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Castle of Water: A Contemporary Adventure Novel Filled with Black Humour and Heart
Home is where the heart is
Barry Bleecker wanted to trade in his dreary life for one of adventure and art. Until he finds himself washed up on a deserted beach with only four pairs of contact lenses to his name…
Sophie Ducel was meant to be having the honeymoon of a lifetime. Then the plane goes down and her world becomes a speck of sand in an endless ocean.
They have one task: to survive. These two very different people must find a way to reconcile their differences and make their home a castle, on an island, surrounded by water…
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2017
About the author
Dane Huckelbridge
6 books235 followersDane Huckelbridge was born and raised in the American Middle West. He holds a degree from Princeton University, and his fiction and essays have appeared in a variety of journals, including Tin House, Literary Hub, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, and The New Republic. His debut novel CASTLE OF WATER was published by St. Martin's Press in 2017, and his book NO BEAST SO FIERCE was published by HarperCollins in 2019. His next book, QUEEN OF ALL MAYHEM, a biography of the outlaw Belle Starr, will be released in 2025. He currently lives in Paris, France, although he comes back to New York whenever he can.
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December 26, 2017Greetings and salutations!
It seems that other authors have commented on their own books, so I suppose I will do the same, with apologies in advance if that's weird or unsavory. I'll try to be as brief and sincere as possible. Forgive me.
I've always loved "literary" fiction (Nabokov, Borges, and Fitzgerald in particular), although these days, it seems that term has connotations of something that's boring at best, or at worst, inaccessibly high-brow. I've also always enjoyed stories with adventurous and captivating plots (I fell in love with the written word thanks to Ray Bradbury and later Ernest Hemingway), yet today, books designed to entertain are often deemed low-brow. Somehow unworthy of literary scrutiny or merit.
Well, I propose something else. Something new. Something a playwright friend of mine once labeled "fun-brow." I suppose you could call it literary fiction that's actually enjoyable to read. That's what I tried to accomplish with this book, and while I'm not sure if I succeeded, I hope that I at least came close. And I hope you'll give it a try. It's a modern-day castaway story with a French twist—the tale of an aspiring American artist who loves Paul Gauguin, a Parisian architect with a penchant for Jacques Brel, and the relationship that unfolds when the two of them end up stranded on a minuscule island in the South Pacific while trying to visit the remote cemetery where their heroes are buried. Upon finally setting aside their differences, they discover they actually have far more in common than they ever imagined, and in the end, that is what keeps them alive, and that is what saves them.
I think that's it. Thanks for your time, and I hope you enjoy CASTLE OF WATER.
Cheers!
Dane Huckelbridge
It seems that other authors have commented on their own books, so I suppose I will do the same, with apologies in advance if that's weird or unsavory. I'll try to be as brief and sincere as possible. Forgive me.
I've always loved "literary" fiction (Nabokov, Borges, and Fitzgerald in particular), although these days, it seems that term has connotations of something that's boring at best, or at worst, inaccessibly high-brow. I've also always enjoyed stories with adventurous and captivating plots (I fell in love with the written word thanks to Ray Bradbury and later Ernest Hemingway), yet today, books designed to entertain are often deemed low-brow. Somehow unworthy of literary scrutiny or merit.
Well, I propose something else. Something new. Something a playwright friend of mine once labeled "fun-brow." I suppose you could call it literary fiction that's actually enjoyable to read. That's what I tried to accomplish with this book, and while I'm not sure if I succeeded, I hope that I at least came close. And I hope you'll give it a try. It's a modern-day castaway story with a French twist—the tale of an aspiring American artist who loves Paul Gauguin, a Parisian architect with a penchant for Jacques Brel, and the relationship that unfolds when the two of them end up stranded on a minuscule island in the South Pacific while trying to visit the remote cemetery where their heroes are buried. Upon finally setting aside their differences, they discover they actually have far more in common than they ever imagined, and in the end, that is what keeps them alive, and that is what saves them.
I think that's it. Thanks for your time, and I hope you enjoy CASTLE OF WATER.
Cheers!
Dane Huckelbridge
December 26, 2025
"And so it came to pass that two utterly disparate lives happened to overlap ... bound together on an uninhabited island some 2,359 miles from Hawaii, 4,622 miles from Chile, and 533 miles from the nearest living soul."Barry, a young banker, decides one day to quit his job and journey to the tropics like his artistic muse, Paul Gauguin.
Sophie, a French architect, is on her honeymoon in French Polynesia. She and her hubby are adventuring in the isolated isles.
One drunk pilot and one particularly violent storm later, Barry and Sophie (the sole survivors) are absolutely isolated in the middle of the ocean.
Barry and Sophie have minimal survival skills but the island does some stocked with bananas...lots and lots of bananas...
"Crap, as Barry liked to say.
Putain de merde, as Sophie was known to exclaim."
What follows is a love story, a riches-to-rags, a tragedy and above all, a struggle against all odds.
I absolutely love survival stories and this one was no exception.
Barry and Sophia's struggle was heartrendingly real and absolutely riveting.
I loved every minute of it - all of their work, and their fears, and their joys - I just devoured every page.
The only thing that bugged me was (at times) this novel did get a bit pretentious.
A bit too artsy for my taste in areas - I was here for the nitty-gritty survival story, not for waxing poetic about life's meaning.
"And so on and so on goes the cardiac beat in this polka called life."
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May 27, 2017
Barry is a banker who recently decided to quit his job and is on a small plane flying to visit an island where his idol was buried. On the plane is a french couple on their honeymoon one of which is Sophie, headed to visit Sophie's favorite singer's home island. The small plane ends up crashing and stranding both Barry and Sophie on a deserted island where they try to survive until someone comes to rescue them. I really really loved the writing in this novel, the narration and prose really just did it for me and even the french phrases only added to the writing, usually I'm not a fan when authors switch between languages in writing. The story unfolded so well and it really built up to what ends up happening so well. Such a well constructed and beautiful piece of writing. The ending left me really heartbroken though and I cried because I'm so bad with sad endings. The only thing that seemed not to fit was the little present day story line of the art student, I don't think it was really necessary. Other than that I really enjoyed it, I wanted to say 4.5 stars but I rounded up because we only have whole stars and this was pretty close to perfect.
June 5, 2017
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars here.
Dane Huckelbridge, look what you made me do!
Sophie is a French architect. She and her new husband, Etienne, have spent the first few days of their honeymoon in Tahiti, and now plan to spend the second leg on of of the Marquesas Islands, specifically the one where the French entertainer Jacques Brel—who is Sophie's favorite singer ever—spent his last days.
Barry is, or until just recently, was, an investment banker in New York. The life he led in high finance isn't the life he dreamed of—what he wanted more than anything was to become a painter. He was accepted to art school, yet made the safe choices which led him down the less exciting but more stable path. But he's finally decided it is time for all of that to change, and he literally heads from his downtown office to Tahiti with the clothes on his back and some extra pairs of contact lenses. His ultimate journey is the island in the Marquesas where his idol, Paul Gauguin, finally found the inspiration to unleash his genius.
Sophie, Etienne, and Barry are the three passengers on a small plane heading to the island of Hiva Oa. Yet they fall short of their destination when their plane crashes in the middle of the South Pacific. Not everyone survives, yet those who do are faced with an unending number of challenges, starting with the fact that the island they wind up marooned on is virtually unknown by the world, and is nowhere near the flightplan their pilot filed before take-off.
With miles and miles of nothing but water surrounding them, meager food sources, and not much in the way of shelter, the survivors must make their way to do just that—survive. At the same time, they must learn to trust one another, as well as live with the realization that if they can ever find their way home, or at least back to some semblance of civilization, it cannot happen alone.
"What does it take to not only survive such a thing, but then live the rest of your life with that thing inside you?"
You've seen this story before. You may even be able to figure out the plot from the bare-bones summary I've given. But you know what? It doesn't matter. Dane Huckelbridge brings all of the familiar elements to this book but adds a dash of insouciance, some well-placed history and trivia, and some beautiful storytelling. His imagery helps you picture the island in your mind's eye, and visualize the characters' struggles and victories as you're reading about them.
I thought the plot took a little while to build up steam, and I could have done without the characters adhering to well-known stereotypes early on. But beyond that I really enjoyed Castle of Water, even if it had me singing "Candle on the Water" from the Disney movie Pete's Dragon. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't google it unless you're a Helen Reddy fan.) It was a lovely, special book, and proves that Huckelbridge is definitely an author to watch in the future.
As an aside, I'm not to keen to get on a plane in a few days.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
June 18, 2018
This was surprisingly riveting going beyond the adventure and survival story and I loved it! How much? I read it in two sittings and would probably have done so in one if not for life. It speaks to the indomitability of the human spirit--two strangers finding a way to endure both physically and mentally on a deserted island--but it goes beyond the premise and gives us so much more.
This is storytelling at its finest with a rhythm that never faltered and a style that I found appealing. Sometimes third person narration is distancing, but in Huckelbridge’s hand it provides an omniscience the story demands. The author proposes we label this fun-brow, literary fiction that’s fun to read--and I think he’s shortchanging his writing because this wasn’t only fun to read, it was also suspenseful, emotional, contemplative and, yes, often funny at just the right moments. I found his writing mesmerizing and that’s what kept me reading.
Will you have to suspend disbelief in a few instances? Yes, but let’s remember this is fiction. And for me there were a couple of issues that kept this from the full five, but which I won’t share for fear of spoiling the story for anyone else so let's call this four plus. The totality of this story--how affecting and compelling it was--is so much greater than these little quibbles and I urge you to pick this up. Literary AND entertaining? Yes, please!
This is storytelling at its finest with a rhythm that never faltered and a style that I found appealing. Sometimes third person narration is distancing, but in Huckelbridge’s hand it provides an omniscience the story demands. The author proposes we label this fun-brow, literary fiction that’s fun to read--and I think he’s shortchanging his writing because this wasn’t only fun to read, it was also suspenseful, emotional, contemplative and, yes, often funny at just the right moments. I found his writing mesmerizing and that’s what kept me reading.
Will you have to suspend disbelief in a few instances? Yes, but let’s remember this is fiction. And for me there were a couple of issues that kept this from the full five, but which I won’t share for fear of spoiling the story for anyone else so let's call this four plus. The totality of this story--how affecting and compelling it was--is so much greater than these little quibbles and I urge you to pick this up. Literary AND entertaining? Yes, please!
December 27, 2018
I’m not even entirely sure where to start with this one.
The story begins with a plane crash, after a tiny aircraft crashes somewhere in French Polynesia shortly after setting off. The sole survivors are Barry, a guy from New York who has upped and left his job and taken a spur of the moment trip to the area because he loves Ganguin; and Sophie, a French architect who was there on her honeymoon. Sophie’s new husband, Etienne, dies in the crash, along with the pilot.
So I guess this follows a sort of standard “man and woman on a desert island” formula, but somehow it is pretty boring at the same time. And boring, although not ideal, I can deal with. But there was a lot of stupid shit going down too. For example - Barry and Sophie spend their first few months on the island surviving almost solely off bananas, until they decide to try and start fishing. This doesn’t go very well though, as there is a giant octopus (which Sophie christens Balthazar) which steals the fish off the rod whenever they catch something. Sophie mentions to Barry that she loves octopus, so for her birthday he decides to go and catch the octopus (bare handed) by swimming in to it's lair. He then gets attacked by this giant octopus (well, duh) and runs out of the sea with it stuck to him, before Sophie saves him, and they eat the octopus and make jerky out of it. I don’t know how I can convey how utterly ridiculous and unnecessary this scene was in the story, but it really irritated me.
My main annoyance, however, was with the random French sentences used throughout the novel. Like alright. I get that the author loves France and knows some French. Great. But it is used in a completely unnecessary way. Here is an example:
“What is it?” Barry repeated. He knelt at her side. “They’ve called off the search.” She turned to him, her lips quivering, eyes bleeding tears. “We are presumed dead. Ils pensent que nous sommes morts.”
So. You said it in English and again in French. Sophie is fluent in English. There is no need at all to repeat that in French! The stereotypes of the French are overwhelming too. Sophie isn’t described as sighing, instead she “expelled an exasperated, Gallic puff”. ?! There are too many others to include but they were all incredibly annoying.
Finally, a few other niggling things which in all likelihood won’t bother other readers but which really pissed me off: Barry’s opinion of Sophie’s hairy armpits - “made him want to throw up”, Barry is happy to hike behind Sophie because it affords him “a pleasant view of her derriere” and, the most ridiculous, Sophie “… felt more exposed than usual without her hair hanging down over her breasts as it generally did, but, well, merde - Barry had probably earned an unobstructed view of her nichons after all he had done.” A man deserves a view of her breasts because he killed an octopus for her?! Excuse me while my eyes roll out of the back of my head.
The story begins with a plane crash, after a tiny aircraft crashes somewhere in French Polynesia shortly after setting off. The sole survivors are Barry, a guy from New York who has upped and left his job and taken a spur of the moment trip to the area because he loves Ganguin; and Sophie, a French architect who was there on her honeymoon. Sophie’s new husband, Etienne, dies in the crash, along with the pilot.
So I guess this follows a sort of standard “man and woman on a desert island” formula, but somehow it is pretty boring at the same time. And boring, although not ideal, I can deal with. But there was a lot of stupid shit going down too. For example - Barry and Sophie spend their first few months on the island surviving almost solely off bananas, until they decide to try and start fishing. This doesn’t go very well though, as there is a giant octopus (which Sophie christens Balthazar) which steals the fish off the rod whenever they catch something. Sophie mentions to Barry that she loves octopus, so for her birthday he decides to go and catch the octopus (bare handed) by swimming in to it's lair. He then gets attacked by this giant octopus (well, duh) and runs out of the sea with it stuck to him, before Sophie saves him, and they eat the octopus and make jerky out of it. I don’t know how I can convey how utterly ridiculous and unnecessary this scene was in the story, but it really irritated me.
My main annoyance, however, was with the random French sentences used throughout the novel. Like alright. I get that the author loves France and knows some French. Great. But it is used in a completely unnecessary way. Here is an example:
“What is it?” Barry repeated. He knelt at her side. “They’ve called off the search.” She turned to him, her lips quivering, eyes bleeding tears. “We are presumed dead. Ils pensent que nous sommes morts.”
