The Ormering Tide

by Kathryn Williams

The Ormering Tide is a coming of age story set amidst a series of darkly foreboding events. Rozel lives with her triplet older brothers and her parents in the bay of a small island. One of her brothers goes missing and the familys landlord, Mr Willow, is implicated as the menacing truths are discovered. The island is rich with nature; and the islanders lives and the steady passing of the seasons contrast sharply with the realities of violence and inevitable revelations. The Ormering Tide explores the inherent human need to keep and bury secrets.

Kathryn Williams first novel, The Ormering Tide, is about processing the past, after the fact. This is a brooding and astonishing debut from the Mercury Music Prize nominated singer-songwriter.

The Ormering Tide shines as brightly as the beautiful shell from which this novel draws its title and is as impressive and adventurous as the authors music.

Genres: Novels, Fiction

204 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2021

Reviews

[Gavin William Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ormering Tide is a fabulous book, though I would not say it is a novel, that is to say it is a novel in the way that Woolf's To the Lighthouse is a novel. And there is something very Woolf-like about TOT - both atmospherically and descriptively. This distinction of form comes about not through a lack of a story, or from inadequate characterisation - there is plenty of the first and enough of the second - but from the nature of the writing, the gossamer prose. In fact it would not be unfair to describe Williams' writing here as a prose poem - the story, such that it is, a series of fragments, dreamy poetical moments, is broken into small happenings; to the characters - events, yet flows smoothly as a whole. The prose is as pretty and delicate as Williams' music, the ideas and imagery as rich and bewitching as her lyrics. TOT doesn't feel to have the bulk or frame of a novel, it is like a misty, dreamlike memoir. The ambiguity of date, the simple blurriness of the characterisation - it carries on a distant modernist tradition. A lovely book.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written, just gorgeous poetic prose, with a meandering yet compelling plot. I really loved the island setting and the relationship between the protagonist and her mother especially. My only negative is that at times it felt a little over-written, in the way that a debut sometimes can. But this book holds so much promise and I'd love to see what Kathryn writes next!

[Gordon Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. To The Lighthouse meets The Woman in Black. Highly recommended

[Anji M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much. I have listened to Kathryn Williams music (she has an entire album based on the Bell Jar I highly recommend) - her writing is infused with the phrasing of music. I would call it punctuated stream of consciousness. I liked it most for the writing, but the twists and turns of the plot that is a thread through the story is well done and the hint of mystery feels worth it when truth is revealed.

[Lindsay Strachan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Such a beautiful book, and so well written for a first novel, though given Kathryn Williams is such a great songwriter I’m not at all surprised! Brilliant storyline, kept me captivated throughout, and so poetic. Can’t wait for more from this author!

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can tell this is written by a songwriter. Swathes are more lyrical poetry than narrative and I don't know quite how Williams maintains this sumptuous naturalist setting that holds such a sinister undercurrent. As a coming of age story, it reminded me of the intense feelings as appreciation of the world around me during my younger years - I could well relate. I've seen criticism that at times it is overwritten, and I can see what might have provoked such a comment. At times it is dense, especially at the beginning, and it was only in the latter half that I felt settled into the style. I'm still not entirely sure of the resolution but that fault may be mine and not KWs. Much to recommend but perhaps a bit of a slog if this isn't your sort of thing.

[Carolyn Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel by singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams was always going to be beautiful, and, like many of her songs, the shimmering prose has a lyrical rhythm. It takes just a few pages to settle into the
style and pace, and then you're hooked, like the shells from which the novel takes its title. The Ormering Tide is a coming of age story that is delicately and sometimes violently unravelled, wind-blown and dark, filled with longing, loss and love.

[Jeff Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the down to earth characters, very easy to visualize, then relate to them and their life on this rugged island home. Rozel's loving, caring concern for her close-knit family, and others within her wild, windswept world, shines through in this wonderful story. A family drama that had me caught up to the last page in the ebb and flow of island life.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark and poetic novel. Williams' skill as a lyricist shines through with a treasure trove of beautifully conjured images.

[T Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow, well-observed tale of a rural childhood where people are not to be trusted and the truth is usually buried in the ground. A book of dark not light, secrets not truth, ennui not energy.

[Arlette · Rating 2 out of 5]

no-no

[Charlie Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars.

A quiet little book, gorgeously written prose which was very poetic. The main characters were human and the family dynamic was very joyfully realised.

[Sophie-Mai Wilde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it less engaging, interesting topic but heavy