentic, sometimes quirky, sometimes poignant characters that could walk off the pages and take residence in your own area. So it’s no surprise that I reacted so positively to this debut book.

Juliet is not a character (but it may as well be); it’s a small town in Saskatchewan filled with its own mythology and pathos. It’s peopled by individuals and families that intersect: an accidental rancher who inherited land from his much-older adoptive relatives; a couple with six children who are overwhelmed and facing bankruptcy; the henpecked banker who watches helplessly as their pregnant daughter is corralled into an unpromising marriage; and two middle-aged people (brother- and sister-in-law) who strive to communicate their growing love and dependence on each other.

Dianne Warren expertly and confidently unearths their interior lives. Each character is alone but connected, longing for something more stable in their fragile interior and exterior landscape. About one character walking near the dunes, she writes“…she saw patterns as intricate and complicated as the veins in an insect’s wings.” The same could be said about what lies inside.

In a quiet and assured tone, Ms. Warren describes a coterie of characters who only want to believe in their own abilities to change and in a future that is constantly under threat by lack of rain, shifting sands, and economic upheavals.

For some readers – those who like action-based plots – this gentle portrayal of rural townspeople may not be enough. Yet these portraits are so pitch-perfect that I found myself missing them during the times I was not actively reading and aching for their trials. If you liked Olive Kitteridge, Plainsong, Emily Alone or perhaps some of the works of Elizabeth Hay, chances are, you will enjoy this book as much as I did. Thank you, FirstReads, for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
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Oct 18, 2011 Dianne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

This was one of those books that left me wondering whether or not I liked it. I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it, I was simply disappointed with it. It kept me entertained well enough for a couple of days but I don't expect to remember the plot or even the characters very long.

There are five stories taking place simultaneously. The first one is about Lee, the adopted son of a farmer and his wife who died and left the property to him. Lee is trying to run the farm on his own but most of the s...more This was one of those books that left me wondering whether or not I liked it. I didn't love it, and I didn't hate it, I was simply disappointed with it. It kept me entertained well enough for a couple of days but I don't expect to remember the plot or even the characters very long.

There are five stories taking place simultaneously. The first one is about Lee, the adopted son of a farmer and his wife who died and left the property to him. Lee is trying to run the farm on his own but most of the story we are told about him is played out as he rides a stray horse many miles away from the farm and back again.

Then there are the Shoenfield brothers, Ed and Willard. Willard had lived with Ed and Ed's wife Marion, and since his brother's death Willard has lived with the fear that Marion would move away leaving him alone.

Blaine and Vicky Dolson have six children and serious financial problems. Vicky tries to keep up with all that raising six kids entails; Blaine becomes more and more frustrated as the financial pressures mount and their relationship begins to feel the strain.

Next is Norval and Lila Birch. He is the bank manager, she is a control freak and their eighteen year old daughter, Rachelle, is pregnant and planning her wedding.

The fifth story is about a truck driver, Hank Trass and his wife, Lynn, who runs the Oasis Restaurant. Lynn suspects Hank is not faithful to her and she's taking her anger out on the restaurant staff.

These people all live in and around the small town of Juliet in the Canadian prairies. They all know each other and sometimes their paths cross in the course of the story but I thought this felt more like a series of short stories with overlapping characters than a cohesive novel. There isn't a very clear plot line running from start to finish. I think if I put more thought into Cool Water I would see more of what the authour intended, but I just can't summon up enough interest and I have other books calling my name.

I think the problem for me is that there are too many stories to deal with effectively in the 328 pages given to them. The characters themselves are well constructed and authentic but the book ended just as I was getting involved. I'd have liked it more if there had been fewer stories told in more depth.

Having said all that I still recommend the book, because it's well written with good characters. You might love it as much as others have. I wish I had, and I hope you do. (less)

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Mar 13, 2013 MissSusie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, 2013, armchairaudies2013

Juliet in August, by Dianne Warren narrated by, Cassandra Campbell

I must admit I found this book boring, if it hadn’t been for Cassandra Campbell’s narration I would not have finished this book. This is a slice of life book in the most literal definition it is a day in the life of an assorted group of people in the small town of Juliet, Saskatchewan and no one has a very exciting life. I never really became attached to anyone in this town/story, and didn’t ever come to care about any of them. It...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I loved Cool Water by Dianne Warren. The book is set over a two day period in the fictional town of Juliet. Warren brings the lives of several people and families to life and adeptly weaves their stories together.

Although Juliet is fictional, I am familiar with the area the book is set in. As I was reading, I could feel the unrelenting August heat as people moved slowly through their days. It is windy there, a hot, uncompromising wind which brings no relief. I remember the joy of small town swim...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Ian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This first novel by playwright and short story writer Warren was long-listed for the 2010 Giller Prize and won the 2010 Governor General's Award for fiction. It is fully deserving of such recognition. Set in the small prairie town of Juliet, Saskatchewan, it chronicles the events of a period hardly more than 24 hours in the lives of a dozen or so characters. Maybe nothing much happens in Juliet. And yet choices are made, words are spoken, ideas are hatched, scores are settled, and these actions...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Tami rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved this story and did not want it to end. It's slow paced but after you get to know these characters,that ends up being a good thing - a very good thing. The ending was quite satisfying. No loose pieces. I consider this book the perfect weekend read. (I'm so glad I didn't have laundry to do the past couple days.)