So. You said it in English and again in French. Sophie is fluent in English. There is no need at all to repeat that in French! The stereotypes of the French are overwhelming too. Sophie isn’t described as sighing, instead she “expelled an exasperated, Gallic puff”. ?! There are too many others to include but they were all incredibly annoying.
Finally, a few other niggling things which in all likelihood won’t bother other readers but which really pissed me off: Barry’s opinion of Sophie’s hairy armpits - “made him want to throw up”, Barry is happy to hike behind Sophie because it affords him “a pleasant view of her derriere” and, the most ridiculous, Sophie “… felt more exposed than usual without her hair hanging down over her breasts as it generally did, but, well, merde - Barry had probably earned an unobstructed view of her nichons after all he had done.” A man deserves a view of her breasts because he killed an octopus for her?! Excuse me while my eyes roll out of the back of my head.
November 3, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on https://shereadswithcats.com
I read this novel SO incredibly fast. The story is so beautiful and the writing is EXQUISITE.
Sophie Ducel, a French architect, is on her honeymoon in French Polynesia with her brilliant new husband, Etienne. Sophie wants to visit the island home of her favorite singer, Jacques Brel. The newly married couple ventures off to stay for a couple of days.
Barry Bleecker takes the same trip for a new beginning. He quit his Manhattan job in finance and decides to move to a place where he could find inspiration to be an artist. He decides on an adventure just like his idol, Paul Gauguin.
Barry boards the small plane with two strangers, Sophie and Etienne, then set off to start his new life. But complications during the flight cause their tiny plane to crash in the middle of the South Pacific and the survivors make their way to an isolated island where they must find a way to persevere.
"Just like Gauguin before him, he had been searching for a land that was gentler on his spirit, only to discover an island that set fire to his soul."
I absolutely loved reading about Barry, Sophie, and their journey together. It's strange because I'm not sure if it's a realistic story or not, but I never questioned it. Barry and Sophie are SO real to me, I feel like I know them. I felt their love, happiness, sadness, and pain. I couldn't help it. I got chills, not in sad or gushy moments, but in the most vulnerable. There are points in the story that made me laugh, smile, and I even got teary eyed which is a rarity for me. Now THAT MY FRIENDS, is AMAZING writing!
Dane Huckelbridge is a genius storyteller! I really adored the island setting, the vivid descriptions made me see everything through the eyes of the characters. I could actually hear Sophie's French accent in my head, and see her vignettes of Paris. If you can't tell, I fell in love with this novel!
I read this novel SO incredibly fast. The story is so beautiful and the writing is EXQUISITE.
Sophie Ducel, a French architect, is on her honeymoon in French Polynesia with her brilliant new husband, Etienne. Sophie wants to visit the island home of her favorite singer, Jacques Brel. The newly married couple ventures off to stay for a couple of days.
Barry Bleecker takes the same trip for a new beginning. He quit his Manhattan job in finance and decides to move to a place where he could find inspiration to be an artist. He decides on an adventure just like his idol, Paul Gauguin.
Barry boards the small plane with two strangers, Sophie and Etienne, then set off to start his new life. But complications during the flight cause their tiny plane to crash in the middle of the South Pacific and the survivors make their way to an isolated island where they must find a way to persevere.
"Just like Gauguin before him, he had been searching for a land that was gentler on his spirit, only to discover an island that set fire to his soul."
I absolutely loved reading about Barry, Sophie, and their journey together. It's strange because I'm not sure if it's a realistic story or not, but I never questioned it. Barry and Sophie are SO real to me, I feel like I know them. I felt their love, happiness, sadness, and pain. I couldn't help it. I got chills, not in sad or gushy moments, but in the most vulnerable. There are points in the story that made me laugh, smile, and I even got teary eyed which is a rarity for me. Now THAT MY FRIENDS, is AMAZING writing!
Dane Huckelbridge is a genius storyteller! I really adored the island setting, the vivid descriptions made me see everything through the eyes of the characters. I could actually hear Sophie's French accent in my head, and see her vignettes of Paris. If you can't tell, I fell in love with this novel!
June 7, 2017
Trust me: you've heard this elevator pitch before: Man and woman are stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. (The guy manages to keep his clothes, but the woman washes up to shore in her black bra. ...Guess if this story is written by a man or a woman.) They hate each other at first.... but then of course they love each other.
As it happens, I totally dig this elevator pitch. Sign me up for a "survivor at sea" tale any day. Sprinkle in a love story, and I'll bump that book to the top of my to-read list. I like triumph-of-the-human-spirit adventures, especially when they're coupled with triumph of the human heart. This is a quick, entertaining read that gives a good old tug at the heartstrings. There's plenty of good stuff in here; stuff that made me look forward to picking it up, and that made me prolong my reading sessions.
It's not a perfect tale. The storyline was a bit too tidy for my liking, and I had some issues with the pacing. As I've alluded to above, I cringed at some of the cliches. I found a lot of sections leaning heavily towards "male fantasy," but ironically, the majority of the read lacked a real sense of fear/survival (maybe because water and food sources were plentiful); certain points, I felt like the dialogue could be taking place at a Parisian cafe and not on a remote island. I listened to the audiobook, and the performance felt wooden and one-note, probably one of the weakest I've listened to.
Author Dane Huckelbridge did a nice job with the "aside" chapters and adding his own spin on the familiar; these asides never felt forced or jarring, or like they were taking you away from the action. Some included: a brief history of past castaways (am I the only one who didn't know JFK spent time stranded on a desert island?); why search-and-rescue was looking in the wrong location for the castaways (a drunken pilot); and the history of painter Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel, and how they both came to be buried yards away from each other on the island of Hiva-Oa in the Marquesas Islands.
All in all, a satisfying castaway read. And somewhere along the line, I really started to care about the couple. 3.5 stars.
As it happens, I totally dig this elevator pitch. Sign me up for a "survivor at sea" tale any day. Sprinkle in a love story, and I'll bump that book to the top of my to-read list. I like triumph-of-the-human-spirit adventures, especially when they're coupled with triumph of the human heart. This is a quick, entertaining read that gives a good old tug at the heartstrings. There's plenty of good stuff in here; stuff that made me look forward to picking it up, and that made me prolong my reading sessions.
It's not a perfect tale. The storyline was a bit too tidy for my liking, and I had some issues with the pacing. As I've alluded to above, I cringed at some of the cliches. I found a lot of sections leaning heavily towards "male fantasy," but ironically, the majority of the read lacked a real sense of fear/survival (maybe because water and food sources were plentiful); certain points, I felt like the dialogue could be taking place at a Parisian cafe and not on a remote island. I listened to the audiobook, and the performance felt wooden and one-note, probably one of the weakest I've listened to.
Author Dane Huckelbridge did a nice job with the "aside" chapters and adding his own spin on the familiar; these asides never felt forced or jarring, or like they were taking you away from the action. Some included: a brief history of past castaways (am I the only one who didn't know JFK spent time stranded on a desert island?); why search-and-rescue was looking in the wrong location for the castaways (a drunken pilot); and the history of painter Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel, and how they both came to be buried yards away from each other on the island of Hiva-Oa in the Marquesas Islands.
All in all, a satisfying castaway read. And somewhere along the line, I really started to care about the couple. 3.5 stars.
April 15, 2018
I knew from the start where the story would end up and I think it’s a case of how the story is told and not the actual story that made this a good reading experience.
