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The Water Thief
Who decides what is right? How do we judge our actions? And how do we live with ourselves when things go wrong? Following his father's death, troubled idealist Nick abandons his safe London life for a remote desert village in Africa, lending his engineering skills to build a children's hospital. Adrift from the world he knows, dangerous currents soon pull him in: a simmering family conflict, hidden corruption and violence, a killing drought, attraction to his host's lonely wife. But when he realizes a water well could offer a way out for the village and redeem his guilty conscience, he takes matters into his own hands. It's a decision that changes everything - for him, and for everyone he loves.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 11, 2018
14 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Claire Hajaj
3 books55 followersClaire Hajaj has spent her life building bridges between two worlds, sharing both Palestinian and Jewish heritage. She has lived on four continents and worked for the United Nations in war zones from Burma to Baghdad. A former contributor to the BBC World Service, Claire’s writing has also appeared in Time Out and Literary Review. She lives in Beirut, Lebanon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 25, 2019
The plot was OK but I just didn't like the characters was a bit slow at times which made it difficult to like was not for me.
August 14, 2018
3.5 stars
August 29, 2018
Nick’s father has died and it has caused him to take a hard look at his life. He’s living in London, works as an engineer and is engaged to the lovely Kate. Yet he decides to leave that safe life and go off to a poor village in Africa to help build a children’s hospital. He hopes to absolve his long-time guilt over an incident involving a childhood friend. He stays at the home of Dr. Ahmed, his wife Margaret, and their children JoJo and Nagode. There he’s faced with a moral dilemma. The people are dying from a lack of water. The Governor is charging exorbitant fees for water delivery. Nick learns that there is a solution to the village’s problem – a water well can be dug. But the Governor won’t consider it. Nick so desperately wants to help these people that he makes a decision that will impact all.
This book completely tore my heart open and made me take a hard look at my own life. I so admired Nick’s determination to help these people. He wants to do the right thing and truly doesn’t understand why those in power wouldn’t feel the same. He’s so torn by his love for Margaret and his respect for her husband. And JoJo, this young boy on the edge of manhood who longs to become an engineer like Nick, absolutely broke my heart. The author does an amazing job of bringing JoJo alive and detailing his descent into hopelessness. The characters in this book will long live in my heart and memory. This is one of the most thought-provoking, soul searching books I’ve ever read.
This is a masterpiece of a novel, exquisitely written, intense and profound, a book that should be required reading for all. It should be given every prestigious award for literary excellence. I most highly recommend it.
This book was given to me by the publicist in return for an honest review.
This book completely tore my heart open and made me take a hard look at my own life. I so admired Nick’s determination to help these people. He wants to do the right thing and truly doesn’t understand why those in power wouldn’t feel the same. He’s so torn by his love for Margaret and his respect for her husband. And JoJo, this young boy on the edge of manhood who longs to become an engineer like Nick, absolutely broke my heart. The author does an amazing job of bringing JoJo alive and detailing his descent into hopelessness. The characters in this book will long live in my heart and memory. This is one of the most thought-provoking, soul searching books I’ve ever read.
This is a masterpiece of a novel, exquisitely written, intense and profound, a book that should be required reading for all. It should be given every prestigious award for literary excellence. I most highly recommend it.
This book was given to me by the publicist in return for an honest review.
March 1, 2020
Nick’s father has died and it has caused him to take a hard look at his life. He’s living in London, works as an engineer and is engaged to the lovely Kate. Yet he decides to leave that safe life and go off to a poor village in Africa to help build a children’s hospital. He hopes to absolve his long-time guilt over an incident involving a childhood friend. He stays at the home of Dr. Ahmed, his wife Margaret, and their children JoJo and Nagode. There he’s faced with a moral dilemma. The people are dying from a lack of water. The Governor is charging exorbitant fees for water delivery. Nick learns that there is a solution to the village’s problem – a water well can be dug. But the Governor won’t consider it. Nick so desperately wants to help these people that he makes a decision that will impact all.
This book completely tore my heart open and made me take a hard look at my own life. I so admired Nick’s determination to help these people. He wants to do the right thing and truly doesn’t understand why those in power wouldn’t feel the same. He’s so torn by his love for Margaret and his respect for her husband. And JoJo, this young boy on the edge of manhood who longs to become an engineer like Nick, absolutely broke my heart. The author does an amazing job of bringing JoJo alive and detailing his descent into hopelessness. The characters in this book will long live in my heart and memory. This is one of the most thought-provoking, soul searching books I’ve ever read.
This is a masterpiece of a novel, exquisitely written, intense and profound, a book that should be required reading for all. It should be given every prestigious award for literary excellence. I most highly recommend it.
This book was given to me by the publicist in return for an honest review.
This book completely tore my heart open and made me take a hard look at my own life. I so admired Nick’s determination to help these people. He wants to do the right thing and truly doesn’t understand why those in power wouldn’t feel the same. He’s so torn by his love for Margaret and his respect for her husband. And JoJo, this young boy on the edge of manhood who longs to become an engineer like Nick, absolutely broke my heart. The author does an amazing job of bringing JoJo alive and detailing his descent into hopelessness. The characters in this book will long live in my heart and memory. This is one of the most thought-provoking, soul searching books I’ve ever read.
This is a masterpiece of a novel, exquisitely written, intense and profound, a book that should be required reading for all. It should be given every prestigious award for literary excellence. I most highly recommend it.
This book was given to me by the publicist in return for an honest review.
March 10, 2023
This is exactly the kind of general fiction book I love. Well written, interesting characters, set somewhere unfamiliar, with occasional bursts of violence in the run-up to the dramatic conclusion.
October 31, 2017
Ich habe das Buch nach knapp 100 Seiten abgebrochen. Die Geschichte konnte mich nicht annähernd so sehr begeistern wie Hajajs "Ismaels Orangen".
November 25, 2017
Ich bin mit sehr großen Erwartungen an das Buch heran gegangen, weil „Ismaels Orangen“ eins meiner Monatshighlight war. Mir hat „Der Wasserdieb“ hat mir auch ganz gut gefallen, kommt aber an seinen Vorgänger lange nicht heran.
Nick bekommt einen Auftrag in Afrika, er soll dort ein Kinderkrankenhaus bauen. Seine Verlobte Kate lässt er in England zurück. Wir wissen weder, zu welcher Zeit das Buch spielt, noch an welchem Ort genau. Klar ist nur, dass Telefonverbindungen in die Heimat sehr schwierig aufrecht zu erhalten sind und dass Nick in einem namenlosen Dorf untergebracht ist. Er lebt bei einer Familie, dessen Sohn ihn sehr an einen alten Freund erinnert. Mehr möchte ich zu den Familienverhältnissen und dem, was im Laufe des Buches passiert nicht sagen um nicht zu spoilern. Genervt hat mich ein wenig, dass er von Schuldgefühlen zerfressen ist, sich aber ohne zu zögern direkt in zwei Situationen bringt, die ihm die nächsten Schuldgefühle bescheren.
Ich hatte gehofft, Charaktere zu treffen, die so tief gezeichnet sind wie in „Ismaels Orangen“. Das war aber nicht der Fall. Ja, ich mochte JoJo (besagten Sohn der Familie) und auch Nick, aber in keiner Sekunde habe ich mitgelitten und mitgehofft. Die Geschichte an sich war, vor allem, wenn man den Klappentext gelesen hat, sehr vorhersehbar. Das war schade, aber für mich kein Minuspunkt, weil mir der Inhalt gut gefallen hat. Außerdem vergesse ich Klappentexte nach dem Lesen direkt oder lese sie nicht mal.
Die Geschichte war aus zwei Perspektiven geschrieben, was das Buch etwas aufgelockert hat. Allerdings ist mir JoJos Perspektive bis zum Ende fremd geblieben.
Wenn man nicht allzu viel erwartet, ist das Buch eine nette Abendlektüre. Vor dem Lesen sollte einem aber klar sein, dass das Buch weder sprachlich, noch in die Tiefe gehend mit „Ismaels Orangen“ vergleichbar ist. Es bekommt eine mittelmäßige Bewertung von mir.
Nick bekommt einen Auftrag in Afrika, er soll dort ein Kinderkrankenhaus bauen. Seine Verlobte Kate lässt er in England zurück. Wir wissen weder, zu welcher Zeit das Buch spielt, noch an welchem Ort genau. Klar ist nur, dass Telefonverbindungen in die Heimat sehr schwierig aufrecht zu erhalten sind und dass Nick in einem namenlosen Dorf untergebracht ist. Er lebt bei einer Familie, dessen Sohn ihn sehr an einen alten Freund erinnert. Mehr möchte ich zu den Familienverhältnissen und dem, was im Laufe des Buches passiert nicht sagen um nicht zu spoilern. Genervt hat mich ein wenig, dass er von Schuldgefühlen zerfressen ist, sich aber ohne zu zögern direkt in zwei Situationen bringt, die ihm die nächsten Schuldgefühle bescheren.
Ich hatte gehofft, Charaktere zu treffen, die so tief gezeichnet sind wie in „Ismaels Orangen“. Das war aber nicht der Fall. Ja, ich mochte JoJo (besagten Sohn der Familie) und auch Nick, aber in keiner Sekunde habe ich mitgelitten und mitgehofft. Die Geschichte an sich war, vor allem, wenn man den Klappentext gelesen hat, sehr vorhersehbar. Das war schade, aber für mich kein Minuspunkt, weil mir der Inhalt gut gefallen hat. Außerdem vergesse ich Klappentexte nach dem Lesen direkt oder lese sie nicht mal.
Die Geschichte war aus zwei Perspektiven geschrieben, was das Buch etwas aufgelockert hat. Allerdings ist mir JoJos Perspektive bis zum Ende fremd geblieben.
Wenn man nicht allzu viel erwartet, ist das Buch eine nette Abendlektüre. Vor dem Lesen sollte einem aber klar sein, dass das Buch weder sprachlich, noch in die Tiefe gehend mit „Ismaels Orangen“ vergleichbar ist. Es bekommt eine mittelmäßige Bewertung von mir.
August 8, 2018
At the heart of this fascinating novel is a moral dilemma: is a right ever justified by a wrong? The newly-engaged Nicholas is still filled with guilt over the accidental death years before of a dear friend, in which Nicholas had played an unwitting part. As an atonement, he volunteers to spend a year helping to build a children's hospital in an unnamed third-world African country, under the rule of an evil man called simply "The Governor." Nicholas is an architect. Living in a poor village brings home the effects of a severe drought on the inhabitants. The Governor has water trucked in. The people still have to pay for it. Nicholas finds the existence of an nearby aquifer, from plans many years old, and decides on his own, to have a well drilled, to bring water to the people. His act of compassion brings consequences.
This story will stay with me a long time. I am still thinking about the situation and its moral quandary. The characters were well drawn and sympathetic. Well-written, the novel made this setting come alive for me.
Highly recommended. I thank LibraryThing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This story will stay with me a long time. I am still thinking about the situation and its moral quandary. The characters were well drawn and sympathetic. Well-written, the novel made this setting come alive for me.
Highly recommended. I thank LibraryThing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 8, 2019
AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4
Let’s be honest, it will be the characters and their choices that will ultimately make or break this book for each reader or listener, and unless one is looking for a ‘what could go wrong’ while on a humanitarian mission, the story follows struggles of time immemorial – power, haves versus have-nots, right versus wrong and the long-lasting effects of colonialization and the subjugation of peoples believed to be ‘less than’. In this book, Nick is a thirty-something engineer living in London, pottering along as expected until the death of his father pushes him into a spate of self-examination. He decides that, even though newly engaged, he is drawn to put his skills to work in helping with a construction project in Africa.
Arriving in country, Nick is placed with a host family and finds that the project, much as he feared and was warned about, has been delayed and beset by many of the issues that thrive in the ‘developing’ world: low-skilled labor, corruption, lack of infrastructure, theft, overly ambitious plans and a general sense of ‘this is how it always is that provides a cushion (of sorts) that seems to soften the missteps and bring them a sense of ‘acceptable’. And, as Nick’s work becomes more problematic, his life in the host family home also becomes entangled with complications, some as a result of his presence, some due to the young son and his ever-increasing observations, and most due to a relationship struck with the woman of the house. I’m not sure that the affair actually was required, but the ‘expectations’ and Nick’s overly invested approach to the people and the dire situations found after drought and a water monopoly push him to a choice that, while morally correct, becomes one of those can two wrongs ever make a right situations.
Narration for this story is provided by Dominic Thorburn, a new to me narrator who presented the story in all of its permutations with care and clarity. The story mixes third person narration with flashes of the host family’s son’s input in first person – detailing his recognition of the situation both in his home and in his country as the story progresses. Beautiful prose that presents a rather spare overview of situations and considerations, with occasional flashes of color that add a presence and depth to a story that is already layered and mired in difficulties, questions and conundrums. There is a certain sense of ‘been here before’ in this book – as the tales of corruption, subjugation and wealthy using the power of ‘ownership’ to keep their position firmly planted on the necks and backs of those who have not. I’m not entirely sure what readers are meant to do with this new information – perhaps understand a bit more about the ‘polemic’ and ‘talking points’ of the haves – and then digging deeper to see upon just whom they are standing.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Recorded Books for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4
Let’s be honest, it will be the characters and their choices that will ultimately make or break this book for each reader or listener, and unless one is looking for a ‘what could go wrong’ while on a humanitarian mission, the story follows struggles of time immemorial – power, haves versus have-nots, right versus wrong and the long-lasting effects of colonialization and the subjugation of peoples believed to be ‘less than’. In this book, Nick is a thirty-something engineer living in London, pottering along as expected until the death of his father pushes him into a spate of self-examination. He decides that, even though newly engaged, he is drawn to put his skills to work in helping with a construction project in Africa.
Arriving in country, Nick is placed with a host family and finds that the project, much as he feared and was warned about, has been delayed and beset by many of the issues that thrive in the ‘developing’ world: low-skilled labor, corruption, lack of infrastructure, theft, overly ambitious plans and a general sense of ‘this is how it always is that provides a cushion (of sorts) that seems to soften the missteps and bring them a sense of ‘acceptable’. And, as Nick’s work becomes more problematic, his life in the host family home also becomes entangled with complications, some as a result of his presence, some due to the young son and his ever-increasing observations, and most due to a relationship struck with the woman of the house. I’m not sure that the affair actually was required, but the ‘expectations’ and Nick’s overly invested approach to the people and the dire situations found after drought and a water monopoly push him to a choice that, while morally correct, becomes one of those can two wrongs ever make a right situations.
Narration for this story is provided by Dominic Thorburn, a new to me narrator who presented the story in all of its permutations with care and clarity. The story mixes third person narration with flashes of the host family’s son’s input in first person – detailing his recognition of the situation both in his home and in his country as the story progresses. Beautiful prose that presents a rather spare overview of situations and considerations, with occasional flashes of color that add a presence and depth to a story that is already layered and mired in difficulties, questions and conundrums. There is a certain sense of ‘been here before’ in this book – as the tales of corruption, subjugation and wealthy using the power of ‘ownership’ to keep their position firmly planted on the necks and backs of those who have not. I’m not entirely sure what readers are meant to do with this new information – perhaps understand a bit more about the ‘polemic’ and ‘talking points’ of the haves – and then digging deeper to see upon just whom they are standing.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Recorded Books for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
December 9, 2017
An den Debütroman “Ismaels Orangen” kann ich mich noch gut erinnern. Dieses Aufeinandertreffen unterschiedlicher Kulturen und Religionen und wie die Menschen damit umgehen im positiven wie im negativen Sinne. Die Autorin wuchs auch zwischen zwei Kulturen auf. Ihr Vater ist Palästinenser, ihre Mutter Jüdin. Auch in “Der Wasserdieb” hat sie unterschiedliche Kulturen und Religionen eingebaut.
Nicholas gehört für mich zu dem Menschenschlag, der mit sich noch nicht recht im Reinen ist. Mit seinen knapp 30 Jahren ist er dafür auch noch etwas zu jung. Er ist erfolgreich in seinem Beruf als Ingenieur, will sich aber in Afrika beweisen. Für sich oder doch mehr für seinen verstorbenen Vater, das konnte ich nicht hundert Prozentig herauslesen. Ein bisschen von beidem wahrscheinlich. Mit Land und Leuten scheint er sich im Vorfeld nicht wirklich befasst zu haben. Sein Gastgeber Dr. Ahmed und seine Familie empfangen ihn mit offenen Armen. Das Margret, die junge schöne Frau, die Ehefrau des alten Arztes ist, scheint ihn regelrecht zu schockieren. Anders als gedacht, ist ihre Ehe aber nicht arrangiert. Dr. Ahmed hat Margret vielmehr gerettet um ihr ein freies Leben zu ermöglichen. Für ihn hat sie die Religion gewechselt. Trotzdem muss sie kein unterwürfiges Leben leben, ist frei in ihrem Tun und ihren Taten. Jojo, der Sohn, ist von Nick begeistert. Auch Nick schließt den Jungen gleich in sein Herz, nimmt ihn unter seine Fittiche und bringt ihm viel bei. Entfacht aber auch ein Feuer in dem Kind, das durch sein unüberlegtes und egoistisches Handeln ausgelöst wurde. Nicks Taten kann man durchaus nachvollziehen, er will einfach nur helfen. Ist aber auch sehr naiv was die Menschen, besonders jene die die Macht haben, anbelangt. Er glaubt tatsächlich daran, dass sich alles zum Guten wenden wird, obwohl die Zeichen schon deutlich anders stehen.
Mein Fazit:
Als Leser taucht man bereits zu Beginn in das Ende der Geschichte ein. Es liegt eine flirrende Spannung in dieser Szene, die man sich gut vor Augen führen kann. Nach und nach werden die Geschehnisse aus Nicks und aus Jojos Sicht über mehrere Monate geschildert. Es beginnt recht ruhig, vieles ist vorhersehbar, besonders die Entwicklung von Nick und Margret zueinander. Dr. Ahmed mit seiner Gelassenheit und seinen Lebensweisheiten fand ich als Ruhepol wunderbar dargestellt.
Auch wenn die Geschichte eher ruhig begann und der Verlauf vorhersehbar war, machte die Spannung am Ende alles wieder wett. Definitiv kein Page Turner, aber doch ganz passabel am Schluss. Eine Geschichte über Liebe, über Macht und Manipulation, über gute Taten, über falsche Entscheidungen und welche Steine damit ins Rollen gebracht werden können.
Nicholas gehört für mich zu dem Menschenschlag, der mit sich noch nicht recht im Reinen ist. Mit seinen knapp 30 Jahren ist er dafür auch noch etwas zu jung. Er ist erfolgreich in seinem Beruf als Ingenieur, will sich aber in Afrika beweisen. Für sich oder doch mehr für seinen verstorbenen Vater, das konnte ich nicht hundert Prozentig herauslesen. Ein bisschen von beidem wahrscheinlich. Mit Land und Leuten scheint er sich im Vorfeld nicht wirklich befasst zu haben. Sein Gastgeber Dr. Ahmed und seine Familie empfangen ihn mit offenen Armen. Das Margret, die junge schöne Frau, die Ehefrau des alten Arztes ist, scheint ihn regelrecht zu schockieren. Anders als gedacht, ist ihre Ehe aber nicht arrangiert. Dr. Ahmed hat Margret vielmehr gerettet um ihr ein freies Leben zu ermöglichen. Für ihn hat sie die Religion gewechselt. Trotzdem muss sie kein unterwürfiges Leben leben, ist frei in ihrem Tun und ihren Taten. Jojo, der Sohn, ist von Nick begeistert. Auch Nick schließt den Jungen gleich in sein Herz, nimmt ihn unter seine Fittiche und bringt ihm viel bei. Entfacht aber auch ein Feuer in dem Kind, das durch sein unüberlegtes und egoistisches Handeln ausgelöst wurde. Nicks Taten kann man durchaus nachvollziehen, er will einfach nur helfen. Ist aber auch sehr naiv was die Menschen, besonders jene die die Macht haben, anbelangt. Er glaubt tatsächlich daran, dass sich alles zum Guten wenden wird, obwohl die Zeichen schon deutlich anders stehen.
Mein Fazit:
Als Leser taucht man bereits zu Beginn in das Ende der Geschichte ein. Es liegt eine flirrende Spannung in dieser Szene, die man sich gut vor Augen führen kann. Nach und nach werden die Geschehnisse aus Nicks und aus Jojos Sicht über mehrere Monate geschildert. Es beginnt recht ruhig, vieles ist vorhersehbar, besonders die Entwicklung von Nick und Margret zueinander. Dr. Ahmed mit seiner Gelassenheit und seinen Lebensweisheiten fand ich als Ruhepol wunderbar dargestellt.
Auch wenn die Geschichte eher ruhig begann und der Verlauf vorhersehbar war, machte die Spannung am Ende alles wieder wett. Definitiv kein Page Turner, aber doch ganz passabel am Schluss. Eine Geschichte über Liebe, über Macht und Manipulation, über gute Taten, über falsche Entscheidungen und welche Steine damit ins Rollen gebracht werden können.
September 9, 2018
Nick is a thirtysomething professional in England after his father's death he decides to take a one-year sabbatical to volunteer his professional expertise as an architect on a construction project in Africa. Nick is recently engaged in isn't really sure where his life is headed. Upon his arrival in the town in an unnamed African nation, he starts to see how different life is from when he grew up with and knows back home.
The construction work that he is managing moves slowly and it is marked by many of the features of the developing world: foreign expertise, low-skilled local labor (and its challenges), leadership corruption and misguided ambition. As if that weren't enough Nick also feels challenged faces challenges with the family who is hosting him in their home. Despite having a fiancée back home, he starts an affair with his host’s wife.
As the months progress, a drought grows in the country, and everyone must buy fresh water from the governor's monopoly water supply company. There is no well or other sources of water, so without the water trucks, there is no water for irrigation cleaning cooking or drinking. The governor claims benevolence by selling water but makes a tidy profit on the backs of the villagers with no choice.
The author paints a rather bleak, although sadly realistic, picture of how close to the edge of survival millions of people live in the developing world. There seems to be some foreign money as well as some well-intentioned people genuinely trying to help get harsh it is a lack of resources and fundamentally the selfishness of human nature that keeps people stuck where they are.
Nick desperately wants to address the water shortage by drilling the well in the village. When he can't get funding by request decides to ‘borrow’ from the hospital’s construction fund do it.
As he starts the drilling project, everything starts to fall apart – his work is relationships the stability of the village – everything.
Told in rather straightforward prose with occasional color descriptions – the story also changes from third person to first person narration of the preadolescent son of Nick's host family – showing his person effective as he also comes of age in the story.
It feels like you're almost in the story feeling the heat in the sun beating down on the dry dusty air bakes in the hot winds of the African Sahel.
It's hard to stay where this leaves the reader – hopeful or helpless; relieved or agitated; happy or sad. By capturing the complexity nuance and challenges of life in developing Africa, the author does an important service to the people of that continent. She shows how the conspiracy of geography, weather, religion Western influence, and corruption have constrained and restrain the people of Africa for years and reflects on the missed opportunity of the future without some kind of radical change in one or more of these elements. That is not to say that this change is easier likely – in fact, even the degree of possibility of change is subject to debate.
Anyone who is interested in Africa or the complexities of life in the developing world would enjoy this book while a may not quite rise to the level of moral fiction it certainly is a worthwhile and valuable read.
The construction work that he is managing moves slowly and it is marked by many of the features of the developing world: foreign expertise, low-skilled local labor (and its challenges), leadership corruption and misguided ambition. As if that weren't enough Nick also feels challenged faces challenges with the family who is hosting him in their home. Despite having a fiancée back home, he starts an affair with his host’s wife.
As the months progress, a drought grows in the country, and everyone must buy fresh water from the governor's monopoly water supply company. There is no well or other sources of water, so without the water trucks, there is no water for irrigation cleaning cooking or drinking. The governor claims benevolence by selling water but makes a tidy profit on the backs of the villagers with no choice.
The author paints a rather bleak, although sadly realistic, picture of how close to the edge of survival millions of people live in the developing world. There seems to be some foreign money as well as some well-intentioned people genuinely trying to help get harsh it is a lack of resources and fundamentally the selfishness of human nature that keeps people stuck where they are.
Nick desperately wants to address the water shortage by drilling the well in the village. When he can't get funding by request decides to ‘borrow’ from the hospital’s construction fund do it.
As he starts the drilling project, everything starts to fall apart – his work is relationships the stability of the village – everything.
Told in rather straightforward prose with occasional color descriptions – the story also changes from third person to first person narration of the preadolescent son of Nick's host family – showing his person effective as he also comes of age in the story.
It feels like you're almost in the story feeling the heat in the sun beating down on the dry dusty air bakes in the hot winds of the African Sahel.
It's hard to stay where this leaves the reader – hopeful or helpless; relieved or agitated; happy or sad. By capturing the complexity nuance and challenges of life in developing Africa, the author does an important service to the people of that continent. She shows how the conspiracy of geography, weather, religion Western influence, and corruption have constrained and restrain the people of Africa for years and reflects on the missed opportunity of the future without some kind of radical change in one or more of these elements. That is not to say that this change is easier likely – in fact, even the degree of possibility of change is subject to debate.
Anyone who is interested in Africa or the complexities of life in the developing world would enjoy this book while a may not quite rise to the level of moral fiction it certainly is a worthwhile and valuable read.
August 21, 2018
Review: The Water Thief by Claire Hajaj. 4.5★'s
A wonderful book I received from Early Reviews. This is her second alone book and I just my buy her first book from 2014. The writing style was great with well developed characters. The story was set in Africa with plenty of action, adventure, mystery/thriller, and crime/corruption. The story emits hope, love, and determination that captured my interest. Another question that follows is what’s right and what’s wrong….either way the consequence is embedded throughout the book and brings the story to an end.
Nicholas is an engineer who leaves his comfortable life in London and his fiancé to go abroad for a year to a small village in Africa to volunteer his skills to add another wing to the children’s hospital. He reaches a remote village on the edge of the Sahara and soon he is engulfed with compassion for the people and their families. However, it didn’t take long for Nick to meet the man behind the corruption of the village and who controls all issues that materialize between the people and they call him “The Governor”…
While Nick is there he stays with a family that lives on the outer area of the village. In fact, the man of the family is a doctor, Dr. Ahmed who cares for the shunned people of the village and the people around the outer areas of the village. Nick is the type of person who wants to help everyone and that is his downfall throughout the story. However, that could be good or bad…As the story starts slow it wasn’t long to be in the middle of conflict, drought, and thievery.
I think it was subject matter about right or wrong consumes a lot of the events and happenings of the story. The book was written with messages, emotions, consequences that captivated me to the very end.
A wonderful book I received from Early Reviews. This is her second alone book and I just my buy her first book from 2014. The writing style was great with well developed characters. The story was set in Africa with plenty of action, adventure, mystery/thriller, and crime/corruption. The story emits hope, love, and determination that captured my interest. Another question that follows is what’s right and what’s wrong….either way the consequence is embedded throughout the book and brings the story to an end.
Nicholas is an engineer who leaves his comfortable life in London and his fiancé to go abroad for a year to a small village in Africa to volunteer his skills to add another wing to the children’s hospital. He reaches a remote village on the edge of the Sahara and soon he is engulfed with compassion for the people and their families. However, it didn’t take long for Nick to meet the man behind the corruption of the village and who controls all issues that materialize between the people and they call him “The Governor”…
While Nick is there he stays with a family that lives on the outer area of the village. In fact, the man of the family is a doctor, Dr. Ahmed who cares for the shunned people of the village and the people around the outer areas of the village. Nick is the type of person who wants to help everyone and that is his downfall throughout the story. However, that could be good or bad…As the story starts slow it wasn’t long to be in the middle of conflict, drought, and thievery.
I think it was subject matter about right or wrong consumes a lot of the events and happenings of the story. The book was written with messages, emotions, consequences that captivated me to the very end.
September 2, 2018
Thank you Oneworld Publications for the free advanced reader copy. My review is completely my own.
There is an expectation when we do good deeds and help others that we will see the benefit and receive their gratitude, but Nick learns (as those in helping professions already know) that sometimes your good intentions make things much worse.
The Water Thief was definitely an interesting story about human nature, greed, and the ends people will go to in order to maintain power. I enjoyed each character's struggles and perspectives. While none of them were unexpected, they were realistic, which was fine because I wasn't expecting a thriller.
The style was also interesting as it flipped between a third-person perspective of Nicholas and the first-person narrative of JoJo.
I do have to admit that it took me longer than normal to finish this one. While the writing was good and the plot engaging, I didn't feel myself compelled to keep reading. It is uncommon for me to find it difficult to pick up a book, but I did with this one.
There was also one little piece that bothered me and that was that the location of the village where Nicholas goes is left very vague. All that is said is that it is somewhere in the African desert. No specific country is even mentioned which reminded me too much of the fact that many people in America think that Africa itself is just one big country.
Overall, though, I did enjoy the book. It was enlightening to the struggles of living in the desert with no access to water. It was definitely worth the read!
There is an expectation when we do good deeds and help others that we will see the benefit and receive their gratitude, but Nick learns (as those in helping professions already know) that sometimes your good intentions make things much worse.
The Water Thief was definitely an interesting story about human nature, greed, and the ends people will go to in order to maintain power. I enjoyed each character's struggles and perspectives. While none of them were unexpected, they were realistic, which was fine because I wasn't expecting a thriller.
The style was also interesting as it flipped between a third-person perspective of Nicholas and the first-person narrative of JoJo.
I do have to admit that it took me longer than normal to finish this one. While the writing was good and the plot engaging, I didn't feel myself compelled to keep reading. It is uncommon for me to find it difficult to pick up a book, but I did with this one.
There was also one little piece that bothered me and that was that the location of the village where Nicholas goes is left very vague. All that is said is that it is somewhere in the African desert. No specific country is even mentioned which reminded me too much of the fact that many people in America think that Africa itself is just one big country.
Overall, though, I did enjoy the book. It was enlightening to the struggles of living in the desert with no access to water. It was definitely worth the read!
March 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book -the story of Nick, who leaves his partner Kate when he goes to Africa for a year. It would seem that this journey is, in a sense, an atonement for past events and people -his father and a childhood friend. He lives in a small village -quite remote -as African villages often are, and lives with Dr. Ahmed, his much younger wife Margaret and their two children, JO Jo and Nagode.
This novel explores several issues: the discord created in families through religion; the massive corruption which exists in so many African countries and the effect of sexual attraction between men and women. In many ways I found the protagonist naive and irrational - he wants to help these people, but does not really explore the viability or outcome of his actions. Likewise, he is physically and emotionally attracted to Margaret -but he does not curb his desires and whereas he can walk away and return to the UK she is left to her fate in Africa. Their affair has a profound effect on Nagode -who sees them entwined together. Again, his thoughts and actions are in many ways, irresponsible.
The book illustrates the differences between cultures, countries and religions and shows that trying to impose one's views on others does not work and often has disastrous outcomes. Finally, it demonstrates what has, and probably still does, happen when Europeans blithely invade another country and culture with the ambition of changing it.
This novel explores several issues: the discord created in families through religion; the massive corruption which exists in so many African countries and the effect of sexual attraction between men and women. In many ways I found the protagonist naive and irrational - he wants to help these people, but does not really explore the viability or outcome of his actions. Likewise, he is physically and emotionally attracted to Margaret -but he does not curb his desires and whereas he can walk away and return to the UK she is left to her fate in Africa. Their affair has a profound effect on Nagode -who sees them entwined together. Again, his thoughts and actions are in many ways, irresponsible.
The book illustrates the differences between cultures, countries and religions and shows that trying to impose one's views on others does not work and often has disastrous outcomes. Finally, it demonstrates what has, and probably still does, happen when Europeans blithely invade another country and culture with the ambition of changing it.
August 12, 2020
Well, I know what road is paved with good intentions. That is not a spoiler for as soon as this novel opens, Nicholas is being dragged away 'escorted' by police. The rest of the story jumps back to tell the tale. Nicholas, a young engineer, leaves London and his fiancee, to take on an engineering assignment in an unnamed by perhaps west African country. He stays with a local family in a small village and develops attachments. When a drought hits, he is driven to put his engineering skills to use even as the local governor charges outrageously for water the villagers can't afford. As much as anything, this is about the idealism of youth and as much as anything - I'll just call it 'first world privilege' - Nicholas's desire to fix his own life by fixing the lives of the people in his 'new' culture. t. Although this book lagged at times for me, it held my interest by the end as this played out. My rating is 3 stars because I really didn't like most of the characters. I found Jojo hard to relate to but that's probably not the author's fault for I don't relate well to most 12-13 year old boys unless they are nerds or geeks.
January 25, 2019
Two stars for the first half of the book. I forced myself to read to the halfway point, but the book did not interest me enough to continue further. I was not even tempted peek at the conclusion to see what happened before I returned the book to the library.
I think the story may have been ok, but the writing and dialogue did not draw me in. At the beginning there were too many characters introduced too quickly. This forced me to flip back and forth between pages trying to figure out who was who. Once I did figure out the characters, I was distracted by the writing and unrealistic dialogue. For a time I thought maybe this was just a poor translation. but it looks like the book was written in English.
I think the story may have been ok, but the writing and dialogue did not draw me in. At the beginning there were too many characters introduced too quickly. This forced me to flip back and forth between pages trying to figure out who was who. Once I did figure out the characters, I was distracted by the writing and unrealistic dialogue. For a time I thought maybe this was just a poor translation. but it looks like the book was written in English.
January 12, 2019
There was so much going on in this book. A man trying to do right by his deceased father. A young boy trying to become a man. Nicholas went to Africa to help build a hospital but found his true mission was to help a small town that was dying. He tried to do what he thought was right but corruption seemed to want to have it own answer. JoJo was such an amazing character that struggled with right and wrong while becoming a man.
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2019
Some interesting and thought-provoking issues raised, but the narrative became a little wordy and dragged from time to time, mainly when in the voice of JoJo. I don't feel the author really nailed that aspect, and the character of Mister was under-developed and confusing, like an afterthought. Some parts of the story just didn't fit properly and were neglected - almost as if the author was too rushed to think it through properly.
August 30, 2018
Beautiful and gripping
The writing here is beautiful, she has a magical way of bringing a scene to vivid life without getting lost in the details. And the story is gripping - for anyone who has travelled and felt like they could fix the dysfunction, if only it were so easy! Loved this book.
The writing here is beautiful, she has a magical way of bringing a scene to vivid life without getting lost in the details. And the story is gripping - for anyone who has travelled and felt like they could fix the dysfunction, if only it were so easy! Loved this book.
September 11, 2018
I received this book through Librarything Early Review Member Giveaway for an honest review. This is my own thoughts about the book. This book was very good and interesting. The main character, Nicholas was a great and strong character. The book was about the water crisis in Africa. This book opened my eyes.
October 10, 2019
I read this very quickly. It seemed to flow well, and was interesting and thought provoking, but there seemed to be something lacking and I can only think it was in the characterizations that just didn't add up. There could have been more depth or background of character. Water is a major commodity in our world and a necessity for life. The horrendous "ownership" of same is life threatening.
September 28, 2020
Nick wants to do one last personal adventure before getting married and settling into a placid life in England. He is chosen as the architect/builder for a hospital in Africa, and is excited to put this notch in his cap. When he discovers the project is mired in corruption, he tries to make it right.
July 12, 2022
2.5 stars…
Enjoyed the first half better then the second.
Was disappointed by the whole unrealistic romance’, did not like how Nicholas was portrayed; some kind of white first world savior who is completely in over his head, and tries to be a superhero.
‘Unfairness is universal….. But, fortunately, so is justice’
Enjoyed the first half better then the second.
Was disappointed by the whole unrealistic romance’, did not like how Nicholas was portrayed; some kind of white first world savior who is completely in over his head, and tries to be a superhero.
‘Unfairness is universal….. But, fortunately, so is justice’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
Our book club had a great discussion. There were many aspects to discuss. Hajaj is a good story teller. She also had good quotes that were worthy of a discussion in the context of the book or as stand-alone thought provoking lines. The Water Thief addressed issues that have existed for generations and unfortunately continue to challenge. Thank you for writing and sharing this book.
April 15, 2021
What an interesting and compelling story. Beautiful read with words of wisdom scattered throughout the book
- Hod is for people who can’t find the right road without a map.
- The law of the jungle means everyone gets eaten in the end.
- There is no such thing as an innocent bystander.
- Hod is for people who can’t find the right road without a map.
- The law of the jungle means everyone gets eaten in the end.
- There is no such thing as an innocent bystander.
April 26, 2021
Almost gave up on reading it but there was eventually some action taking place. Found the switching of narratives rather clunky and very confusing at first. Appreciated the author’s inclusion of religion but somehow it just didn’t all click.
July 12, 2019
A slow start but as it progressed I became more interested in the characters and story line.
October 23, 2022
Das Buch hat gut und spannend gestartet. Die Auflösung der Verwirrungen war dann leider eher lieblos und nicht immer folgerichtig.
February 8, 2023
One of those books that will stay with me. Makes my life look easy.
October 4, 2025
slow paced and not for me
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