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Dec 05, 2010 Shonna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I chose this book because it won the Governor General's award. But when I picked it up the title reminded me of being a little girl and my dad playing the vinyl record of a song called Cool Water. I can remember us all sitting around and singing this song so loud. It brought back a lot of good memories. After the first chapter I almost gave up on this book. The first chapter was all about horses and cowboys and was so boring. But I re-read what it was about and decided to stick with it; and I'm...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Judey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished this. A dreamy compelling book. The characters and stories swirled through the book like a slow summer dance. Reminded me of Alice Munro gone West for vacation. Warren allows the reader to fill in the blanks and write the future for this town past the last page

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Jul 25, 2012 McGuffy Morris rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a very deeply felt novel about a place and its people. Set is a small Canadian town, the people of Juliet have issues. Private situations and their geographical location combine to isolate them.

Each character deals with their own set of circumstance, closed off from others, even as they exist within a close community. All in the same proverbial spot, they remain alone and imprisoned.

The residents of Juliet are ordinary people. There is a banker, a rancher, middle-aged people struggling w...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Jeanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian

Take a drink of Cool Water with Dianne Warren’s wonderful book set in the sand dunes of Southern Saskatchewan. Her novel, in the form of interconnected stories, paints a complex picture of a place in time and the people who live there.

This is a very satisfying book. Warren describes her complex, appealing characters in a very warm-hearted, straightforward manner. Through them, she reminds us that we are all connected. We live our lives and each of us has our own story but we are inextricably li...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I started out reading this as a Winesburg, Ohio-Grapes of Wrath blend. The short, two-dimensional sketches of rural residents of a fictional town had me thinking of Sherwood Anderson's attempt to create unvarnished portraits that evoked a shock of recognition on every page. At the same time Warren seemed intent on imbuing the residents of Juliet with a dusty desperation and poverty, both material and spiritual, not unlike the dusty Depression on which Steinbeck's Joads choked.

As I continued, how...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Bookworm Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: award-winners, did-not-meet-expectations, canadian-writers-rock

I read this book because it won an award, the Governor General's Award in 2010. My challenge this month is to read award winning books, so this one fit the bill. I thought I'd take a stab at something out of my typical genres. It was ok, but, I'm just a bit surprised this book won such a prestigious award. It is a good book, but, I didn't find it outstanding - or in my opinion award-worthy. The actual writing was ok; clear, concise, and beautifully descriptive. But, for me, the story lacked any...more I read this book because it won an award, the Governor General's Award in 2010. My challenge this month is to read award winning books, so this one fit the bill. I thought I'd take a stab at something out of my typical genres. It was ok, but, I'm just a bit surprised this book won such a prestigious award. It is a good book, but, I didn't find it outstanding - or in my opinion award-worthy. The actual writing was ok; clear, concise, and beautifully descriptive. But, for me, the story lacked any real movement. I felt like I read an entire book and the characters only took one step forward. Maybe I'm just used to a faster paced tale where in a few hundred pages the characters move thousands, even millions of steps. Maybe the story was deeper than I realized? There seemed to be a lot of references to sand and water, how they constantly shift and change the landscape. Therefore, I'll chalk this up as a good book, but, I'm too ignorant to really appreciate it.
What I did connect with was the setting and landscape in the book. Set in Saskatchewan I can picture the exact locations Warren describes. Having lived there when I was young I recall the trips out to the middle of nowhere, the 'desert', where some of the story takes place. I can picture the tumbleweeds sticking to the barbed wire fences, the sand dunes, and the coulees that seem to be the only place on the plain that grow trees. As for the small town, the cafe, and the main street I picture the TV show Corner Gas.
As for the actual story, I had a hard time connecting with it. A few dysfunctional relationships/people that seem to go nowhere. They just seem to sit there and ponder their situations until something dramatic happens like a sudden death or a runaway child. Even with those extreme situations I didn't find myself getting excited or more interested in the story or characters...I kind of just wanted it to end. Again, I need a bit of action.
Overall, this foray out of my 'comfort' zone did not pay off. Oh well, maybe next time.
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Feb 16, 2012 Frances rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cool Water, set in a small rural community in Saskatchewan, follows various characters as they live through one hot August day. All are facing challenges in their lives-some are stretched financially, some struggle with relationships, some with the changes brought by growing up, becoming independent or growing old. Their stories are separate but intertwined as so often happens in any small, somewhat isolated community, and the heat and dust and sand swirls around it all. While the characters wer...more

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ELEVEN READERS CL...: Western Canada	1	12	Jan 17, 2012 11:09pm

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About Dianne Warren

Dianne Warren grew up in Saskatchewan and attended the University of Regina where, although she did some coursework with writers such as Joan Givner and Ken Mitchell, she graduated in 1976 with a BFA in Visual Arts. She then spent three years in rural northeastern Saskatchewan and in 1979 returned to Regina, where she lives with her husband, visual artist Bruce Anderson, and their two sons.

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13406074-juliet-in-august?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348775478l/13406074.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13406074-juliet-in-august?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Juliet in August by Dianne Warren[/url]

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