Thursday, April 10, 2008

Nicole Seitz's Trouble the Water ~ Reviewed


Trouble the Water
Nicole Seitz
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 11, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595544003


Book Copy:
Set in the South Carolina Sea Islands, Nicole Seitz's second novel follows the stories of two sisters. One is seeking to recreate her life yet again and learns to truly live from a group of Gullah nannies she meets on the island. The other thinks she's got it all together until her sister's imminent death from cancer causes her to re-examine her own life and seek the healing and rebirth her troubled sister managed to find on St. Anne's Island.

"This is another thing I know for a fact: a woman can't be an island, not really. No, it's the touching we do in other people's lives that matters when all is said and done. The silly things we do for ourselves--shiny new cars and jobs and money--they don't mean a hill of beans. Honor taught me that. My soul sisters on this island taught me that. And this is the story of true sisterhood. It's the story of Honor, come and gone, and how one flawed woman worked miracles in this mixed-up world."



Review:
Nicole Seitz is an artist. Literary fiction lovers might want to check into her further.

Through a group of Gullah women, Seitz reveals the fascinating spirit, superstitions and cultural richness as she revisits the Lowcountry once again. Though Trouble the Water is not a sequel to Spirit of Sweetgrass Seitz revisits settings that are obviously as fascinating to her as to her readers.

This is the type of novel I love to curl up with and savor. Seitz brought three first-person point of view characters to life as they relived sorrow and shame, choices and consequences. Honor, Alice, Duchess and The Nannies live and breath through Seitz's words. And what stories they tell.

This is not an easy read. Christian fiction, yes, traditional, no. Seitz writes with realism including sin and consequences, hypocrisy and the damage done through it. There is no salvation prayer at the end and very subtle gospel sharing, so those who expect a strong gospel message within their Christian fiction may be disappointed. In addition, the superstitions and beliefs of the characters may stomp on some toes. However, those who are hungry for honest, transparent stories about tragedy and sorrow, and hope and restoration need to look further into Seitz's novels.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

3 comments:

Nicole Seitz said...

Loved your honest review, Kelly. Thank you for reading!
Nicole

Anonymous said...

I LOVED this book most amazing and uplifting book i've ever read. I must say though, the ending is what truly made me love it, how everything tied together was just SO amazing. Realistic or not, AMAZING. One of those books that push you to be a better person and to fulfill your dreams. one of those "DO or live in regret that you never did" books. or atleast thats what i got from it. Nicole Seitz you are truly blessed and amazing writer :)

Scrambled Dregs said...

Nicole is indeed a great writer. I'm sure she'll appreciate your glowing comments, Anonymous. Thanks for taking the time to leave them.