Treading Water

by Anne Degrace

A sweeping look at the rise, and eventual end, of a small community told through the voices of the inhabitants. The forceful personality of Ursula Hartmann, the first child born in Bear Creek - and one of the last to leave - runs throughout the novel.

Genres: Fiction, Canada

302 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2013

Reviews

[Shar Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while I come across a book that I just love, and this is one of them. (As well as “Flying with Amelia” by the same author; the only other book of hers that I've read so far).

This collection of intertwined stories from 1904 to 2005 in the small community of Bear Creek in the Kootenays of BC was a delight. The first story grabbed me and I couldn't put this book down. With the different time frame chapters there is something for everyone in this book.

Another reason that I enjoyed this book is because my parents were in the exact same situation, in another area of BC around the same time as the stories from the 60s in this book. I'm so glad I found this autographed copy at the local 'Friends of the Library' book sale.

[Tammy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love an unexpected find of a good book, this one picked up at the local library book sale. I am always interested in Canadian Literature, and local history. This story, who's chapters weave together to chronicle the settlement in the early 1900's of a small community along the Arrow Lakes in the Kootenay Region, through to the 1960's when the community was dissipated to make way for a hydro dam on the Columbia River. Well written, a memorable story of family, friends, community and the changes that time and progress bring.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this novel to be a well-written, enjoyable, and leisurely read. It focuses upon the inhabitants of Bear Creek, a fictional farming community on the shores of the Arrow Lakes. The novel begins in 1904 with the arrival of Mennonite settlers, and ends with the demise of the settlement in the 1960s. Each decade is narrated from the perspective of several characters; there is no overarching plot line but rather, stories that are a “slice of life”: births, deaths, marriages, divorces, friendships and the rifts of small-town politics.

The novel exudes a strong sense of setting. Real place names of the West Kootenay region – Nelson, Trail, and Castlegar – and the detailed descriptions of Bear Creek itself, establish not only a picture of the setting, but also a feeling of home and belonging. By the time Bear Creek is drowned by B.C. Hydro (not a spoiler – this inevitability is revealed on the book jacket), I felt a sense of real loss for this backwoods, beloved settlement.

I also enjoyed the “slice of life” stories – a good balance of tragic, and comic, major events and the mundane — but found myself wishing for more cohesion among them. Like a few other readers, I feel that fewer narrators, more developed connections among the stories, and more revelations about the fates of certain characters may have made the novel even more satisfying.

A worthwhile read for anyone who appreciates a slower-paced read -- and the power of place and setting upon identity.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about the flooding of the Arrow Lakes communities in British Columbia a couple of years ago at a conference on the Columbia River held at Selkirk College in Castlegar. I was especially pleased then to discover this novel in my favorite bookstore in Nelson some 16 months later. I'd read one other novel by DeGrace and enjoyed it as well, and this one did not disappoint. She approaches the subject-matter in an interesting way, telling the story of the now-inundated community of Bear Creek from the time of the first permanent dwelling to the time of the burning of the last home prior to the planned flood through a series of chapters told by various characters in chronological order, with some overlap and cross-referencing of events and characters between the chapters, but not much. The bond between people and place is, of course, rich literary lode (e.g., The Bible), and DeGrace mines her little vein of ore with skill and love.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne DeGrace writes with grace about a very difficult time in the lives of the people who once lived in Bear Creek, British Columbia. There are the normal conflicts students have with their teacher, kids with their parents, fruit producers with transportation tariffs and the Canadian government. There are also the great loves that exist between adults, among children and with pets, love of the outdoors, a simple life without electricity or roads. What could possibly spoil this picture?

[Jim Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read! More than once as I was reading this book, I thought it would be a good book for Canadian history students. Its socioeconomic descriptions give good insight as to the impact of progress on a small village. Most of all and best of all are the characters, who bring you into their lives on every page.

[Kirsten Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great concept, great way to imbue the spirit and significance of place

[Laura Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is composed of a series of short stories woven together to form a loosely structured novel, based on actual events. It traces the rise and fall of a small town in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia -- originally settled around the turn of the last century and then eventually succumbing to flooding due to a hydroelectric dam project for the Columbia River in the 1960s (a fact which is revealed on the dust-jacket of the book and so is not a spoiler). Many of the characters are from real life as the author, a librarian from Nelson, B.C., incorporated a great deal of archival research in the book. The characters are very easy to get drawn into and the prose is beautiful. The only drawback of the book is that there is a feeling of disjointedness as some characters appear and reappear throughout while others appear but once and then disappear from the story line. This may leave the reader wondering if certain characters are going to re-emerge and this leaves some feeling of expectation.

Some of the book reminds me a little of Elizabeth Hay's Late Nights on Air or Anne Michaels' The Winter Vault -- although these two books are more sophisticated in their style.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this novel. It wasn't that different in tone from many other books about rural life written by Canadian women--my favourite genre. But this novel was even softer, more feminine and gentle than any other in its category I've read. It was like being in an incredibly comforting, rustic dream; the writing was strong, melodious, and oh so wholesome.

The local history was conveyed in a delightfully literary way. I've often wondered about the towns that were submerged in order to dam the rivers in this area. They are a fascinating ghost presence along the systems of lakes here.

The novel has a list of 'book club questions' at the end that have helped me think about the book and increased my enjoyment--for example: 'How is the flood a metaphor for loss and grief? What resolution is suggested by the way the chapter ends?'. Such a pretty and wise book. It makes me feel lucky to live in a beautiful lakeside town with such interesting history and clever people to write about it.

[Mike Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

12 stories woven around the theme of place, in this case a remote settlement on the shores of Lower Arrow Lake on the Columbia River in the Kootenay region of BC, an area that was flooded to build the Hugh Keenleyside Dam north of Castlegar.

I enjoyed the stories but felt that the flow of the book didn't do the subject matter justice - the stories ended before I was ready to move on. The author had done a great job of capturing life in Bear Creek in the respective time periods, I would have liked more development of the characters.

Another criticism is the too-frequent place name-dropping, it may not have been noticeable to someone from outside the region, but living and breathing these places today makes the use of these places feel a little excessive, like a point is being belabored.

Overall an enjoyable book, a good representation of parts of local history and some really neat characters too.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up two Canlit books by DeGrace, on recommendation from reviews in newspaper. They are set in the Kootenays and depict history of the area in the early part of 20th century. Interesting to that degree. The characters are believable, as well. What turned me off was the way the author uses separate chapters to narrate about the individual characters. I always think of this as a cheat way of involving many characters. It is so much harder to integrate them, but still keep a proper sense of time and point of view. The other book was short stories, which I only like if they are written by Alice Munro. So, on the whole I didn't enjoy these books even though I respect her writing and the themes.

The other book by DeGrace is Wind Tails.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was refreshing to read a story set in a rural interior BC community. Each chapter was a story in itself in chronological order so that as the reader progressed questions raised in earlier chapters were answered. Just like life has its own mysteries, there are some stories that you never find out what happened to the person(s) which kept you wondering. It was an easy read. I found it easy to relate to many of the characters. Some character stories were sad; others were hopeful or courageous. Together all the chapters recorded the rise and fall of a small community and how its inhabitants coped with 'outside' influences.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished a description of the destruction of another civilisation. The story of a town in BC that was born in 1905 and was drowned by the Revelstoke Dam in 1965. The book was populated by various characters of the town. The town itself became the main character. It was modelled on the real-life story of Renata, BC. Pretty good. 7/10.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a number of years ago and I remember enjoying the different stories. What struck me the most and has stuck with me over the years, is that there is a sense of "place" ingrained throughout the story. It is more about the setting and it's evolution then dissolution. I don't regret reading it.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aptly named. This book follows the short history of a small town in BC from its inception at the turn of the 20th century to the 60's. I like the concept, and it was interesting to follow the many voices that are introduced, but it almost felt like a series of short stories that all occurred in one place, rather than a cohesive narrative.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a readable book, with some interesting episodes. It takes place in western Canada in the 20th century.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. A story about a small town in BC and its inhabitants over the years.

[Elizabeth Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a author to follow. A novel of linked stories but beautiful characters. The history of a town in British Columbia that is about to disappear to modern progress.

[Marmot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Definitely want to get a copy for myself. The style was just so refreshing, it was like reading short stories that were somehow linked together.

[Barbara Gard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice read