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Stillwater: A Novel
In 1938, five towns in western Massachusetts were flooded to create a huge reservoir.
In this beautifully rendered novel of coming of age, of loyalty and betrayal, good and evil, and of bravery and an abiding love, Stillwater marks a significant literary step forward for William Weld in what has already emerged as a notable writing career.
Fifteen-year-old Jamieson, who lives on a farm with his ironic and strong-willed grandmother, watches life unravel for the men and women whose world is about to be obliterated. Some take refuge in whiskey or denial, some give in to despair, some preach hypocrisy—and some decide to turn a profit on their fellow citizens’ misfortunes.
Jamieson falls in love for the first and hardest time with the unforgettable Hannah, a dreamy girl from the poor farm. She enriches his sense of what is being lost by recalling lives that were lived in the Valley during the French and Indian War, the insurrection of Daniel Shays, and the War between the States. Jamieson feels in his bones that the living are surrounded by the dead.
As the seasons turn during the towns’ final year, events spin out of control. Church services are supplanted by pagan rituals in the woods, public morality is undone by the exposure of a “disorderly house,” and any semblance of a normal life on the farms is undermined by the impending flood. In September, the hurricane of 1938 completes the Valley’s destruction.
As Jamieson is losing the world of his boyhood, it is Hannah who opens his eyes to wider possibilities and helps him taste a measure of revenge on the men who sold out the Valley towns. It is not so difficult, after all, for the living and the dead to change places.
Weld has been praised by the New York Times for his “writer’s eye and ear.” Stillwater illuminates nature’s magnificence, man’s inhumanity, people’s courage, and the destiny of place that is characteristic of America.
In this beautifully rendered novel of coming of age, of loyalty and betrayal, good and evil, and of bravery and an abiding love, Stillwater marks a significant literary step forward for William Weld in what has already emerged as a notable writing career.
Fifteen-year-old Jamieson, who lives on a farm with his ironic and strong-willed grandmother, watches life unravel for the men and women whose world is about to be obliterated. Some take refuge in whiskey or denial, some give in to despair, some preach hypocrisy—and some decide to turn a profit on their fellow citizens’ misfortunes.
Jamieson falls in love for the first and hardest time with the unforgettable Hannah, a dreamy girl from the poor farm. She enriches his sense of what is being lost by recalling lives that were lived in the Valley during the French and Indian War, the insurrection of Daniel Shays, and the War between the States. Jamieson feels in his bones that the living are surrounded by the dead.
As the seasons turn during the towns’ final year, events spin out of control. Church services are supplanted by pagan rituals in the woods, public morality is undone by the exposure of a “disorderly house,” and any semblance of a normal life on the farms is undermined by the impending flood. In September, the hurricane of 1938 completes the Valley’s destruction.
As Jamieson is losing the world of his boyhood, it is Hannah who opens his eyes to wider possibilities and helps him taste a measure of revenge on the men who sold out the Valley towns. It is not so difficult, after all, for the living and the dead to change places.
Weld has been praised by the New York Times for his “writer’s eye and ear.” Stillwater illuminates nature’s magnificence, man’s inhumanity, people’s courage, and the destiny of place that is characteristic of America.
- GenresFiction
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 25, 2023
True fact: in 1938 four towns were flooded off the face of the map by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In this fictional tale, Jamieson Kooby comes of age just as his world comes crashing down. His last year on the family farm is filled both with firsts as he enters adulthood and with "lasts" as every seasonal event is the last to take place in the Swift River Valley. It's a bittersweet time for Jamieson, his family & friends, and residents of the valley. Readers will share in their impending loss as the story unfolds.
In this fictional tale, Jamieson Kooby comes of age just as his world comes crashing down. His last year on the family farm is filled both with firsts as he enters adulthood and with "lasts" as every seasonal event is the last to take place in the Swift River Valley. It's a bittersweet time for Jamieson, his family & friends, and residents of the valley. Readers will share in their impending loss as the story unfolds.
November 18, 2020
This isn't a *bad* three-star review. As someone who grew up in the Quabbin region, I thought that this book did its job of invoking the nostalgia and feeling of loss fairly well; though I also found it a bit pompous and meandering. Sometimes, though, it's nice to just read some Calvin and Hobbes type stuff about how the kids used to fish, back in the day. Full blog post here: tylerwolanin.com/blog/2020/11/15/what...
October 8, 2021
I realized partway through this book that it was written by my former governor. I didn't like him as a governor, but I have to say he's a pretty good writer. And the story behind the Quabbin Reservoir is an endlessly fascinating bit of history.
December 21, 2017
A nice simple story that probably has interest to only those who have familiarity with the Quabbin Reservoir project and the adjacent area.
May 1, 2018
It was OK. Learned a lot about the history of how Quabbin Reservoir came about. The story is told through the eyes of a 15 year old boy and his grandmother.
September 5, 2019
meh....
April 28, 2020
Enjoyable read.
August 10, 2021
Found it historically informative but not very engaging. I was waiting for the plot to pick up the entire time and it did not, and ended on a very melancholy note.
January 4, 2022
One of the best books I ever read.
March 17, 2023
Picked this up at a thrift store and am glad I did. It was a very enjoyable read.
November 11, 2025
Read so long ago really don't remember much about it.....
April 14, 2016
BEWARE. I DON'T FLAG SPOILERS. BUT I DON'T PUT MY REVIEWS OUT ON ANY FEED, EITHER.
Knocked my socks off. Didn't think a former prosecutor-governor had the skills to write what I'd call artistic, rather than mass-circulation, fiction.
Combines an interesting (don't know if historically based) story of political corruption and intrigue with well-observed nature descriptions with a coming-of-age first love tale told by a mature man looking back.
I live in the NV desert now but grew up in northeastern Ohio near PA and NY states, so I relished all the textural details of Stillwater's forested, creek-laden rural landscape.
Knocked my socks off. Didn't think a former prosecutor-governor had the skills to write what I'd call artistic, rather than mass-circulation, fiction.
Combines an interesting (don't know if historically based) story of political corruption and intrigue with well-observed nature descriptions with a coming-of-age first love tale told by a mature man looking back.
I live in the NV desert now but grew up in northeastern Ohio near PA and NY states, so I relished all the textural details of Stillwater's forested, creek-laden rural landscape.
December 27, 2015
Stillwater by former Massachusetts governor, William Weld. Historical fiction based on the flooding of Swift valley to form the Quabbin Reservoir. Could have been riveting, as I find that whole topic fascinating. Instead it moved at a glacial pace for the first 3/4s, then picked up the tempo and the interest in the last 1/4. Almost gave up on it, except, like I said, I find the topic fascinating. Makes me wonder…who edits these things??? Can’t wait to move onto something completely different.
August 21, 2008
Curiosity drove me to pick this up, but I really kinda liked it. It is almost magical realism. It centers around the destruction of the four central Massachusetts towns in the 1930s to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir to provide water to Boston. It is all seen through the eyes of a young boy. I was not a huge fan of Weld as a governor, but he's not a terrible novelist.
August 29, 2012
this book had potential. and although i am surprised the author, a former governor and federal prosecutor, sustained from writing in a biased voice, he didn't seem to keep his thoughts straight. the book was hard to follow at times and he focused on too many small details. he was somewhat repetitive and left out other details that leave you to wonder.
October 16, 2015
Coming of age novel - 15 year old Jamieson's experiences during 1938 as the state of Massachusetts prepares to flood the Swift River Valley, drowning 5 towns in the process, to create the Quabbin Reservoir. A character is the father of Terry Mullally featured in Author Weld's prior novels.
January 11, 2008
This book had amazing potential, but was poorly written and more about hunting/fishing than the building of the Quabbin Reservoir. A huge disappointment.
May 2, 2011
As a quiet, literary journey novel, it was excellent. As a kind of plot- or character-driven novel I prefer to read, not really my cup of tea.
August 17, 2014
Some really lovely writing, beautiful descriptive passages regarding life in nature. But, overall just a little too "odd" for me.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews