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Water Runs Slow Through Flat Land
Peter Beckenham - whipsmart, gun-shy, and the News Editor of NPL, the world's largest internet company - has had enough. When an unfortunate Twitter update costs him his job after fourteen years of deskbound, newswire publishing, he uses it as a chance to pursue what he sees as a less mundane existence.
Despite a burgeoning office relationship and with exactly no experience of war reporting, he sets himself up as a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan, but soon finds his life has taken on more significance than he would have hoped.
In his debut novel Water Runs Slow Through Flat Land, Cliff Jones tells a fast-paced story about love, terrorism, friendship, humanity and deadlines in a comedy drama set in the digital media industry during the war on terror.
Drawing on real-world events over the summer of 2010, what begins as one man's ambition to make his mark on the world of journalism quickly becomes a struggle for survival in the long shadow of dark forces.
Despite a burgeoning office relationship and with exactly no experience of war reporting, he sets himself up as a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan, but soon finds his life has taken on more significance than he would have hoped.
In his debut novel Water Runs Slow Through Flat Land, Cliff Jones tells a fast-paced story about love, terrorism, friendship, humanity and deadlines in a comedy drama set in the digital media industry during the war on terror.
Drawing on real-world events over the summer of 2010, what begins as one man's ambition to make his mark on the world of journalism quickly becomes a struggle for survival in the long shadow of dark forces.
- GenresFiction
292 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2015
10 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Cliff Jones
1 book5 followersCliff Jones is the author of Water Runs Slow Through Flat Land. He works in digital media, tweets regularly as @Cliff, and lives in Berkshire in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 25, 2015
Nothing dates faster than the thrill of new technology, and in particular its use as a setting or plot device in books, TV or film. "A wonderful invention, this gramophone!" or suchlike exclaimed Sherlock Holmes in one of the stories that probably wasn't an original Conan-Doyle; he had just amazed the drawing room by appearing from some alcove having witnessed the villain confessing whilst - get this! - his own violin could still be heard playing in another room. Any reasonably early adopter will have had their similar, wince-inducing, dad-dancing moment; the second series of Broadchurch recently revealed that 'blog posts' could be posted 'on the internet' across the globe at the touch of a button! Well get me my coat and start the (flying) car.
All this is a terrifically long-winded way of saying that a thriller - and it is a thriller - that's set in and around the world of online news could be the most embarrassing dog's breakfast. Whereas this is bloody exciting; it's the writer's background, and he captures the buzz and the pressure and the relentlessness, whilst making you care about characters as real, flawed people. When the action switches to Afghanistan, you're on guard for the expected two-dimensional cartoon of 'generic foreign war zone' but instead you get a place, a real place, with horror and humour and a looming sense of the ominous. I won't stray into spoiler territory, suffice to say that it continues in this vein of realism; the plot is there from beginning to end, but essentially this is a book about people, and Cliff Jones knows his people.
All this is a terrifically long-winded way of saying that a thriller - and it is a thriller - that's set in and around the world of online news could be the most embarrassing dog's breakfast. Whereas this is bloody exciting; it's the writer's background, and he captures the buzz and the pressure and the relentlessness, whilst making you care about characters as real, flawed people. When the action switches to Afghanistan, you're on guard for the expected two-dimensional cartoon of 'generic foreign war zone' but instead you get a place, a real place, with horror and humour and a looming sense of the ominous. I won't stray into spoiler territory, suffice to say that it continues in this vein of realism; the plot is there from beginning to end, but essentially this is a book about people, and Cliff Jones knows his people.
April 23, 2015
With the author's background you would reasonably expect sharp insights into the world of online media, news and journalism - and that's exactly what you do receive from Cliff Jones - but there's a lot more besides that in this, his debut novel.
There are genuine laugh-out-loud moments (ones which will be particularly funny to those involved in "new media" of the time and with the internet/news more generally now), a very palatable and realistic political/thriller scenario, and, an unconventional romance blossoming despite circumstance and personality. All of it is very believable and carefully drawn in whichever part of the world the story is unfolding: London, the Middle East or Afghanistan.
Highly recommended!
There are genuine laugh-out-loud moments (ones which will be particularly funny to those involved in "new media" of the time and with the internet/news more generally now), a very palatable and realistic political/thriller scenario, and, an unconventional romance blossoming despite circumstance and personality. All of it is very believable and carefully drawn in whichever part of the world the story is unfolding: London, the Middle East or Afghanistan.
Highly recommended!
April 13, 2015
Loved this book. It's beautifully written, full of sharp observations and instantly sympathetic characters. It's properly researched so the plot rings true but not weighed down with every reference book the author ever read. So readable. Can't recommend it highly enough.
September 4, 2015
I could read this book every day and not get enough of Peter's humor, changes in technology and advancements in journalism and what it takes to get a story.
December 19, 2015
Full disclosure, as if Goodreads reviews are the pinnacle of journalistic ethics: I know Cliff Jones personally, and worked with him many moons ago. He's a nice bloke.
And that's a pretty good description of this book (if we must assign books a gender). It's a nice book. It's interesting, too. I confess this isn't my kind of read, normally - I bought it because I know Cliff, know he's good with words, and wanted to support him. However, to put on my Unbiased Reviewing Hat for a moment, it's still very accomplished and I'm glad I read it.
Peter Beckenham is our protagonist, an editor at a fictitious online news service, whose days are spent covering the 'wires', making decisions about where to put news items on his 'front page', viewing the world through a detached lens. At the beginning of the book he's clearly not happy - unmarried, no kids, unsatisfied with work, he seems to long to be elsewhere. After making the kind of simple/idiotic/life-changing mistake we all hope we never do, Peter makes a decision: he decides to go freelance, travel to Afghanistan, and find the stories that no-one else is publishing. You know, out of the cities, 'in the hills'. Oh by the way, Peter has precious little field experience, and has never been in a war, 'embedded' or otherwise.
If you think wandering off to an active warzone effectively on your own without support is A Very Bad Idea then you'd be right, and deep down, Peter knows this too. Is he trying to prove something to himself, or maybe to others? Is he running away from responsibility? He might not be that sure himself. Suffice to say things happen, arguably expected, and the tale twists about a bit before coming to a satisfying conclusion.
I checked with Cliff because I had to know, and he's never been to Afghanistan. Neither have I, but his research seems spot on, because I felt there was a very vivid sense of place in his environments, especially ones I've never visited (but also the boring London offices, which I've spent far too much time in). For someone like me who's spent plenty of time behind a desk and very little time in the field, there's a certain frisson of danger to Peter's experience. When things went bad, as a result, I felt for Peter's predicament.
Where Cliff might have gone wrong with this book would be if he had populated it with stock characters or worse, complete caricatures of people from a country and a culture many of us don't understand. He doesn't make that mistake, which kept me on my toes for the whole book. Near the end, in particular, I wasn't sure which way he was going to go. As a result the ending didn't feel predetermined, but instead a natural extension of the events running up to it. Best way to end any book.
As well as strong plotting and crisp, human-sounding (and often funny) dialogue, Cliff also has a strong prose style with some imagery that really leapt off the page. If I had any criticism it was that sometimes, switching character's perspectives felt a little sudden, but each of them is well realized in the end.
Overall it's a well-told tale, made a little more resonant for me because of my experience working in online media, and of course from knowing Cliff. Even if you haven't had the pleasure though, I think you'll enjoy the book.
Water Runs Slow Through Flat Land is an insightful look into the modern 'online media' person's life, and an ultimately touching tale that goes beyond the obvious headlines to find humanity and laughs in some unlikely places.
And that's a pretty good description of this book (if we must assign books a gender). It's a nice book. It's interesting, too. I confess this isn't my kind of read, normally - I bought it because I know Cliff, know he's good with words, and wanted to support him. However, to put on my Unbiased Reviewing Hat for a moment, it's still very accomplished and I'm glad I read it.
