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The Woman Behind The Waterfall
Heartbreak and transformation in the beauty of a Ukrainian village
For seven-year old Angela, happiness is exploring the lush countryside around her home in western Ukraine. Her wild imagination takes her into birds and flowers, and into the waters of the river.
All that changes when, one morning, she sees her mother crying. As she tries to find out why, she is drawn on an extraordinary journey into the secrets of her family, and her mother's fateful choices.
Can Angela lead her mother back to happiness before her innocence is destroyed by the shadows of a dark past?
Beautiful, poetic and richly sensory, this is a tale that will haunt and lift its readers.
"A strange and beautiful novel" - Esther Freud, author of Mr Mac and Me, Hideous Kinky, Peeless Flats
"Readers looking for a classic tale of love and loss will be rewarded with an intoxicating world" - Kirkus Reviews
For seven-year old Angela, happiness is exploring the lush countryside around her home in western Ukraine. Her wild imagination takes her into birds and flowers, and into the waters of the river.
All that changes when, one morning, she sees her mother crying. As she tries to find out why, she is drawn on an extraordinary journey into the secrets of her family, and her mother's fateful choices.
Can Angela lead her mother back to happiness before her innocence is destroyed by the shadows of a dark past?
Beautiful, poetic and richly sensory, this is a tale that will haunt and lift its readers.
"A strange and beautiful novel" - Esther Freud, author of Mr Mac and Me, Hideous Kinky, Peeless Flats
"Readers looking for a classic tale of love and loss will be rewarded with an intoxicating world" - Kirkus Reviews
264 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2016
About the author
Leonora Meriel
3 books88 followersLeonora Meriel grew up in London, UK, but draws much of her inspiration from her years living in Ukraine, where she was co-founder of Ukraine’s largest bookshop and publishing platform and a part of the campaign to make Ukraine the most read country in Europe.
Her debut novel, The Woman Behind the Waterfall, is set in western Ukraine and is a celebration of Ukrainian culture, language and custom. Her novel, And Breathe, centers on a Ukrainian oligarch and her latest novel, Mbaquana Nights, explores Ukrainian immigration at the end of the nineteenth century.
Her work has been hailed as “strange and beautiful” by writer Esther Freud, “ambitious and thought-provoking” by Kirkus Reviews, and “a classic work of art” by Richmond Magazine.
Read more about Leonora and her work at www.leonorameriel.com
Her debut novel, The Woman Behind the Waterfall, is set in western Ukraine and is a celebration of Ukrainian culture, language and custom. Her novel, And Breathe, centers on a Ukrainian oligarch and her latest novel, Mbaquana Nights, explores Ukrainian immigration at the end of the nineteenth century.
Her work has been hailed as “strange and beautiful” by writer Esther Freud, “ambitious and thought-provoking” by Kirkus Reviews, and “a classic work of art” by Richmond Magazine.
Read more about Leonora and her work at www.leonorameriel.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
December 9, 2018
The opening chapters of Leonora Meriel’s dreamy novel, set in rural Bukovina—a region in southwest Ukraine that borders Romania and includes the Carpathian Mountains—introduce us to a young girl and her mother. Seven-year old Angela is responsive to the natural world. She is sensitive to the beauty of the lilac tree and the smell of the black earth. Her imagination lets her be a singing bird, and at night she travels above her small brick house with her protective Nightspirit (a guardian angel figure). Angela’s mother, Lyuda represents safety for the girl; she is “every comfort to every sorrow”. But all is not well with Lyuda, who is haunted by the events of a winter night. She often asks herself why she didn’t die, and she has an evening ritual of drinking home-brewed vodka to calm “the tears which are always there, a silent waterfall behind each and every breath.”
By the fourth chapter, the reader learns that this fictional world is infused with a sort of cosmic energy. The stars possess consciousness. They “are the light at the beginning of all understanding” and bear a kind of divine witness to all the possibilities in a single moment. The protagonist, Angela, is the archetypal Wordsworthian child figure, “trailing clouds of glory.” Since her mind is still open to the mystery of the universe—the “dream”—the stars can continue pouring themselves into her. They allow her to transfer light and knowledge where it is needed. Inevitably, though, the doorways to the infinite will close, and she will find herself in a single narrow tunnel—as humans inevitably do. (Whether I’ve explained this correctly, I’m not sure. The writing in this book is pretty fuzzy.)
It turns out that Lyuda, Angela’s mother, is the one most in need of light. She is sad to the point of being suicidal. Volodiya—her much older lover and Angela’s father—abandoned her years before. From the beginning, Lyuda’s mother, Zoryana, had been opposed to her 17-year-old daughter’s relationship with this much older man, a stranger who had arrived in the village to work as a builder. Zoryana is now dead, but she is able to appear to her spiritually gifted granddaughter. Together with Angela’s Nightspirit, Zoryana has determined that Angela needs to become an instrument in her mother’s healing. The remainder of the novel is dedicated to showing how that happens.
The novel’s second part briefly provides the backstory to Lydia’s despair: her unplanned pregnancy, her parents’ sudden deaths, and Volodiya’s abandonment of her. The screaming infant and Lyuda’s post-natal depression were threatening to turn him into a wife-beating brute like his father; he felt it was better to leave than do physical harm.
However, the backstory is not the major focus of this part of the book. The author’s real interest is in the magical actions Angela must perform (with her grandmother’s and the Nightspirit’s guidance) to free her mother from despair. Because of Angela’s spiritual gifts, Lyuda gets the chance to experience an alternative reality, in which one set of blessings and regrets is exchanged for another. In this “other life”, Lyuda does not have a child and is not abandoned by Volodiya. Instead, the two are living their original dream of worldly success and plenty. However, there is a great price for happiness in this other version of life, and even then, the feeling that life has been ruined persists.
In the novel’s third and most problematic section, Angela’s grandmother tells her that there is now some hope for her mother. Lyuda is beginning to recognize that there are different paths and that she might possibly alter the one she is on. Angela’s grandmother instructs the girl: “Show her your world and perhaps she will understand it.” And that is what Angela apparently does—I say “apparently” because I honestly didn’t have a clue as to what was going on for pages at a time. Was Lyuda having a psychotic breakdown induced by alcohol intoxication? It seemed like it, but who knows? Hot mess would be one way of describing the writing here.
With its exotic Carpathian-mountain setting and its otherworldly presences, Meriel’s novel is a strange and unusual fantasy. While there is some capable writing here—including lyrical descriptions of the natural world and some scenes depicting aspects of Ukrainian culture—they aren’t enough to rescue this book. I found the plot revolving around a mother’s sadness way too thin to be satisfying, and frankly way too melodramatic. I wanted to like The Woman Behind the Waterfall, but I was tempted to abandon it numerous times. After about a dozen chapters I’d grown impatient with Lyuda’s tears (the “waterfall” of them regularly running down her face, sometimes flavouring the soup) and her nightly vodka-consumption ritual. Likewise, repeated descriptions of Angela lying under the lilac tree, her projection of her spirit into the bodies of birds, and her adventures in the dreamworld became cloying. Beyond drawing well water, dancing in the garden or by the river, swimming, and making various Ukrainian foods—pirogies, potatoes, and honey cake— there isn’t much action in what feels like a very long book. I believe there is an audience for fiction about motherhood and the ties that bind generations of women, but I don’t think this book would be accessible to that audience. Though the novel’s genre was listed as literary fiction/fantasy on Net Galley, the actual description of it led me to expect a more realistic story about less ethereal characters more firmly rooted in the Ukrainian earth. Instead, there was an awful lot of traveling through silver tunnels, riding on waves of gold, and grasping metaphorical ropes. On the whole, the book was just too nebulous, vaporous, and confusing for me. I really didn’t like it.
I would like to acknowledge the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for providing me with a digital advance reading copy of this book for review purposes.
By the fourth chapter, the reader learns that this fictional world is infused with a sort of cosmic energy. The stars possess consciousness. They “are the light at the beginning of all understanding” and bear a kind of divine witness to all the possibilities in a single moment. The protagonist, Angela, is the archetypal Wordsworthian child figure, “trailing clouds of glory.” Since her mind is still open to the mystery of the universe—the “dream”—the stars can continue pouring themselves into her. They allow her to transfer light and knowledge where it is needed. Inevitably, though, the doorways to the infinite will close, and she will find herself in a single narrow tunnel—as humans inevitably do. (Whether I’ve explained this correctly, I’m not sure. The writing in this book is pretty fuzzy.)
It turns out that Lyuda, Angela’s mother, is the one most in need of light. She is sad to the point of being suicidal. Volodiya—her much older lover and Angela’s father—abandoned her years before. From the beginning, Lyuda’s mother, Zoryana, had been opposed to her 17-year-old daughter’s relationship with this much older man, a stranger who had arrived in the village to work as a builder. Zoryana is now dead, but she is able to appear to her spiritually gifted granddaughter. Together with Angela’s Nightspirit, Zoryana has determined that Angela needs to become an instrument in her mother’s healing. The remainder of the novel is dedicated to showing how that happens.
The novel’s second part briefly provides the backstory to Lydia’s despair: her unplanned pregnancy, her parents’ sudden deaths, and Volodiya’s abandonment of her. The screaming infant and Lyuda’s post-natal depression were threatening to turn him into a wife-beating brute like his father; he felt it was better to leave than do physical harm.
However, the backstory is not the major focus of this part of the book. The author’s real interest is in the magical actions Angela must perform (with her grandmother’s and the Nightspirit’s guidance) to free her mother from despair. Because of Angela’s spiritual gifts, Lyuda gets the chance to experience an alternative reality, in which one set of blessings and regrets is exchanged for another. In this “other life”, Lyuda does not have a child and is not abandoned by Volodiya. Instead, the two are living their original dream of worldly success and plenty. However, there is a great price for happiness in this other version of life, and even then, the feeling that life has been ruined persists.
In the novel’s third and most problematic section, Angela’s grandmother tells her that there is now some hope for her mother. Lyuda is beginning to recognize that there are different paths and that she might possibly alter the one she is on. Angela’s grandmother instructs the girl: “Show her your world and perhaps she will understand it.” And that is what Angela apparently does—I say “apparently” because I honestly didn’t have a clue as to what was going on for pages at a time. Was Lyuda having a psychotic breakdown induced by alcohol intoxication? It seemed like it, but who knows? Hot mess would be one way of describing the writing here.
With its exotic Carpathian-mountain setting and its otherworldly presences, Meriel’s novel is a strange and unusual fantasy. While there is some capable writing here—including lyrical descriptions of the natural world and some scenes depicting aspects of Ukrainian culture—they aren’t enough to rescue this book. I found the plot revolving around a mother’s sadness way too thin to be satisfying, and frankly way too melodramatic. I wanted to like The Woman Behind the Waterfall, but I was tempted to abandon it numerous times. After about a dozen chapters I’d grown impatient with Lyuda’s tears (the “waterfall” of them regularly running down her face, sometimes flavouring the soup) and her nightly vodka-consumption ritual. Likewise, repeated descriptions of Angela lying under the lilac tree, her projection of her spirit into the bodies of birds, and her adventures in the dreamworld became cloying. Beyond drawing well water, dancing in the garden or by the river, swimming, and making various Ukrainian foods—pirogies, potatoes, and honey cake— there isn’t much action in what feels like a very long book. I believe there is an audience for fiction about motherhood and the ties that bind generations of women, but I don’t think this book would be accessible to that audience. Though the novel’s genre was listed as literary fiction/fantasy on Net Galley, the actual description of it led me to expect a more realistic story about less ethereal characters more firmly rooted in the Ukrainian earth. Instead, there was an awful lot of traveling through silver tunnels, riding on waves of gold, and grasping metaphorical ropes. On the whole, the book was just too nebulous, vaporous, and confusing for me. I really didn’t like it.
I would like to acknowledge the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for providing me with a digital advance reading copy of this book for review purposes.
October 8, 2017
3.5⭐️
Thank you so much to booksgosocial via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of the women behind the waterfall by Leonora Merial.
Not your happy feel good story.
A child shouldnt have to take the pain and burdens of the parents.
As a young girl she comes to her mother crying and thats when she starts to take all the pain and bad choices that her parents have made and hold on to them, to help them will hurt her but shes being a good daughter.
It was emotional and beautiful.
Thank you so much to booksgosocial via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of the women behind the waterfall by Leonora Merial.
Not your happy feel good story.
A child shouldnt have to take the pain and burdens of the parents.
As a young girl she comes to her mother crying and thats when she starts to take all the pain and bad choices that her parents have made and hold on to them, to help them will hurt her but shes being a good daughter.
It was emotional and beautiful.
May 5, 2021
Language is art. You don't believe me? Read the first page of Leonora Meriel's 'Woman Behind the Waterfall'. It is rarely you find a book that makes you feel and live through a character who may have little to do with your culture or background, and yet the potency of their world is inescapable as you get lost in Meriel's intricate weaving of narrative and language, plot and emotion, individual and culture.
I won't lie - this novel made me cry. Maybe it was because Meriel had voiced the deep-rooted experience of so many struggling women with such emotional depth and maturity that few explicitly feminist writings these days manage to fully grasp. Maybe it's because she brought out my culture - Ukraine - in a vivid panorama of rural life, capturing the essence of tradition and struggle and belief without caricaturing the characters into Eastern European stereotypes, something that every Eastern European reader here will understand both the rarity and value of.
This is certainly not a novel for those looking for a fast paced thriller or climaxing of plot. It is slow and careful, making you think, observe, believe and hope. What binds three generations of women together? How do children come alive through nature? Is the past a chain we can ever break? This novel is a challenge in the very best of ways - it is a challenge to our common humanity, to what it means to be alive and hold on.
I am usually one to put a book away once I turn the last page - I have never seen much value in re-reading literature. But the Woman Behind the Waterfall is a book that every time I try to shelve, come a few months I will take out again, whether to reread a page or engross myself in the story from the beginning. Because Meriel is one of those writers who doesn't stop questioning, who creates a new world in your mind every time you read the same few sentences over again, who challenges you emotionally as well as intellectually, who will make you change as a person without telling you to do so. She creates hope and sorrow in a single metaphor, she brings out your deepest desperation and greatest joy. A part of you will remain disturbed and confused after you finish reading. And the other part will feel profoundly liberated in a way you hadn't realised you needed to be.
This book is not for cowards. It is for those who want to see how deeply within themselves they can really go.
I need not say that this is one book in your life you should not miss.
I won't lie - this novel made me cry. Maybe it was because Meriel had voiced the deep-rooted experience of so many struggling women with such emotional depth and maturity that few explicitly feminist writings these days manage to fully grasp. Maybe it's because she brought out my culture - Ukraine - in a vivid panorama of rural life, capturing the essence of tradition and struggle and belief without caricaturing the characters into Eastern European stereotypes, something that every Eastern European reader here will understand both the rarity and value of.
This is certainly not a novel for those looking for a fast paced thriller or climaxing of plot. It is slow and careful, making you think, observe, believe and hope. What binds three generations of women together? How do children come alive through nature? Is the past a chain we can ever break? This novel is a challenge in the very best of ways - it is a challenge to our common humanity, to what it means to be alive and hold on.
I am usually one to put a book away once I turn the last page - I have never seen much value in re-reading literature. But the Woman Behind the Waterfall is a book that every time I try to shelve, come a few months I will take out again, whether to reread a page or engross myself in the story from the beginning. Because Meriel is one of those writers who doesn't stop questioning, who creates a new world in your mind every time you read the same few sentences over again, who challenges you emotionally as well as intellectually, who will make you change as a person without telling you to do so. She creates hope and sorrow in a single metaphor, she brings out your deepest desperation and greatest joy. A part of you will remain disturbed and confused after you finish reading. And the other part will feel profoundly liberated in a way you hadn't realised you needed to be.
This book is not for cowards. It is for those who want to see how deeply within themselves they can really go.
I need not say that this is one book in your life you should not miss.
April 6, 2017
Seven-year-old Angela is taken to flights of fancy, literally. Her spirit inhabits a bird, a flower, the river water, or the sky, and rises at night to dance with her Nightspirit protector and her dead grandmother's spirit. With their help, Angela struggles to bring her depressed, suicidal, alcoholic mother back from the brink. Will she succeed?
This is a simple story, with a complex narrative, about three generations of women and the ties that bind them. It illustrates the sad reality that children often blame themselves for their parents' unhappiness. The author gives us a heartbreaking look at depression and the lasting effect it can have not only on the sufferer, but on all of those around them.
The rich, poetic writing has a fairytale quality, with certain scenes reminiscent of the way Ophelia is depicted drowning amidst a tangle of flowers under the willow tree. The author evokes the smells, scents, sights, sensations, and tastes of the Ukrainian countryside, as well as giving us glimpses of the customs and language.
This haunting tale will stay with you for a long time to come.
Full blog post (6 April): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
This is a simple story, with a complex narrative, about three generations of women and the ties that bind them. It illustrates the sad reality that children often blame themselves for their parents' unhappiness. The author gives us a heartbreaking look at depression and the lasting effect it can have not only on the sufferer, but on all of those around them.
The rich, poetic writing has a fairytale quality, with certain scenes reminiscent of the way Ophelia is depicted drowning amidst a tangle of flowers under the willow tree. The author evokes the smells, scents, sights, sensations, and tastes of the Ukrainian countryside, as well as giving us glimpses of the customs and language.
This haunting tale will stay with you for a long time to come.
Full blog post (6 April): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
February 2, 2017
A poetic, sensory book relating a story in rural Ukraine although it rings universal, about women's vitality, strength and wisdom through generations. Highly recommended
September 5, 2019
This book … is certainly something else. And I just can’t pin how I feel about it.
It tells the emotional and deep story of three women (Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter) and their struggle with loss, sadness, and darkness.
The writing style is … difficult to describe for me. It is very flowery and has some incredible lines. But I felt like the story was swallowed up and hidden by all the poetic writing.
I had a hard time with the first ten percent because honestly, I didn’t get it. It was .. what? Magical realism? Metaphors? Philosophical musings? (The synopsis made it sound more realistic than it is. A large part of the book follows Angela and her imagination?)
But after that, the story and the characters started to peek through and I was captured. I could really relate to some of this. Lyuda (the mother) is trapped in her own darkness and lives in her past. Angela (the daughter) sees and feels way more of that than her mother may think. Both are feelings I know all too well. And some scenes really touched me. Angela thinking she is the reason her mother has depression because she remembers her of her past mistakes.
Now, I said that the story gets lost sometimes in the magical. But I don’t know if the story would have captured me as much as it did if that element wasn’t in here. It somehow made the ‘real’ parts stand out more. It gave the book a lightness I loved.
And if I really let go I could immerse myself in the other parts as well (if they weren’t too long. Then they lost me) I’ve never before read ordinary everyday activities sound so mystical and mesmerizing. Nothing much really happens in this book but it captures your interest nevertheless.
I think my favorite part was where Lyuda is the focus of the book and we get to see what could have been. She was my favorite character. I could understand her so well and feel her sadness radiating off of her.
My favorite line:
The Woman Behind the Waterfall is a book you have to dedicate time to. And you have to be in the right mood to immerse yourself in Leonora Meriel’s beautiful, haunting writing.
It tells the emotional and deep story of three women (Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter) and their struggle with loss, sadness, and darkness.
The writing style is … difficult to describe for me. It is very flowery and has some incredible lines. But I felt like the story was swallowed up and hidden by all the poetic writing.
‘In the night-time, the stars and the moon shine down on our garden. The moon traces the curve of my body where I was lying on the grass, recognising the white star that was there. It pours its light down into the mould of my body, and I, asleep in a springtime bed, fill with moonlight.’
I had a hard time with the first ten percent because honestly, I didn’t get it. It was .. what? Magical realism? Metaphors? Philosophical musings? (The synopsis made it sound more realistic than it is. A large part of the book follows Angela and her imagination?)
But after that, the story and the characters started to peek through and I was captured. I could really relate to some of this. Lyuda (the mother) is trapped in her own darkness and lives in her past. Angela (the daughter) sees and feels way more of that than her mother may think. Both are feelings I know all too well. And some scenes really touched me. Angela thinking she is the reason her mother has depression because she remembers her of her past mistakes.
Now, I said that the story gets lost sometimes in the magical. But I don’t know if the story would have captured me as much as it did if that element wasn’t in here. It somehow made the ‘real’ parts stand out more. It gave the book a lightness I loved.
And if I really let go I could immerse myself in the other parts as well (if they weren’t too long. Then they lost me) I’ve never before read ordinary everyday activities sound so mystical and mesmerizing. Nothing much really happens in this book but it captures your interest nevertheless.
I think my favorite part was where Lyuda is the focus of the book and we get to see what could have been. She was my favorite character. I could understand her so well and feel her sadness radiating off of her.
My favorite line:
‘If you hold on to the memories of what you were, you will become something that you are not.’
The Woman Behind the Waterfall is a book you have to dedicate time to. And you have to be in the right mood to immerse yourself in Leonora Meriel’s beautiful, haunting writing.
April 25, 2017
This spring, the nights and days are stretching themselves out in a heart-beat sleep.
From the first page I knew I would love this book.
The rich and lyrical language of this book is told through the eyes of the child heroine takes you on a wonderful ride of innocence and generational love and raises the question, ‘If you had the option to go back and change something in your past, would you?’
Leonora Meriel has developed the distinct sense of prose and style that enriches the imagination of the reader and I found myself re-reading pages to recapture the colours, vibrancy and detail of the world that surrounds the 7 year old Angela.
The book is told from the point of view of three generations of Ukraine women, each personality distinct in the writing style introduced by the author and each with their story to tell. Deceptively simplistic and a captivating read.
The only tiny criticism I had was the book itself. The texture, shape and cover were of a lower quality, hence the 4 stars.
I can’t wait to see more from Lenora!
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
From the first page I knew I would love this book.
The rich and lyrical language of this book is told through the eyes of the child heroine takes you on a wonderful ride of innocence and generational love and raises the question, ‘If you had the option to go back and change something in your past, would you?’
Leonora Meriel has developed the distinct sense of prose and style that enriches the imagination of the reader and I found myself re-reading pages to recapture the colours, vibrancy and detail of the world that surrounds the 7 year old Angela.
The book is told from the point of view of three generations of Ukraine women, each personality distinct in the writing style introduced by the author and each with their story to tell. Deceptively simplistic and a captivating read.
The only tiny criticism I had was the book itself. The texture, shape and cover were of a lower quality, hence the 4 stars.
I can’t wait to see more from Lenora!
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
December 28, 2022
This was a deeply poetic and creative journey through the entwined lives of three generations of women. I loved the way Angela’s character fuses the vivacity of a young child with the spiritual wisdom of an old soul. A raw and sensitive novel which allows the reader to paint its powerful scenes on the canvas of their wildest imagination.
March 9, 2017
Really enjoyed this book set in the west of Ukraine, recommended.
February 9, 2017
The Woman Behind the Waterfall by Leonora Meriel is one of those rare books that lingers in my thoughts long after turning the last page. It’s the heartbreaking but ultimately redemptive story of seven-year old Angela, her mother, and the ties that bind them to generations past and future. Meriel’s novel rises above the all-too-common plight of women struggling to raise children alone with fanciful prose describing Angela’s (literal) flights of fancy. These beautiful passages describing Angela’s flights with birds in her garden and conversations with her late grandmother advance the narrative in thought-provoking ways. Set in a village in western Ukraine, this timeless and universal novel would be an ideal choice for a private or library reading group. If the reader is familiar with Ukraine, there is much detail that rings true, but no knowledge of the country is necessary to enjoy this novel. As a bonus, you’ll even pick up a few words of the melodious Ukrainian language along the way. Highly recommended!
May 31, 2017
I was excited to start a book that was centered in a Ukrainian village! I had never read about this region before and love reading about new things and people. This is a women's fiction and deals with the complexities of women relationships within a family. The writing is lovely and fairy tale like. 7 year old Angela is a dreamer as am I so I could really relate to her view of the world. It was an emotional journey from start to finish and I felt as if I were right there experiencing it all! Can't wait for the author's next book!
March 2, 2017
A book with a soul! I've enjoyed reading it a lot (though I don't often read fiction books, but this one really moved me).
March 4, 2018
It is a very unique story and with the power to draw readers in, making them forget about the world around them. As soon as I started reading this book nothing else existed for me. I simply couldn't put it down, so I recommend that you read it when you've enough spare time at hand.
It tells us a story of a little girl, Angela, who lives with her mother in the same house where her mother grew up. She has never met her father and is curious about his absence in their lives. However, she soon realizes that talking about him makes her mother upset. Sometimes she wonder if she the reason behind her mother's sadness. But slowly things are becoming clearer. Her mother, Lyuda, has many regrets but Angela is most definitely not one of them.
Sometimes story is told from different perspectives, but mostly it is Angela's story. How she sees the world, how she sees her mother, and we also sees her grandmother through her mind. These three women are the focus of this poetic narration. I must confess that I'm not much familiar with literary fiction, I think this is my third such book, but as far as I'm concerned it is quite well-written and intriguing story. I especially loved the mystical nature of it all. It makes one wonder about life and a lot small things which have big consequences.
It's a beautifully written novel, even though story is not anything unusual, but the way it is written most certainly is. I'd recommend it literary fans and anyone who is not afraid to read outside of their preferred genre.
It tells us a story of a little girl, Angela, who lives with her mother in the same house where her mother grew up. She has never met her father and is curious about his absence in their lives. However, she soon realizes that talking about him makes her mother upset. Sometimes she wonder if she the reason behind her mother's sadness. But slowly things are becoming clearer. Her mother, Lyuda, has many regrets but Angela is most definitely not one of them.
Sometimes story is told from different perspectives, but mostly it is Angela's story. How she sees the world, how she sees her mother, and we also sees her grandmother through her mind. These three women are the focus of this poetic narration. I must confess that I'm not much familiar with literary fiction, I think this is my third such book, but as far as I'm concerned it is quite well-written and intriguing story. I especially loved the mystical nature of it all. It makes one wonder about life and a lot small things which have big consequences.
It's a beautifully written novel, even though story is not anything unusual, but the way it is written most certainly is. I'd recommend it literary fans and anyone who is not afraid to read outside of their preferred genre.
March 25, 2018
Does a child have to carry the burdens of the parents’ choices? Does a child have to take on the pain that a parent can not let go of? Can a child free a parent of the pain and burdens they have kept as a part of their identity?
Those aforementioned questions came to mind as I read The Woman Behind the Waterfall by Leonora Meriel. Meriel tells the story of Angela, a seven-year-old Ukrainian girl who comes upon her mother crying uncontrollably at the beginning of the novel. She learns that her mother is carrying the wounds of the past and can not let go of them. Angela wants to help her mother release those wounds and find happiness again. The child learns that she has a connection to her grandmother who appears underneath a waterfall by a local river.
Angela realizes from her grandmother that the mother could be trapped by the past forever if she does not show her the way out from that pain. The child has a connection to a spirit that assists her in getting the mother to see she has something living for despite what has happened in her life.
Meriel’s ethereal and subtle prose reminded me of another novel, The Messenger by K.M. Tremills, I reviewed. The prose was layered and poignant like the aforementioned novel. And I believe would reveal more of itself upon a re-read. If you are looking for a book to escape into for a few days, then The Woman Behind the Waterfall is an excellent choice. Recommended.
I received a copy of the novel from the author in exchange for this review.
Those aforementioned questions came to mind as I read The Woman Behind the Waterfall by Leonora Meriel. Meriel tells the story of Angela, a seven-year-old Ukrainian girl who comes upon her mother crying uncontrollably at the beginning of the novel. She learns that her mother is carrying the wounds of the past and can not let go of them. Angela wants to help her mother release those wounds and find happiness again. The child learns that she has a connection to her grandmother who appears underneath a waterfall by a local river.
Angela realizes from her grandmother that the mother could be trapped by the past forever if she does not show her the way out from that pain. The child has a connection to a spirit that assists her in getting the mother to see she has something living for despite what has happened in her life.
Meriel’s ethereal and subtle prose reminded me of another novel, The Messenger by K.M. Tremills, I reviewed. The prose was layered and poignant like the aforementioned novel. And I believe would reveal more of itself upon a re-read. If you are looking for a book to escape into for a few days, then The Woman Behind the Waterfall is an excellent choice. Recommended.
I received a copy of the novel from the author in exchange for this review.
October 15, 2017
Leonora does it again! Like all her novels, this book will nourish your soul. This is another must-read novel and I'm so glad I discovered it. This is the story of a child in a Ukraine village, and what a lovely story it is. Get ready to view the world from her dreamlike innocent eyes, take a soar in the sky as you become the bird, flow endlessly across realms as you merge into the river, turn into the lilac that permeates the air, become the magic that mends your mothers' heart. Follow the thread that binds you to your mother and grandmother and great-grandmother across time and space in a wonderful journey to taste life as you've never done before. Feel the happiness in every flower, in every breath. Dance under the willow trees. You will do that and much more. This book, like all her books, includes a wonderful dose of spirituality, the mystique of life that I became to love and enjoy. This is such a heart-warming novel that the author brought tears to my eyes several times." I want to disappear into the dough of your body, pushing myself back in, you would toll and knead me into yourself and I would be safe forever." If you haven't read this author before, you are missing a lot.
February 25, 2017
I had mixed emotions while reading this book. It was an experience all of its own. On one hand I was memorized by the story as if it was part dream and part mystical. At the same time it was for these elements that I struggled at times to stay connected to the story. However, what kept me grounded was the characters...Angela, her mother, and grandmother. There was a strong connection between all of these women.
Angela represented joy. Her mother represented sadness. Her grandmother represented love. As I kept reading this book, the story revealed itself to me and I did not care if I may not have always got the concept of what I was reading but all I knew is that I did like this book. So, I just sat back and enjoyed myself. I loved when Angela and her mother went to town. This was a happy moment. The ending was not too much of a surprise but I can say that it was a fitting one. The Woman Behind the Waterfall is a lovely read!
Angela represented joy. Her mother represented sadness. Her grandmother represented love. As I kept reading this book, the story revealed itself to me and I did not care if I may not have always got the concept of what I was reading but all I knew is that I did like this book. So, I just sat back and enjoyed myself. I loved when Angela and her mother went to town. This was a happy moment. The ending was not too much of a surprise but I can say that it was a fitting one. The Woman Behind the Waterfall is a lovely read!
June 25, 2017
Wow - great book! Love the language and the story - and really learnt a lot more about Ukraine - a country that currently all we hear about is war. I expected this to be a good read just by the cover and I can definitely say I was not disappointed. This is one book I will have to re-read and I am definitely recommending it to all my friends and relatives. So yeah this is a really really great book and incredibly deep and touching.
July 19, 2017
Full Review On My Blog: https://emmajanemason.wordpress.com/2...
Do you remember what it was like to be a child? Imagine for a moment if you will dear reader how your seven-year old self used to view the world. Every tree was a new place to climb and nothing but sun, fresh air and fun took up your day. Life was so, so much more simple. We were innocent and young, with not a single care in the world. Well...except little things maybe, like how long would our daisy chains last before they slowly withered and died? However even then we managed to turn that into a positive. More of a reason to make more daisy chains and set up a shop in the front garden! How did we do that? It was so easy to put the world to rights. Our parents were our heroes and we wondered how could they be so brave and fearless. But what happens when their mask slowly starts to slip and children are exposed to the horrors and darkness of the world. The fairy tale crumbles away and children start to realise that there is no prince charming to save them, there is no happy ending. Is there?
I have a captivating book for you this week dear readers. One that speaks from a young and carefree heart slowly drowning in a cold black sea of despair.
Thank you to Leonora Meriel for sending me a copy of her book The Woman Behind The Waterfall. I was intrigued after reading her guest blog post which you can read here. A lot of the themes spoke to me and I do love a bit of magical realism. How can you not? It’s a snow globe of opportunity. All you have to do is take hold and be willing to shake things up a bit. Watch the chaos descend into pretty white calming snowflakes. Bliss.
Set against the gorgeous backdrop of western Ukraine, The Woman Behind the Waterfall tells the story of how one day seven-year old Angela sees her mother crying. Angela wonders why her mother is so sad and if can she help. Along with her nightspirit and grandmother, can Angela show her mother a way back to happiness? She soon uncovers untold family secrets but will she be quick enough to save her mother from an ill-fated end?
The strong themes presented in this book made me realise that I am not as alone as I once thought. Depression is a big taboo topic and is often swept under the rug. There is much more awareness of mental health nowadays, however people do tend to turn a blind eye and are unsure of how to handle the situation should it arise. When people see Lyuda, Angela's mother they look away and pretend not to notice. It is clear she is struggling with depression and turns to alcohol for comfort yet no one is sure of how to address it. The odd few people help her out now and then but she is mostly left alone with only her thoughts to consume her. Which speaking from experience, is not good. Lyuda struggles to come to terms with the way her life has turned out. The heartache weighs on her heart every day and she can no longer see through the thick fog consuming and clogging her throat, slowly choking her to death on faded memories. She blames herself and her choices. It is so incredibly hard to pick yourself up out of this vicious circle. It becomes natural to you, like breathing. You no longer know how to function without thinking these things. I appreciate Meriel for getting Lyuda’s character spot on, making her real. The feelings she has, how she sees things are all relatable to anyone who has suffered with depression and even suicidal thoughts. I applauded it as it’s extremely raw and realistic. You no longer feel quite so alone, there are people out there who feel just like you do.
“Why did I not die that night? she thinks, shaking her head. It would have been so easy. It would have been like breathing in and breathing out again. Just breathing in and then disappearing with that last breath, that simple movement of air.”
The love the grandmother, daughter and granddaughter all had for one another made my heart hurt. Three generations of women all bound to one another, two struggling to see the joy in life while the other is fighting to bring them back and see the world through her innocent eyes. It reminded me how sometimes we need the younger generation to give us a slap to remind us that life is what we make of it. That there will be tough days but we are not alone. Not ever. We have the trees, the wind, the flowers, all around us is life. So we should just close our eyes, take a deep breath and go for it. Live our life with joy and happiness. We all have something to live for, ourselves. We own us that much.
“There is happiness all around, I tell her. It is in every flower. It is in every breath.”
It is such a pleasure to read a story that not only can I relate to but also feel a part of. The narrative switches from first person through the eyes of Angela, to third when looking back on Lyuda’s past memories. Normally I would find these sort of changes confusing or question not sticking to the one narrative style, however it fitted perfectly with the flow of the story. In true magical realism form I was being transported from person to animal to reader to person. Effectively executed as I felt like I was floating up out of my body and watching parts of the story take place from above.
“I will break the rope. I do not know how I will do this but I know it is what I must do. The river is flooding with the tears of my generations.”
I adore the use of imagery especially when it’s done well in writing. Meriel’s stole my breath away. I could feel the warm soft soil beneath my feet, smell the honey cake cooking in the kitchen mixed with the fumes of fresh white paint. I heard Angela laughing as she played in the garden and the sound of the river cascading gently in the distance. One of the many things I love about reading is immersing myself into the writer’s world. How I can tell if they have fully captivated me is if I feel a gentle breeze on my face because the character has stepped outside. It’s a rare thing to find these days in any new authors I discover, but congratulations Leonora Meriel, you have passed my test and are indeed a talented writer. *Raises glass*
I give The Woman Behind The Waterfall By Leonora Meriel, a Five out of Five paw rating.
I was gripped and overcome with emotion for the love these strong women had for each other. The burdens they bore alone for so many years broke me. Going to need a week to recover I think, lots of doughnuts and tea should do it!
A big thank you again to Leonora Meriel, your book had me in tears. Beautiful. I plan on reading The Unity Game in the not too distant future too.
Hop hop wiggle wiggle
Do you remember what it was like to be a child? Imagine for a moment if you will dear reader how your seven-year old self used to view the world. Every tree was a new place to climb and nothing but sun, fresh air and fun took up your day. Life was so, so much more simple. We were innocent and young, with not a single care in the world. Well...except little things maybe, like how long would our daisy chains last before they slowly withered and died? However even then we managed to turn that into a positive. More of a reason to make more daisy chains and set up a shop in the front garden! How did we do that? It was so easy to put the world to rights. Our parents were our heroes and we wondered how could they be so brave and fearless. But what happens when their mask slowly starts to slip and children are exposed to the horrors and darkness of the world. The fairy tale crumbles away and children start to realise that there is no prince charming to save them, there is no happy ending. Is there?
I have a captivating book for you this week dear readers. One that speaks from a young and carefree heart slowly drowning in a cold black sea of despair.
Thank you to Leonora Meriel for sending me a copy of her book The Woman Behind The Waterfall. I was intrigued after reading her guest blog post which you can read here. A lot of the themes spoke to me and I do love a bit of magical realism. How can you not? It’s a snow globe of opportunity. All you have to do is take hold and be willing to shake things up a bit. Watch the chaos descend into pretty white calming snowflakes. Bliss.
Set against the gorgeous backdrop of western Ukraine, The Woman Behind the Waterfall tells the story of how one day seven-year old Angela sees her mother crying. Angela wonders why her mother is so sad and if can she help. Along with her nightspirit and grandmother, can Angela show her mother a way back to happiness? She soon uncovers untold family secrets but will she be quick enough to save her mother from an ill-fated end?
The strong themes presented in this book made me realise that I am not as alone as I once thought. Depression is a big taboo topic and is often swept under the rug. There is much more awareness of mental health nowadays, however people do tend to turn a blind eye and are unsure of how to handle the situation should it arise. When people see Lyuda, Angela's mother they look away and pretend not to notice. It is clear she is struggling with depression and turns to alcohol for comfort yet no one is sure of how to address it. The odd few people help her out now and then but she is mostly left alone with only her thoughts to consume her. Which speaking from experience, is not good. Lyuda struggles to come to terms with the way her life has turned out. The heartache weighs on her heart every day and she can no longer see through the thick fog consuming and clogging her throat, slowly choking her to death on faded memories. She blames herself and her choices. It is so incredibly hard to pick yourself up out of this vicious circle. It becomes natural to you, like breathing. You no longer know how to function without thinking these things. I appreciate Meriel for getting Lyuda’s character spot on, making her real. The feelings she has, how she sees things are all relatable to anyone who has suffered with depression and even suicidal thoughts. I applauded it as it’s extremely raw and realistic. You no longer feel quite so alone, there are people out there who feel just like you do.
“Why did I not die that night? she thinks, shaking her head. It would have been so easy. It would have been like breathing in and breathing out again. Just breathing in and then disappearing with that last breath, that simple movement of air.”
The love the grandmother, daughter and granddaughter all had for one another made my heart hurt. Three generations of women all bound to one another, two struggling to see the joy in life while the other is fighting to bring them back and see the world through her innocent eyes. It reminded me how sometimes we need the younger generation to give us a slap to remind us that life is what we make of it. That there will be tough days but we are not alone. Not ever. We have the trees, the wind, the flowers, all around us is life. So we should just close our eyes, take a deep breath and go for it. Live our life with joy and happiness. We all have something to live for, ourselves. We own us that much.
“There is happiness all around, I tell her. It is in every flower. It is in every breath.”
It is such a pleasure to read a story that not only can I relate to but also feel a part of. The narrative switches from first person through the eyes of Angela, to third when looking back on Lyuda’s past memories. Normally I would find these sort of changes confusing or question not sticking to the one narrative style, however it fitted perfectly with the flow of the story. In true magical realism form I was being transported from person to animal to reader to person. Effectively executed as I felt like I was floating up out of my body and watching parts of the story take place from above.
“I will break the rope. I do not know how I will do this but I know it is what I must do. The river is flooding with the tears of my generations.”
I adore the use of imagery especially when it’s done well in writing. Meriel’s stole my breath away. I could feel the warm soft soil beneath my feet, smell the honey cake cooking in the kitchen mixed with the fumes of fresh white paint. I heard Angela laughing as she played in the garden and the sound of the river cascading gently in the distance. One of the many things I love about reading is immersing myself into the writer’s world. How I can tell if they have fully captivated me is if I feel a gentle breeze on my face because the character has stepped outside. It’s a rare thing to find these days in any new authors I discover, but congratulations Leonora Meriel, you have passed my test and are indeed a talented writer. *Raises glass*
I give The Woman Behind The Waterfall By Leonora Meriel, a Five out of Five paw rating.
I was gripped and overcome with emotion for the love these strong women had for each other. The burdens they bore alone for so many years broke me. Going to need a week to recover I think, lots of doughnuts and tea should do it!
A big thank you again to Leonora Meriel, your book had me in tears. Beautiful. I plan on reading The Unity Game in the not too distant future too.
Hop hop wiggle wiggle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2017
The Woman Behind the Waterfall
Angela is a seven-year-old girl living two lives. In one she can be anything; a flying bird, a blooming flower, or a frolicking stream. She can see what they see and feel what they feel. In her other life, she lives in a small town in Ukraine with her mother. In this story, we are shown just how much children see and feel. Angela knows that her mother is sad, she sees her mother crying and feels that she is to blame. With the help of her grandmother’s spirit, she sets out to bring her mother out of her sadness and dark memories. The reader goes with Angela on her journey of discovery of her mother’s past and secrets kept hidden.
The writing of this book automatically brings you into a magical space. The beautiful imagination of the main character Angela makes you part of the world she lives in from plants to animals. This space sets up the magic of the novel. The magic is continued by the appearance of Angela’s grandmother and the NightSpirit. With the magic that these two figures bring to the story, it makes Angela’s imagination come further to life. Is it simply the wonderful imagination of a seven-year-old girl or is it a magic bond that this child has with the world around her that makes her so connected to it and sensitive to the feelings around her? Either way, it offers an intriguing look into the mind of a child and creates beautiful language to set the tone of the book.
The strongest two elements in this book for me was the relationship between the three generations of women and the theme of a child’s innocence mixed with the empathy and guilt that children can often feel with their parents. The relationship showed the deep love and care that comes from family but also was unafraid to speak of judgment, living your life, and facing up to the mistakes you have made. The theme of childhood was made especially strong by the comparison of Angela to her mother when her mother was young. Parents struggle and they, of course, want to keep that away from their children but children will see it anyway and wish to help. The feeling of guilt that Angela carries for her mother’s pain makes it that much more painful.
The Woman Behind the Waterfall was written by Leonora Meriel. She is a writer who studied literature in Edinburgh and has since lived in Canada, New York, London, and Kyiv Ukraine. She worked in Ukraine where she founded and managed their largest internet company and went to business school there. It was her time spent in Ukraine that made her fall in love with the country and inspired her to write this novel. It was published in 2016. She is currently working on her third novel in London. This book is beautifully written and contains a thought provoking and engaging story. I would highly recommend this book and this author as a must read.
Angela is a seven-year-old girl living two lives. In one she can be anything; a flying bird, a blooming flower, or a frolicking stream. She can see what they see and feel what they feel. In her other life, she lives in a small town in Ukraine with her mother. In this story, we are shown just how much children see and feel. Angela knows that her mother is sad, she sees her mother crying and feels that she is to blame. With the help of her grandmother’s spirit, she sets out to bring her mother out of her sadness and dark memories. The reader goes with Angela on her journey of discovery of her mother’s past and secrets kept hidden.
The writing of this book automatically brings you into a magical space. The beautiful imagination of the main character Angela makes you part of the world she lives in from plants to animals. This space sets up the magic of the novel. The magic is continued by the appearance of Angela’s grandmother and the NightSpirit. With the magic that these two figures bring to the story, it makes Angela’s imagination come further to life. Is it simply the wonderful imagination of a seven-year-old girl or is it a magic bond that this child has with the world around her that makes her so connected to it and sensitive to the feelings around her? Either way, it offers an intriguing look into the mind of a child and creates beautiful language to set the tone of the book.
The strongest two elements in this book for me was the relationship between the three generations of women and the theme of a child’s innocence mixed with the empathy and guilt that children can often feel with their parents. The relationship showed the deep love and care that comes from family but also was unafraid to speak of judgment, living your life, and facing up to the mistakes you have made. The theme of childhood was made especially strong by the comparison of Angela to her mother when her mother was young. Parents struggle and they, of course, want to keep that away from their children but children will see it anyway and wish to help. The feeling of guilt that Angela carries for her mother’s pain makes it that much more painful.
The Woman Behind the Waterfall was written by Leonora Meriel. She is a writer who studied literature in Edinburgh and has since lived in Canada, New York, London, and Kyiv Ukraine. She worked in Ukraine where she founded and managed their largest internet company and went to business school there. It was her time spent in Ukraine that made her fall in love with the country and inspired her to write this novel. It was published in 2016. She is currently working on her third novel in London. This book is beautifully written and contains a thought provoking and engaging story. I would highly recommend this book and this author as a must read.
April 21, 2017
Part I mainly focuses on the young girl and her connection with nature and the spirit world. It’s written in a unique style, with lots of short sentences and repetition, like we’re following the thoughts of a child.
It contains some truly beautiful scenes. My favourite deals with the death of a bird. It begins sadly and with apprehension, but Meriel manages to create a beautiful death scene with nothing negative about it whatsoever.
The mother in the book suffers severely with depression and this contrasts strongly with the upbeat and carefree little girl. At times it can be hard to sympathise with the mother. I wanted her to see what she had and embrace it.
Of course, this was intentional and forms part of the plot. To me, the book’s main theme is depression and struggling to feel like a part of a family when one’s sense of self (positive or negative) is so strong.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a parent, plans to be one, or who has one. So yes, that’s pretty much everyone. The style is particularly hard to categorise for a potential reader though…
It contains some truly beautiful scenes. My favourite deals with the death of a bird. It begins sadly and with apprehension, but Meriel manages to create a beautiful death scene with nothing negative about it whatsoever.
The mother in the book suffers severely with depression and this contrasts strongly with the upbeat and carefree little girl. At times it can be hard to sympathise with the mother. I wanted her to see what she had and embrace it.
Of course, this was intentional and forms part of the plot. To me, the book’s main theme is depression and struggling to feel like a part of a family when one’s sense of self (positive or negative) is so strong.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a parent, plans to be one, or who has one. So yes, that’s pretty much everyone. The style is particularly hard to categorise for a potential reader though…
July 27, 2017
The Woman Behind the Waterfall is a poetic and poignant novel about three generations of women in a Ukranian village. While I struggled a bit to get into the story at first, as soon as I got a grasp of the multi-layered narrative I was able to enjoy the beauty of it. Meriel's great strength is to evoke whole landscapes never before seen and keeping everything very real despite the undeniable magical streak of her world. As all good fantastical literature Meriel's novel offers a different view on the everyday, thus making us see and evaluate the world anew. And while the reader might sometimes get lost in the story-world that Meriel created there is hardly any other place one would be more happily roaming about than the beautiful forest in rural Ukrania.
The author was kind enough to send me a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
The author was kind enough to send me a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2017
Warning - if you are looking for a fast pacing action thriller, this book NOT for you.
This is good literary fiction with language flowing like a slow river, with dangerous undercurrents, invisible to a naked eye in a broad daylight.
Author surprisingly well captures the pace of a rural village, the semi broken spirit of people, their weaknesses and strength.
Truly great story for those with eyes to hear and hearts to listen.
"... I merge my spirit into this form and then I start to draw the stars into me, into this glowing ring. One by one they come; at first carefully, and then suddenly, pouring their light into my form, filling me with themselves, the universe opening up its darkness to channel all the shafts of starlight into the single point of my body."
This is good literary fiction with language flowing like a slow river, with dangerous undercurrents, invisible to a naked eye in a broad daylight.
Author surprisingly well captures the pace of a rural village, the semi broken spirit of people, their weaknesses and strength.
Truly great story for those with eyes to hear and hearts to listen.
"... I merge my spirit into this form and then I start to draw the stars into me, into this glowing ring. One by one they come; at first carefully, and then suddenly, pouring their light into my form, filling me with themselves, the universe opening up its darkness to channel all the shafts of starlight into the single point of my body."
February 7, 2017
First, I'm grateful to Leonora Meriel for sending me a free copy of her book.
It was a kind of fiction I have never read before. Being a girl it was easier for me to relate to mother and daughter relationship in the book. There were some parts in the book that I got so emotional. To be honest even there were moments that I blamed Lyudmila for not forgetting the man who left her.
Another thing I liked the most about the book was nature descriptions.
In general I enjoyed The Woman behind the Waterfall and recommend you to stick to the book as things are getting more and more interesting. :)
It was a kind of fiction I have never read before. Being a girl it was easier for me to relate to mother and daughter relationship in the book. There were some parts in the book that I got so emotional. To be honest even there were moments that I blamed Lyudmila for not forgetting the man who left her.
Another thing I liked the most about the book was nature descriptions.
In general I enjoyed The Woman behind the Waterfall and recommend you to stick to the book as things are getting more and more interesting. :)
June 25, 2017
Ok can I just say how incredible this book is! I don't usually bother with reviews but this book really wowed me. The language just carries you into another world and that world is exciting and breathtaking. All the characters are so real and you can live through every emotion with them. I cried at the beauty and occasional sadness of this book. Please read this - you will not regret it.
September 22, 2017
This book was beautifully written and included wonderful descriptions. Leonora Meriel has a unique voice and a talented way of spinning her words. A spell-binding literary work...and I don't use the word spellbinding often.
October 5, 2017
Beautifully written, with lyrical descriptions, The Woman Behind the Waterfall is a strange and wondrous tale of a little girl who goes in search of big secrets. You will be drawn into the beautiful surroundings, and feel the chill of the shadows looming just around the corner.
October 16, 2017
The Woman Behind The Waterfall is a beautifully written touching story of a dance of shadow and Light. Its poem-like language takes you to a fascinating journey to Ukrainian village and to dreams. It has depth and many metaphorical levels to explore. Highly recommended!
October 24, 2017
A rather strange and intriguing book. It took me awhile to get into the book as the unusual writing style of the author took some getting used to. Sometimes I'm not sure if I was reading actual events taking place or it was describing another dream. I think this book is more suitable for readers who appreciate poetry and flowery words. The author has the knack for making the most mundane things like eating honey cake and bird watching a poetry in-motion. This is a book you'll either get it or not, but definitely not a book that you can rush through. Best savor slowly if you're drawn to this type of writing although it's not really my cup of tea.
October 9, 2017
This book was so interesting, magical and realistic at the same time. It is about a strong connection between three generations of women in the same family, in a small Ukrainian village .
It is the story of their bond, which is so tight that even in death they are able to communicate to help each other through thought and dream, to keep their family unit from disintegrating.
At times I was a little lost in the story, where I think she (the author) was showing us what some of the different outcomes could be for the mother(Lyuda) and daughter (Angela).
The descriptions of the garden, the countryside and the village are wonderful, the author has a very lyrical and fanciful way of writing.
Angela, is always happy and seeing the best of life, she has the ability to become other things, a bird, a flower, the river and see and enjoy their point of view.
Lyuda , the mother because of certain circumstances in the story, has become depressed and sad, she is stuck in her past yet trying to be there for Angela.
The Grandmother, who is no longer alive has the gift of love which she tries to communicate to her daughter and Angela, and to help them to break a negative thread which is keeping Lyuda in her past memories.
Here is a wonderful piece from the book where the river is saying:
“Throw me your past, throw me your memories. Throw me your sorrows and I will carry them away. My waters are always clear. Whatever is given to me, I release. If you hold on to the memories of what you were, you will never become something that you are not.”
I am not really sure I have given this book a fair review as I find it a bit hard to describe, yet I can say it is well worth reading, so that you can make up your own minds, it is definitely quite a fascinating journey.
I would like to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this book.
It is the story of their bond, which is so tight that even in death they are able to communicate to help each other through thought and dream, to keep their family unit from disintegrating.
At times I was a little lost in the story, where I think she (the author) was showing us what some of the different outcomes could be for the mother(Lyuda) and daughter (Angela).
The descriptions of the garden, the countryside and the village are wonderful, the author has a very lyrical and fanciful way of writing.
Angela, is always happy and seeing the best of life, she has the ability to become other things, a bird, a flower, the river and see and enjoy their point of view.
Lyuda , the mother because of certain circumstances in the story, has become depressed and sad, she is stuck in her past yet trying to be there for Angela.
The Grandmother, who is no longer alive has the gift of love which she tries to communicate to her daughter and Angela, and to help them to break a negative thread which is keeping Lyuda in her past memories.
Here is a wonderful piece from the book where the river is saying:
“Throw me your past, throw me your memories. Throw me your sorrows and I will carry them away. My waters are always clear. Whatever is given to me, I release. If you hold on to the memories of what you were, you will never become something that you are not.”
I am not really sure I have given this book a fair review as I find it a bit hard to describe, yet I can say it is well worth reading, so that you can make up your own minds, it is definitely quite a fascinating journey.
I would like to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of this book.
December 11, 2017
Lyrical, evocative, mystical and odd, Leonora Meriel’s The Woman Behind The Waterfall reads like a novel crossed with poetry. It’s haunting and beautiful. Its meanings are sometimes obscure. And its flights of surreality might leave some readers behind. But it’s solidly grounded in time and place, and wound about with a genuine human need for life to have meaning and hope.
Stars, starflowers and star paths are woven into a bridge across realities—perhaps a bridge to life after death, perhaps to the truth behind our limited vision. Hope’s rope is woven in experience and flawed by tears—another waterfall perhaps, behind which a despairing mother hides when not disguising herself behind the clear liquid of vodka. A child might see her grandmother, or might fly with the life of a bird. Hurts of the past might be seen through different eyes and change the future. And the Nightspirit glides.
The Woman Behind The Waterfall is a thought-provoking tale, offering different views of choices and consequences, abuse and fear of abuse, even birth, life and death. Evocative details bring the Carpathian mountains to life. A poetic sense of magical realism pulls the reader through shifting times and realities. And a thread of silk might be strong enough after all.
This is a beautifully told story, rewarding readers willing to accept that in poetry not everything will be clear.
Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I offer my honest review.
Stars, starflowers and star paths are woven into a bridge across realities—perhaps a bridge to life after death, perhaps to the truth behind our limited vision. Hope’s rope is woven in experience and flawed by tears—another waterfall perhaps, behind which a despairing mother hides when not disguising herself behind the clear liquid of vodka. A child might see her grandmother, or might fly with the life of a bird. Hurts of the past might be seen through different eyes and change the future. And the Nightspirit glides.
The Woman Behind The Waterfall is a thought-provoking tale, offering different views of choices and consequences, abuse and fear of abuse, even birth, life and death. Evocative details bring the Carpathian mountains to life. A poetic sense of magical realism pulls the reader through shifting times and realities. And a thread of silk might be strong enough after all.
This is a beautifully told story, rewarding readers willing to accept that in poetry not everything will be clear.
Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I offer my honest review.
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