At first glance this is not a new story and one that at times almost almost felt too mundane while at other times hovered on the verge of being brilliant.
This is a modern castaway story that kicks off with a plane crash in the middle of nowhere, the only two survivors a mediocre financial sales consultant and a newlywed. They have almost nothing in the way of food and shelter but the human instinct to survive is stronger than they think.
Barry and Sophie do not start as very likeable characters but at the end I could not help caring for them.
The little side stories and factoids of real castaways, artists and true events were done very well and added something different to the overall story.
I loved the voice of the narrator in this book. There was just something so mater-of-fact about the way the story was told.
I am struggling to pinpoint exactly why I could not stop reading it but I don’t regret this impulse purchase. This is not a fluffy beach read but a more quiet literary look at an old theme.
At first glance this is not a new story and one that at times almost almost felt too mundane while at other times hovered on the verge of being brilliant.
This is a modern castaway story that kicks off with a plane crash in the middle of nowhere, the only two survivors a mediocre financial sales consultant and a newlywed. They have almost nothing in the way of food and shelter but the human instinct to survive is stronger than they think.
Barry and Sophie do not start as very likeable characters but at the end I could not help caring for them.
The little side stories and factoids of real castaways, artists and true events were done very well and added something different to the overall story.
I loved the voice of the narrator in this book. There was just something so mater-of-fact about the way the story was told.
I am struggling to pinpoint exactly why I could not stop reading it but I don’t regret this impulse purchase. This is not a fluffy beach read but a more quiet literary look at an old theme.
April 24, 2017
This is an unassuming little book, the sum of which somehow manages to exceed its parts and become something unexpectedly extraordinary. There's nothing terribly original about this book's premise - a plane crashes, two strangers need to learn how to survive together - but reading Castle of Water is like taking a breath of fresh air. I was surprised by how much I loved it.
Barry Bleecker one day decides to leave his corporate Manhattan job and travel to the grave of his favorite painter, Paul Gauguin, which lies somewhere in the Marquesas. French architect and newlywed Sophie Ducel and her husband Étienne are on a honeymoon in French Polynesia, and they decide to take a detour to visit the grave of singer Jacques Brel, incidentally buried a few yards away from Gauguin. When their plane crashes somewhere between Tahiti and the Marquesas, Étienne and the pilot die on impact, leaving only Barry and Sophie to survive on a small island together - which is complicated not only by Sophie's grief, but also by a limited patience and understanding for each other's language and culture.
Dane Huckelbridge's prose is hard to describe. Castle of Water is told in third-person omniscient narration which is almost insensitively concise; full of facts and devoid of any sentimentality. This story is also told with a weird, offbeat humor that resists any temptation of melodrama. It's not at all what you'd expect and should theoretically clash with the premise of the story, which invites an onslaught of emotion and introspection. But, somehow, Huckelbridge's approach works. Better than it should, and yet, better than its maudlin alternative. This story isn't heartless, it isn't cold and unfeeling. And it isn't a comedy, either. At its core this is a bitterly, achingly sad story, which managed to both make me laugh out loud and break my heart.
Sure, this book is full of unrealistic conveniences: the survival kit they salvaged from the plane has literally everything they could possibly want; they each have unique survival knowledge that transcends the very basics you'd learn in the boy scouts; there is no universe in which three pairs of contact lenses being worn every single day is going to last a person several years; Sophie is magically able to continue to have her period despite her drastic weight loss and without any mention as to how on earth she dealt with it without an unlimited supply of tampons (this one really bugged me), but getting hung up on these details is to miss the point, because this is so much more than a simple Survival Story. If you want to read 300 pages about people surviving in the elements with nothing but the clothes on their backs, there's plenty of fiction and nonfiction about that already. In giving these characters certain basic necessities, Huckelbridge is bending this story in a different direction, making it less about Survival and more about the characters themselves, how they interact, and how their relationship progresses. Castle of Water is first and foremost a story about humanity; about two imperfect strangers drawing on each other's strengths in order to endure - not only to physically survive, but to sustain themselves on a deeper level.
It's hard to communicate what exactly was so special about this book which seems so unremarkable. I can only say that Castle of Water is a book with many hidden depths, and it was a joy to read. Though there weren't a lot of surprises, plot-wise, the big surprise was really the emotional reaction these character elicited from me. Barry and Sophie were incredibly sympathetic and complex in their own right - Sophie in particular I grew rather attached to - and I'm sad to be leaving them behind.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Dane Huckelbridge.
Barry Bleecker one day decides to leave his corporate Manhattan job and travel to the grave of his favorite painter, Paul Gauguin, which lies somewhere in the Marquesas. French architect and newlywed Sophie Ducel and her husband Étienne are on a honeymoon in French Polynesia, and they decide to take a detour to visit the grave of singer Jacques Brel, incidentally buried a few yards away from Gauguin. When their plane crashes somewhere between Tahiti and the Marquesas, Étienne and the pilot die on impact, leaving only Barry and Sophie to survive on a small island together - which is complicated not only by Sophie's grief, but also by a limited patience and understanding for each other's language and culture.
Dane Huckelbridge's prose is hard to describe. Castle of Water is told in third-person omniscient narration which is almost insensitively concise; full of facts and devoid of any sentimentality. This story is also told with a weird, offbeat humor that resists any temptation of melodrama. It's not at all what you'd expect and should theoretically clash with the premise of the story, which invites an onslaught of emotion and introspection. But, somehow, Huckelbridge's approach works. Better than it should, and yet, better than its maudlin alternative. This story isn't heartless, it isn't cold and unfeeling. And it isn't a comedy, either. At its core this is a bitterly, achingly sad story, which managed to both make me laugh out loud and break my heart.
Sure, this book is full of unrealistic conveniences: the survival kit they salvaged from the plane has literally everything they could possibly want; they each have unique survival knowledge that transcends the very basics you'd learn in the boy scouts; there is no universe in which three pairs of contact lenses being worn every single day is going to last a person several years; Sophie is magically able to continue to have her period despite her drastic weight loss and without any mention as to how on earth she dealt with it without an unlimited supply of tampons (this one really bugged me), but getting hung up on these details is to miss the point, because this is so much more than a simple Survival Story. If you want to read 300 pages about people surviving in the elements with nothing but the clothes on their backs, there's plenty of fiction and nonfiction about that already. In giving these characters certain basic necessities, Huckelbridge is bending this story in a different direction, making it less about Survival and more about the characters themselves, how they interact, and how their relationship progresses. Castle of Water is first and foremost a story about humanity; about two imperfect strangers drawing on each other's strengths in order to endure - not only to physically survive, but to sustain themselves on a deeper level.
It's hard to communicate what exactly was so special about this book which seems so unremarkable. I can only say that Castle of Water is a book with many hidden depths, and it was a joy to read. Though there weren't a lot of surprises, plot-wise, the big surprise was really the emotional reaction these character elicited from me. Barry and Sophie were incredibly sympathetic and complex in their own right - Sophie in particular I grew rather attached to - and I'm sad to be leaving them behind.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Dane Huckelbridge.
July 30, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction
Castle of Water is a fresh take on the traditional castaway tale. Two characters will have to survive together after their plane crashes in the middle of the South Pacific. Barry Bleecker intended to inaugurate a fresh start. He had his sights set on fine art, turning away from his dull life in Manhattan. The second survivor is Sophie, a French woman. The purpose of her trip to French Polynesia was to celebrate her honeymoon. She and her smart new husband built a successful architecture firm in Paris, which she looked forward to making successful. Fate brings these two strangers together on one island and their journey of survival starts there.
The first thing I need to mention here is the writing. It is beautiful, poetic at times, and has a sort of heartache in it. It suits the theme of the story a lot. The pace of the story needs some fixing though. The start was great, and the ending was beautiful. The middle of the book which is the biggest chunk dragged a lot for me. The two main characters weren't always convincing to me as being out in the wilderness struggling to survive. They felt to me more relaxed than they should've been.
As for its predictability, I think the bigger part of the story was predictable. However, the way it is written is what usually makes the difference. The ending was well thought out and was nicely done. I know many readers will get emotional with such an ending. I believe Castle of Water is one of those books which should be read to appreciate the writing more than the story itself.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Castle of Water is a fresh take on the traditional castaway tale. Two characters will have to survive together after their plane crashes in the middle of the South Pacific. Barry Bleecker intended to inaugurate a fresh start. He had his sights set on fine art, turning away from his dull life in Manhattan. The second survivor is Sophie, a French woman. The purpose of her trip to French Polynesia was to celebrate her honeymoon. She and her smart new husband built a successful architecture firm in Paris, which she looked forward to making successful. Fate brings these two strangers together on one island and their journey of survival starts there.
The first thing I need to mention here is the writing. It is beautiful, poetic at times, and has a sort of heartache in it. It suits the theme of the story a lot. The pace of the story needs some fixing though. The start was great, and the ending was beautiful. The middle of the book which is the biggest chunk dragged a lot for me. The two main characters weren't always convincing to me as being out in the wilderness struggling to survive. They felt to me more relaxed than they should've been.
As for its predictability, I think the bigger part of the story was predictable. However, the way it is written is what usually makes the difference. The ending was well thought out and was nicely done. I know many readers will get emotional with such an ending. I believe Castle of Water is one of those books which should be read to appreciate the writing more than the story itself.
June 20, 2017
This was a 5 out of 5 stars novel for me; as near a perfect emotional ride as you can take.
How do you review something that blew you away? How do you add words to someone's creation that has prose that should be considered illegal? So beautiful that it drips like honey- thick and sweet- teasing and tempting all at once. A beatific message that you want to rush into and away from all at once, like a whitecap on a tortuous sea. One that sends your emotions simultaneously soaring with the eagles and careening over a cliff.
This was Castle of Water by Dane Hucklebridge for me. Not my usual read, but one that was well worth the journey. From the opening lines until the end, this novel provides a wild mouse ride on a wooden roller coaster at 100 miles an hour for your poor strapped in emotions. The WILL dip and they WILL soar, so be ready.
The castaway theme is one that you think runs in the predictable family, and in some ways it is, but only if you enter this world with blinders on. The subtle messages about life, humanity, and love are the real buried treasures in this repository of wisdom.
"...not subtracting from the great sum of humanity but quietly adding to it? Love, hope, renewal- such things all spring eternal...."
"Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump . . .
And so on and so on goes the cardiac beat in this polka called life."
It is the story of Barry and Sophie, both victims of the poor choices of a rum-loving pilot and a well-placed lightning strike. Washed ashore on an island that didn't even exist on a map. A French and American forced alliance.
"Surely an unremarkable moment for most, but for the man, it is a parting tinged with a tender sadness- he has noticed over the years that even the briefest and most incidental interactions can, with the appreciation of time, take on a far richer meaning."
Castaways on the same island. Forgotten. Days turn into months, that turn into years. that turn into disappointments and saving graces.
"...a place where ships did not pass in the night but actually took heed of your lonesome flares."
Hucklebridge creates a tale so wondrous that it is truly a gift. Don't be marooned on the island of "I let this pass me by." Grab Castle of Water and ride the rising and ebbing tides of this heart-wrenching read. You won't be sorry you did.
You can find my reviews here: https://oceanviewsandbookreviews.com/...
How do you review something that blew you away? How do you add words to someone's creation that has prose that should be considered illegal? So beautiful that it drips like honey- thick and sweet- teasing and tempting all at once. A beatific message that you want to rush into and away from all at once, like a whitecap on a tortuous sea. One that sends your emotions simultaneously soaring with the eagles and careening over a cliff.
This was Castle of Water by Dane Hucklebridge for me. Not my usual read, but one that was well worth the journey. From the opening lines until the end, this novel provides a wild mouse ride on a wooden roller coaster at 100 miles an hour for your poor strapped in emotions. The WILL dip and they WILL soar, so be ready.
The castaway theme is one that you think runs in the predictable family, and in some ways it is, but only if you enter this world with blinders on. The subtle messages about life, humanity, and love are the real buried treasures in this repository of wisdom.
"...not subtracting from the great sum of humanity but quietly adding to it? Love, hope, renewal- such things all spring eternal...."
"Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump . . .
And so on and so on goes the cardiac beat in this polka called life."
It is the story of Barry and Sophie, both victims of the poor choices of a rum-loving pilot and a well-placed lightning strike. Washed ashore on an island that didn't even exist on a map. A French and American forced alliance.
"Surely an unremarkable moment for most, but for the man, it is a parting tinged with a tender sadness- he has noticed over the years that even the briefest and most incidental interactions can, with the appreciation of time, take on a far richer meaning."
Castaways on the same island. Forgotten. Days turn into months, that turn into years. that turn into disappointments and saving graces.
"...a place where ships did not pass in the night but actually took heed of your lonesome flares."
Hucklebridge creates a tale so wondrous that it is truly a gift. Don't be marooned on the island of "I let this pass me by." Grab Castle of Water and ride the rising and ebbing tides of this heart-wrenching read. You won't be sorry you did.
You can find my reviews here: https://oceanviewsandbookreviews.com/...
February 1, 2026
Two plane crash survivors end up castaways on an island in French Polynesia. How do I sign up for this? I, too, want to live on seafood, bananas, and a dearth of people.
This is not a Romance, although Barry and Sophie
I liked Castle of Water fine, although I didn't find much to take away. If you've seen The Blue Lagoon, Six Days Seven Nights or Gilligan's Island, you know what to expect.
Interestingly, the only other books Dane Huckelbridge has written are NF. One is about Belle Starr, a female Wild West outlaw; two are about alcohol (drinking, not rubbing). The other is about a man-eating tiger. Safe to say Dane is all over the place, following wherever his muse leads.
This is not a Romance, although Barry and Sophie
I liked Castle of Water fine, although I didn't find much to take away. If you've seen The Blue Lagoon, Six Days Seven Nights or Gilligan's Island, you know what to expect.
Interestingly, the only other books Dane Huckelbridge has written are NF. One is about Belle Starr, a female Wild West outlaw; two are about alcohol (drinking, not rubbing). The other is about a man-eating tiger. Safe to say Dane is all over the place, following wherever his muse leads.
September 19, 2017
3.5 Stars
I just don't know how to feel about this one. There are so many loose ends that I need fixing. I've read so many great reviews that I keep thinking... did I read a different book?!?!
What I can say is this... I didn't love the beginning. It took me a little longer (until part 2) to really understand the format and writing style that Huckelbridge was using. Once I got used to it, I was able to read in awe of his literary capabilities. However, I never fully loved the story. I loved Barry and Sophie as partners, but her use of French was highly distracting. I tried to just glance at it and move on, because my high school Spanish classes were no help to me there, but I kept feeling like I was missing part of the story.
In the end, I got teary at the events that happened, but I felt completely robbed of a real ending. And I still have so many questions! After all of the hype, this ended up being a bummer for me, but I am a minority here!
I just don't know how to feel about this one. There are so many loose ends that I need fixing. I've read so many great reviews that I keep thinking... did I read a different book?!?!
What I can say is this... I didn't love the beginning. It took me a little longer (until part 2) to really understand the format and writing style that Huckelbridge was using. Once I got used to it, I was able to read in awe of his literary capabilities. However, I never fully loved the story. I loved Barry and Sophie as partners, but her use of French was highly distracting. I tried to just glance at it and move on, because my high school Spanish classes were no help to me there, but I kept feeling like I was missing part of the story.
In the end, I got teary at the events that happened, but I felt completely robbed of a real ending. And I still have so many questions! After all of the hype, this ended up being a bummer for me, but I am a minority here!
January 6, 2018
Oh my goodness! Loved loved this book! Funny heartbreaking and unputdownable! This story will stay with me for awhile! Such and easy read too!
August 7, 2018
Reread on audio in August 2018. Still loved every second.
please hold while I finish wiping my eyes and blowing my nose....... (Mary, you didn't warn me!).........
okay, ahem. so, Barry goes down in a tiny plane among the Tahitian islands, along with two other passengers and the pilot. He and newly - married Sophie (whose husband went the way of the pilot) wash up on the same shore. Dane Huckelbridge is an amazing writer. his prose is beautiful without being anywhere near overdone or bourgeoisie. He weaves in French speech but doesn't leave us hanging as to what it means. He creates plot and drama without it feeling like there would be no book without it. Really, this was just masterfully done, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Trigger warnings that are also spoiler-y follow (stop reading if you are trigger-free!!!!!):
miscarriage
stillbirth
plane crashes
please hold while I finish wiping my eyes and blowing my nose....... (Mary, you didn't warn me!).........
okay, ahem. so, Barry goes down in a tiny plane among the Tahitian islands, along with two other passengers and the pilot. He and newly - married Sophie (whose husband went the way of the pilot) wash up on the same shore. Dane Huckelbridge is an amazing writer. his prose is beautiful without being anywhere near overdone or bourgeoisie. He weaves in French speech but doesn't leave us hanging as to what it means. He creates plot and drama without it feeling like there would be no book without it. Really, this was just masterfully done, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Trigger warnings that are also spoiler-y follow (stop reading if you are trigger-free!!!!!):
miscarriage
stillbirth
plane crashes
March 12, 2020
What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island with someone you just met a few hours ago but couldn't stand? This debut novel by the phenomenal storyteller, Dane Huckelbridge, is beautifully written! It's incredibly emotional - I laughed and cried! It was a pleasure listening to Max Winter narrate this audio-book. Definitely a 5-star story! I highly recommend it to everyone!
June 23, 2018
Four things...
1. A special shout out to Victoria & Roxanne. Their reviews convinced me to dive into this book without hesitation. Thanks gals
2. Similar plot lines had me flashing back to ON THE ISLAND by Tracey Graves, which certainly differed in writing style and voice, but whose book I may have ultimately loved just a bit more than this one because.....
3. Damn! I was right there with Sophie & Barry through all the hunger, danger & hopelessness and then, WTF? Flash forward 12 years? No!!! Dane Huckelbridge...don’t do that to your readers! Ugh.
4. But assigning four stars, for me, is still singing high praises. It kept me captivated.
1. A special shout out to Victoria & Roxanne. Their reviews convinced me to dive into this book without hesitation. Thanks gals
2. Similar plot lines had me flashing back to ON THE ISLAND by Tracey Graves, which certainly differed in writing style and voice, but whose book I may have ultimately loved just a bit more than this one because.....
3. Damn! I was right there with Sophie & Barry through all the hunger, danger & hopelessness and then, WTF? Flash forward 12 years? No!!! Dane Huckelbridge...don’t do that to your readers! Ugh.
4. But assigning four stars, for me, is still singing high praises. It kept me captivated.
November 1, 2017
Y'ALL. Y'all. Y'all. Y'alllllll. Maybe I should start by telling you that when I finished this book I was crying so hard that Jimmy almost had to pull the car over. I'm not kidding. It broke me. BROKE ME. This book is so dang good. And so much to take, I thought my heart might burst. My only issue is that Huckelbridge wrapped the end up wayyyy too fast. I wish he would have slowed down a little bit because it was a little jarring. But I loved it so much. I loved the characters, I loved the story, I loved the setting.
March 28, 2023
A bit more literary than I usually read but it really worked. You can't help but fall in love with and be completely invested in the characters.
December 27, 2024
2023 Best of the Backlist
Another backlist that’s been sitting around my house forever.
It was a story gently told of a deserted island stranding. Not Survivor TV style or Tom Hanks Movie style. This was a very realistic look at survival that beats the odds.
Barry and Sophie will live in my mind for a long time to come.
More than that, this story has a proper beginning, middle and end. I’m not so sure I can say that about every book.
It’s almost like a perfect reading experience. I’m not sure that I can even say that about every 5 star I have read.
If you have a reluctant adult reader on your list, this could be the one book that reader might read this year. It’s just so smooth. One page read turns into the next.
Another backlist that’s been sitting around my house forever.
It was a story gently told of a deserted island stranding. Not Survivor TV style or Tom Hanks Movie style. This was a very realistic look at survival that beats the odds.
Barry and Sophie will live in my mind for a long time to come.
More than that, this story has a proper beginning, middle and end. I’m not so sure I can say that about every book.
It’s almost like a perfect reading experience. I’m not sure that I can even say that about every 5 star I have read.
If you have a reluctant adult reader on your list, this could be the one book that reader might read this year. It’s just so smooth. One page read turns into the next.
April 19, 2017
A longer review is available on my blog:
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
Castle of Water was such a sweet little book. I am not usually a fan of romance novels but this book was recommended to me and I thought that I should give it a chance. Fortunately for me, this book had more to love than just romance. I loved reading about how the couple make the island their home. Some of Sophie and Barry's creations seemed a bit fantastical (it is unlikely that an architect and a someone who works in finance would know how to create coconut vinegar and where were all the nails to build the furniture and structures?) but it was a interesting, nonetheless. While one would think that a story about just two people on a deserted island would be boring, that person would be wrong. The island provides many exciting adventures (and terrifying realities) for the couple and it was a fun book to read. I also enjoyed the very short history lesson on the Polynesians use of the island that the book provided. The characters were very engaging. Both Barry and Sophie were very likeable and interesting. Sophie started off as pretty prickly but softened towards the end and Barry came off as an oaf in the beginning but turned out to be built for the castaway life. Overall, I think this was a really fun read and I would recommend it to those who enjoy romance novels or castaway stories. It would be a great beach read for this spring and summer.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
Castle of Water was such a sweet little book. I am not usually a fan of romance novels but this book was recommended to me and I thought that I should give it a chance. Fortunately for me, this book had more to love than just romance. I loved reading about how the couple make the island their home. Some of Sophie and Barry's creations seemed a bit fantastical (it is unlikely that an architect and a someone who works in finance would know how to create coconut vinegar and where were all the nails to build the furniture and structures?) but it was a interesting, nonetheless. While one would think that a story about just two people on a deserted island would be boring, that person would be wrong. The island provides many exciting adventures (and terrifying realities) for the couple and it was a fun book to read. I also enjoyed the very short history lesson on the Polynesians use of the island that the book provided. The characters were very engaging. Both Barry and Sophie were very likeable and interesting. Sophie started off as pretty prickly but softened towards the end and Barry came off as an oaf in the beginning but turned out to be built for the castaway life. Overall, I think this was a really fun read and I would recommend it to those who enjoy romance novels or castaway stories. It would be a great beach read for this spring and summer.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
May 17, 2023
Review to come - I need to ponder this one for awhile before trying to write about it......
August 15, 2017
I have hardly any words for how deeply I loved this story. I was skeptical at first that it would be for me, but I am SO glad I picked it up. In my top five of this year, hands down. Read it– trust me.
January 2, 2018
Great way to start the new year - this book is fantastic. Heartbreaking but a beautiful story.
September 3, 2017
I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
I don't accept books straight from the author very often as a matter of course. This isn't a snobbish or elitist response, it's quite simply because I don't have the time to read every book or even photograph every book (for my Instagram) and I have to draw the line somewhere. But when CASTLE OF WATER showed up in an email, I was compelled to read it, to need it. There was something about the synopsis and packaging that spoke to me. I was amazed that I hadn't already heard of it or seen it around, especially since it has glowing endorsements from best-selling author's like Kristin Hannah. So I said yes.
Every now and again a book comes along that you like but the response is practically ineffable. You can't quite find the words to explain why you liked it, not because the book itself is inexplicable, but because you're experience was just so honest that you didn't stop to think every step of the way, every chapter, just why you were enjoying the read. You just were. That was my experience with CASTLE OF WATER. It's almost as if I didn't take any mental notes while I was reading...I just read. I got lost in the book. I forgot that I was a reviewer.
And then I did remember I was a reviewer because I finished the book and here I am trying to write a comprehensive review (how am I doing?). So I've explained the reading experience... now let's see if I can speak eloquently to the writer's style and story.
Two people are stranded on an island in the South Pacific. Barry, an American who was looking for an artistic and romantic new beginning, but also part boy-scout. And Sophie, a whip-smart French architect with a touch of snark, who's romantic new beginning went down with the plane that crashed in the ocean. If this was the only focus of the tale being told it would still be entertaining, but the author weaves in bits of history and oddities as well. It still spoke to the main story in a way, but it was also interesting and added nuance to the book as a whole.
There's also a bit of mystery which starts on page one and crops up at the beginning of each new section of the book. We start with an unnamed character as he begins his day in Paris and then it switches to other characters who are observing him. The details and circumstances all come together at the end in such a way that you almost want to read these parts of the book again, just to cement them and re-experience then with a fuller knowledge. When I began the book I wasn't sure how I would like this mysterious style, or the middle sections which were a way of foreshadowing, but by the end I really enjoyed it.
Years pass as the main characters are on the island. They shift and change and grow. But even though years pass, this isn't a long drawn out epic tale. It feels more succinct, the action perfectly described, and the self reflection told with a literary flare that wasn't flamboyant (believe me, I've read some truly awful flamboyant inner monologues, so this book was perfect in that respect). There is heartbreak and survival...and a lot of French cursing.
I think it was the author's tone that I loved the most about CASTLE OF WATER. There was no disconnect. Every word sounded like it was written by an American male who lives with his wife in both Paris and NYC (author bio)... have you ever hear a singer who's speaking voice miraculously sound the same (I direct you to Jim Sturgess if you need an example)? That is how it felt and sounded to me as I read the book. I have never met Dane Huckelbridge, nor have I heard him speak, and yet I felt like I knew him just from the tone of this book.
It isn't a completely perfect book. There are a few bits that had me squint an eye but they weren't inexcusable, just little niggles. And I wish the ending hadn't been quite so rushed. I felt there deserved to be one more chapter (of which I won't go into detail because, spoilers). Overall though, I enjoyed the book. It was a nice Summertime read that I would happily recommend to friends.
I don't accept books straight from the author very often as a matter of course. This isn't a snobbish or elitist response, it's quite simply because I don't have the time to read every book or even photograph every book (for my Instagram) and I have to draw the line somewhere. But when CASTLE OF WATER showed up in an email, I was compelled to read it, to need it. There was something about the synopsis and packaging that spoke to me. I was amazed that I hadn't already heard of it or seen it around, especially since it has glowing endorsements from best-selling author's like Kristin Hannah. So I said yes.
Every now and again a book comes along that you like but the response is practically ineffable. You can't quite find the words to explain why you liked it, not because the book itself is inexplicable, but because you're experience was just so honest that you didn't stop to think every step of the way, every chapter, just why you were enjoying the read. You just were. That was my experience with CASTLE OF WATER. It's almost as if I didn't take any mental notes while I was reading...I just read. I got lost in the book. I forgot that I was a reviewer.
And then I did remember I was a reviewer because I finished the book and here I am trying to write a comprehensive review (how am I doing?). So I've explained the reading experience... now let's see if I can speak eloquently to the writer's style and story.
Two people are stranded on an island in the South Pacific. Barry, an American who was looking for an artistic and romantic new beginning, but also part boy-scout. And Sophie, a whip-smart French architect with a touch of snark, who's romantic new beginning went down with the plane that crashed in the ocean. If this was the only focus of the tale being told it would still be entertaining, but the author weaves in bits of history and oddities as well. It still spoke to the main story in a way, but it was also interesting and added nuance to the book as a whole.
There's also a bit of mystery which starts on page one and crops up at the beginning of each new section of the book. We start with an unnamed character as he begins his day in Paris and then it switches to other characters who are observing him. The details and circumstances all come together at the end in such a way that you almost want to read these parts of the book again, just to cement them and re-experience then with a fuller knowledge. When I began the book I wasn't sure how I would like this mysterious style, or the middle sections which were a way of foreshadowing, but by the end I really enjoyed it.
Years pass as the main characters are on the island. They shift and change and grow. But even though years pass, this isn't a long drawn out epic tale. It feels more succinct, the action perfectly described, and the self reflection told with a literary flare that wasn't flamboyant (believe me, I've read some truly awful flamboyant inner monologues, so this book was perfect in that respect). There is heartbreak and survival...and a lot of French cursing.
I think it was the author's tone that I loved the most about CASTLE OF WATER. There was no disconnect. Every word sounded like it was written by an American male who lives with his wife in both Paris and NYC (author bio)... have you ever hear a singer who's speaking voice miraculously sound the same (I direct you to Jim Sturgess if you need an example)? That is how it felt and sounded to me as I read the book. I have never met Dane Huckelbridge, nor have I heard him speak, and yet I felt like I knew him just from the tone of this book.
It isn't a completely perfect book. There are a few bits that had me squint an eye but they weren't inexcusable, just little niggles. And I wish the ending hadn't been quite so rushed. I felt there deserved to be one more chapter (of which I won't go into detail because, spoilers). Overall though, I enjoyed the book. It was a nice Summertime read that I would happily recommend to friends.