Peter Beckenham is our protagonist, an editor at a fictitious online news service, whose days are spent covering the 'wires', making decisions about where to put news items on his 'front page', viewing the world through a detached lens. At the beginning of the book he's clearly not happy - unmarried, no kids, unsatisfied with work, he seems to long to be elsewhere. After making the kind of simple/idiotic/life-changing mistake we all hope we never do, Peter makes a decision: he decides to go freelance, travel to Afghanistan, and find the stories that no-one else is publishing. You know, out of the cities, 'in the hills'. Oh by the way, Peter has precious little field experience, and has never been in a war, 'embedded' or otherwise.
If you think wandering off to an active warzone effectively on your own without support is A Very Bad Idea then you'd be right, and deep down, Peter knows this too. Is he trying to prove something to himself, or maybe to others? Is he running away from responsibility? He might not be that sure himself. Suffice to say things happen, arguably expected, and the tale twists about a bit before coming to a satisfying conclusion.
I checked with Cliff because I had to know, and he's never been to Afghanistan. Neither have I, but his research seems spot on, because I felt there was a very vivid sense of place in his environments, especially ones I've never visited (but also the boring London offices, which I've spent far too much time in). For someone like me who's spent plenty of time behind a desk and very little time in the field, there's a certain frisson of danger to Peter's experience. When things went bad, as a result, I felt for Peter's predicament.
Where Cliff might have gone wrong with this book would be if he had populated it with stock characters or worse, complete caricatures of people from a country and a culture many of us don't understand. He doesn't make that mistake, which kept me on my toes for the whole book. Near the end, in particular, I wasn't sure which way he was going to go. As a result the ending didn't feel predetermined, but instead a natural extension of the events running up to it. Best way to end any book.
As well as strong plotting and crisp, human-sounding (and often funny) dialogue, Cliff also has a strong prose style with some imagery that really leapt off the page. If I had any criticism it was that sometimes, switching character's perspectives felt a little sudden, but each of them is well realized in the end.
Overall it's a well-told tale, made a little more resonant for me because of my experience working in online media, and of course from knowing Cliff. Even if you haven't had the pleasure though, I think you'll enjoy the book.
Water Runs Slow Through Flat Land is an insightful look into the modern 'online media' person's life, and an ultimately touching tale that goes beyond the obvious headlines to find humanity and laughs in some unlikely places.
April 23, 2015
If you've ever wondered where an errant Tweet can lead you, then the tale of Peter Beckenham will show you. He's a character you find yourself rooting for, even when you're not sure he completely deserves your support -he's the likeable guy with a smart mouth.
Though the story takes the odd dark turn, it has plenty of lighter moments and a few truly excellent turns of phrase you'll find yourself wanting to use yourself.
Without wanting to reveal too many spoilers, when the action moved to Afghanistan this book quickly became a genuine page turner (or whatever the digital equivalent is when you're reading on a Kindle).
The highest compliment I can give, is that I genuinely want to know where Peter Beckenham goes next...
Though the story takes the odd dark turn, it has plenty of lighter moments and a few truly excellent turns of phrase you'll find yourself wanting to use yourself.
Without wanting to reveal too many spoilers, when the action moved to Afghanistan this book quickly became a genuine page turner (or whatever the digital equivalent is when you're reading on a Kindle).
The highest compliment I can give, is that I genuinely want to know where Peter Beckenham goes next...
August 30, 2016
This book is based on the marriage of our world and media news. The story follows an online journalist as he travels into ‘hostile’ territory in search of a story. Cliff Jones did a wonderful job on this storyline because of his vast experience in this world of internet media news as well as his talent of spinning a good story.
This was Cliff's first novel ever published and aside from minor tweaks to the writing, he did a wonderful job at helping the reader delve into the world the characters were in. Great Job, Cliff! :)
This was Cliff's first novel ever published and aside from minor tweaks to the writing, he did a wonderful job at helping the reader delve into the world the characters were in. Great Job, Cliff! :)
March 23, 2016
Would be a good short story
Concept was interesting, however the characters over analyzed everything and it went beyond interest. Virtually all the characters were insecure and the pages were full it.
Concept was interesting, however the characters over analyzed everything and it went beyond interest. Virtually all the characters were insecure and the pages were full it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews