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Thursday, June 24, 2010

'Watermark' by Vanitha Sankaran



Title: Watermark
Author: Vanitha Sankaran
Publication Date: April 13, 2010
Pages: 336
Genre:  Fascinating Historical Fiction
Source: Vanitha Sankaran
Synopsis from author:
The daughter of a papermaker in a small French village in the year 1320—mute from birth and forced to shun normal society—young Auda finds solace and escape in the wonder of the written word. Believed to be cursed by those who embrace ignorance and superstition, Auda's very survival is a testament to the strength of her spirit. But this is an age of Inquisition and intolerance, when difference and defiance are punishable "sins" and new ideas are considered damnable heresy. When darkness descends upon her world, Auda—newly grown to womanhood—is forced to flee, setting off on a remarkable quest to discover love and a new sense of self . . . and to reclaim her heritage and the small glory of her father's art.

My Thoughts: I found this book to be absorbing and amazingly imaginative. The Middle Ages come to life with the street fairs, the smells of the unwashed bodies, and the sights of the monks, self-flagellating priests, beggars, and the ones who don't want to be noticed. Aude had two strikes against her from birth: being mute (by force) and also having albino traits. Being her during this time would have been unnerving to say the least. She spends much of her life just trying to blend in and to not be noticed. But Aude comes to realize that she is a person of worth and she is willing to sacrifice her life to prove it. She may just be the best written character I've had the honor to encounter this year. I was compelled by her story and found myself anxious with fear as to what may become of her. This book was a fascinating look into an industry, paper making, that I have really never given much thought to. I honestly wasn't sure how the author would make me interested in this time period, but her detailed (not overly though) descriptions of France, the town, and the people who inhabit it, awoke my imagination and once I was past chapter one, there was no looking back.

Highly Recommended






Thank you to Vanitha Sankaran for sending me a review copy.
I was not compensated for my review.
My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author.
They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.

26 comments:

  1. You always have so many interesting books to consider.... I'm still working through the list you sent a while ago.

    Wanted to tell you I LOVE your new banner with kitty in the jungle. They do love hiding under things, don't they?

    Miss Kitty isn't too keen on going out these days. She had a brief but scary encounter with a bully neighbour cat the other day right in her own garden, so now she's nervous to go out, even when we're out with her.

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  2. It's funny how many books about the Middle Ages talk about "the smells of the unwashed bodies" - LOL!!!

    Beatiful cover too - it sounds good!

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  3. I really liked this book, too, and I hope to review it soon before I forget all the details. ;)

    One of the things I took away from the book was how everything seemed to smell, and not in a good way. The author really brought the lack of hygiene to the forefront to show the differences between then and now.

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  4. Thanks for this review, Staci...I love books set in Medieval times...and this one looks really good!

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  5. ohhh this book sounds great! i'm a character person and if you rank her that high on your list, then i have to give this book a try. thanks for bringing this book to my attention!

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  6. I really adored this book and it is one of the best ones I've read. I had no idea what to expect with this novel, but it totally blew me away. Aude's sister drove me nuts and I wondered for a long time whether I should feel for her character or despise her.

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  7. I have had this on my mental TBR for ages and you have really galvanised me - I am particuarly interested in the middle ages so not sure what i am hanging about for as yours is not the first highly recommended I have read!

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  8. highly recommended--that means I must read this. nice review

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  9. I recently won a copy of this book and I'm really anxious to read it.

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  10. This does sound wonderful! I'm sure the MC's physical traits caused a lot of turbulence in the story.

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  11. This is still one of my early forays into historical fiction and it's probably my favorite to date. I really enjoyed this one though I felt the ending wasa little rushed. Great review.

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  12. Having just visited some very old French villages I bet I would love the second visit!

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  13. Feel the smell, yup a stinky time.

    Great review, I do want to have a look at this one now if the character is that good

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  14. Great review. Sounds like an interesting read, will be adding it to my list. At the rate I'm adding books, I should get to it sometime in 2015! :)

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  15. This is one of the books that I will be picking up next, so I am glad that you found it enjoyable. I know that we have had similar taste in the past.

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  16. I saw this on Good Reads and I was wondering about it!

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  17. I've read nothing but positive reviews for this book.

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  18. This book sounds very darn fascinating. Thanks for posting about it.

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  19. This sounds really good!! I'm 'forcing' my way through the one you sent me, "forget me not"...i'm really having a hard time with it....and i think its because i can't picture any of the characters in my head....i'm used to authors telling me what the characters look like and it helps me get through the book..i'm reading it...but its not easy! LOL! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

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  20. This sounds like a great book! I haven't read too many in this time period. Great review Staci!!

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  21. Every day you have a new blog look!!! Love the pet photos.

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  22. this sounds like it is right up alley. I like it when a story gives me a feel for the past, and I learn something too. Wonderful review Staci!

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  23. Excellent review Staci, I'm on a bit of a historical fiction roll at the moment and your review makes this one sound very appealing!

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  24. I loved this one, too! Auda is a great character, I just fell in love with her. I've got a copy of Captivity to give away over on my blog if you'd like to stop by!

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  25. Ah, this one is sitting on my review shelf just begging for me to finally get to it. Now I must, must work it into the schedule soon!

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  26. Glad to see you liked this one. I've got it in my pile and with everything going on, had forgotten about it. I'm going to pull it out tonight.

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