November 25, 2017
I added this to my Kindle this month after reading a review from a friend who said to drop everything and read it now. After finishing a couple other books this month I started this one and didn't really have any idea what it was about or what was going to happen. I loved it.
September 7, 2017
Barry and Sophie are the sole survivors of a small plane crash. Due to some shady decisions by the pilot, they are completely off course and stranded on a small island with little to no hope of ever being found. Clashing personalities make for hard living in such close quarters and soon they must work together in order to survive.
I absolutely love the author's writing style. I felt like I was sitting with someone over a glass of fine whiskey and being told a story. It took me until about page 140 to get fully invested in the story, however. The scene with Balthazar (anyone else think of Cole on Charmed when they saw this name??😂) made me actually laugh out loud and from that point forward I was fully invested in Sophie and Barry's relationship, resourcefulness and their interactions. Thoroughly impressed with this writer and this being his debut novel. His prose is extraordinary, the setting of the scenes were outstanding and I felt like I was stranded with them for the most part.
I would highly recommend this to anyone as a refreshing read and take on the stranded on an island theme. With bits of humor and loads of humanity throughout, a compelling read for those who love contemporary fiction.
Here is why it's not a 5 star rating though.... SPOILERS AHEAD - STOP NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!!
⛔ SPOILER ALERT ⛔
And that's it - the rest was beautifully done and I thank the publisher and author for this copy in return for my honest review. Take a chance on this book ladies and gentleman, it's definitely worth the read!
I absolutely love the author's writing style. I felt like I was sitting with someone over a glass of fine whiskey and being told a story. It took me until about page 140 to get fully invested in the story, however. The scene with Balthazar (anyone else think of Cole on Charmed when they saw this name??😂) made me actually laugh out loud and from that point forward I was fully invested in Sophie and Barry's relationship, resourcefulness and their interactions. Thoroughly impressed with this writer and this being his debut novel. His prose is extraordinary, the setting of the scenes were outstanding and I felt like I was stranded with them for the most part.
I would highly recommend this to anyone as a refreshing read and take on the stranded on an island theme. With bits of humor and loads of humanity throughout, a compelling read for those who love contemporary fiction.
Here is why it's not a 5 star rating though.... SPOILERS AHEAD - STOP NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!!
⛔ SPOILER ALERT ⛔
And that's it - the rest was beautifully done and I thank the publisher and author for this copy in return for my honest review. Take a chance on this book ladies and gentleman, it's definitely worth the read!
August 30, 2017
*Quick and dirty summary*
Newly married Sophie is on her way to the last half of an idyllic honeymoon with her husband. Barry just walked away from a lucrative job in a New York finance firm to pursue a career in art, and is traveling to the South Pacific island where Gaugin, his artistic inspiration, once resided. The small plane they are all on crashes into the ocean and Sophie and Barry, the only survivors, find themselves washed up on the shores of a remote and deserted island. There, these two strangers must learn to rely on each other in order to survive.
*Review*
I really enjoyed Castle of Water. Confession: I wasn’t at all sure that would be the case when I started. I actually put it down after the first 63 pages and walked away. I fretted I would be the only person on the face of the planet that didn’t adore this book. (ACK!) Much of Part One was spent setting the scene, giving backstories, describing surroundings…all well and reasonable, but I got a little bogged down. A little disconnected. I adored Sophie - even given the fact that I had to try puzzling out her French phrases (bless you, Google Translate). I also adored Barry. They were both authentic and lovely characters. I’m a character snob -- I wanted more of those delicious personalities and a little less background description. I reached out to a few bookish friends who were either currently reading the book or had recently finished it. They encouraged me to keep reading….and that is my message to any of you that may find yourself in the same boat (ha!) as me on this book. If you are not completely enthralled by Castle after the first page, or the 63rd, keep reading. Because, my friends, when I got to Part Two, the switch was thrown and that book did not leave my hands until I was done. The obstacles the characters faced--how to find fresh water, what to eat, how to make a shelter, (where to poop!)--felt authentic. The development between Sophie and Barry was well-paced and believable, the dialogue entertaining and funny and sad and sweet. I was left with a couple unanswered questions about some plot lines that I wish had been resolved a little more clearly, but nothing significant enough to mar the story. This book is guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings. Highly recommended!
Newly married Sophie is on her way to the last half of an idyllic honeymoon with her husband. Barry just walked away from a lucrative job in a New York finance firm to pursue a career in art, and is traveling to the South Pacific island where Gaugin, his artistic inspiration, once resided. The small plane they are all on crashes into the ocean and Sophie and Barry, the only survivors, find themselves washed up on the shores of a remote and deserted island. There, these two strangers must learn to rely on each other in order to survive.
*Review*
I really enjoyed Castle of Water. Confession: I wasn’t at all sure that would be the case when I started. I actually put it down after the first 63 pages and walked away. I fretted I would be the only person on the face of the planet that didn’t adore this book. (ACK!) Much of Part One was spent setting the scene, giving backstories, describing surroundings…all well and reasonable, but I got a little bogged down. A little disconnected. I adored Sophie - even given the fact that I had to try puzzling out her French phrases (bless you, Google Translate). I also adored Barry. They were both authentic and lovely characters. I’m a character snob -- I wanted more of those delicious personalities and a little less background description. I reached out to a few bookish friends who were either currently reading the book or had recently finished it. They encouraged me to keep reading….and that is my message to any of you that may find yourself in the same boat (ha!) as me on this book. If you are not completely enthralled by Castle after the first page, or the 63rd, keep reading. Because, my friends, when I got to Part Two, the switch was thrown and that book did not leave my hands until I was done. The obstacles the characters faced--how to find fresh water, what to eat, how to make a shelter, (where to poop!)--felt authentic. The development between Sophie and Barry was well-paced and believable, the dialogue entertaining and funny and sad and sweet. I was left with a couple unanswered questions about some plot lines that I wish had been resolved a little more clearly, but nothing significant enough to mar the story. This book is guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings. Highly recommended!
December 16, 2017
This book was just okay. Barry and Sophie were charming characters. The writing was sharp, precise and generally flowed well.
The story created such a perfect storm, however as a reader I was so well-sheltered that the devastating impact barely touched me. Everything just felt too perfect to fall in love with. It was a story of Barry and Sophie's three-year struggle to survive on a deserted island, but thanks to both of them being master of all trades, the struggles were largely diluted.
The book got great ratings on GR and from my friends. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood to be pulled in.
I also found the insertion of French dialogues and the character of and American art student unnatural, and contributing little to the entire book.
This is Dane Huckelbridge's first novel. His previous non-fiction works on bourbon and beer sound intriguing.
The story created such a perfect storm, however as a reader I was so well-sheltered that the devastating impact barely touched me. Everything just felt too perfect to fall in love with. It was a story of Barry and Sophie's three-year struggle to survive on a deserted island, but thanks to both of them being master of all trades, the struggles were largely diluted.
The book got great ratings on GR and from my friends. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood to be pulled in.
I also found the insertion of French dialogues and the character of and American art student unnatural, and contributing little to the entire book.
This is Dane Huckelbridge's first novel. His previous non-fiction works on bourbon and beer sound intriguing.
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