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Thicker Than Water
Isabel is the unwanted daughter of charming but irresponsible people who married in haste, divorced just as quickly, and distanced themselves from one another - and from her.
Left to her grandparents' care, longing for her elusive, glamorous mother and for a father she barely remembers, Isabel's agony erupts into perverse and dangerous rebellion.
A compelling novel that lends new meaning to Freud's "family romance", Thicker Than Water brilliantly illuminates how fragile the line is between family love and the darker sides of passion.
Left to her grandparents' care, longing for her elusive, glamorous mother and for a father she barely remembers, Isabel's agony erupts into perverse and dangerous rebellion.
A compelling novel that lends new meaning to Freud's "family romance", Thicker Than Water brilliantly illuminates how fragile the line is between family love and the darker sides of passion.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 1991
10 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Harrison
47 books296 followersKathryn Harrison is the author of the novels Envy, The Seal Wife, The Binding Chair, Poison, Exposure, and Thicker Than Water.
She has also written memoirs, The Kiss and The Mother Knot, a travel memoir, The Road to Santiago, a biography, Saint Therese of Lisieux, and a collection of personal essays, Seeking Rapture.
Ms. Harrison is a frequent reviewer for The New York Times Book Review; her essays, which have been included in many anthologies, have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, Vogue, O, The Oprah Magazine, Salon, and other publications.
She lives in New York with her husband, the novelist Colin Harrison, and their children.
She has also written memoirs, The Kiss and The Mother Knot, a travel memoir, The Road to Santiago, a biography, Saint Therese of Lisieux, and a collection of personal essays, Seeking Rapture.
Ms. Harrison is a frequent reviewer for The New York Times Book Review; her essays, which have been included in many anthologies, have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, Vogue, O, The Oprah Magazine, Salon, and other publications.
She lives in New York with her husband, the novelist Colin Harrison, and their children.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 8, 2015
I'm a little disappointed that Thicker Than Water is just a fictionalised take on her autobiography The Kiss. Having read The Kiss prior to picking up Thicker Than Water I consistently found myself experiencing deja-vu, finding some chapters lifted word for word from The Kiss. Or should I say that as Thicker Than Water was written first, The Kiss was the plagiarised piece.
It's fascinating in itself that Kathryn Harrison chose to deal with her past incestuous relationship with her father by writing it as a piece of fiction first before revealing five years later that her story was in fact real by presenting it in the form of an autobiography. That fine line between real life and fiction tends to blur at this point in time. I neither know what is real and what isn't.
The Kiss hones in on the character's relationship with her father, however Thicker Than Water tends to focus more on the dysfunctional relationship between mother and daughter. Kathryn Harrison's twisted life makes her a talented writer when it comes to twisted fiction. I admire her courage to speak out and her sometimes disjointed thought patterns. Her writing intrigues me.
I will most definitely continue to read anything and everything I can get my hands on that is written by Kathryn Harrison. Whilst I don't love every book she has published, I enjoy reading them for their disturbing content. I recommend for those of you wanting to read this book to read Thicker Than Water first before moving on to The Kiss. It makes more sense that way.
It's fascinating in itself that Kathryn Harrison chose to deal with her past incestuous relationship with her father by writing it as a piece of fiction first before revealing five years later that her story was in fact real by presenting it in the form of an autobiography. That fine line between real life and fiction tends to blur at this point in time. I neither know what is real and what isn't.
The Kiss hones in on the character's relationship with her father, however Thicker Than Water tends to focus more on the dysfunctional relationship between mother and daughter. Kathryn Harrison's twisted life makes her a talented writer when it comes to twisted fiction. I admire her courage to speak out and her sometimes disjointed thought patterns. Her writing intrigues me.
I will most definitely continue to read anything and everything I can get my hands on that is written by Kathryn Harrison. Whilst I don't love every book she has published, I enjoy reading them for their disturbing content. I recommend for those of you wanting to read this book to read Thicker Than Water first before moving on to The Kiss. It makes more sense that way.
August 5, 2016
I don't have a lot to say about this book, a fictionalization of the author's life, except to say her memoir The Kiss was much better.
This was written first, and it focuses on her dysfunctional relationship with her mother. The memoir focuses on her sexual affair with her father after she turned eighteen. One reason I prefer the memoir is it's a tightly written close-up, where this novel is portrayed through a wide lens. It touches on a great deal of things, her parents and grandparents, her friends and lovers, her eating disorder. A lot of very detailed sections of the book seemed out of place. I kept thinking, "So what? Why is this in here?"
The fiction was actually a lot more disturbing to read than the memoir, believe it or not. I don't know, I read the memoir a few years ago, and it seemed like the incest was between two consensual adults, so I thought whatever. I'm not one to judge. But in the novel, the dad rapes her the first time, and just kind of emotionally berates her to keep doing it. I don't remember the memoir being that bad, but maybe it was. Maybe I've gotten more empathetic to people since becoming a parent.
Kathryn Harrison is definitely a skilled author that I will continue to read.. She has several other books on my wish list. But I didn't like the meandering style of this one. It was like family snapshots, little vignettes, mixed with all these dream journal entries, and it didn't follow much of a story arc or go anywhere.
This was written first, and it focuses on her dysfunctional relationship with her mother. The memoir focuses on her sexual affair with her father after she turned eighteen. One reason I prefer the memoir is it's a tightly written close-up, where this novel is portrayed through a wide lens. It touches on a great deal of things, her parents and grandparents, her friends and lovers, her eating disorder. A lot of very detailed sections of the book seemed out of place. I kept thinking, "So what? Why is this in here?"
The fiction was actually a lot more disturbing to read than the memoir, believe it or not. I don't know, I read the memoir a few years ago, and it seemed like the incest was between two consensual adults, so I thought whatever. I'm not one to judge. But in the novel, the dad rapes her the first time, and just kind of emotionally berates her to keep doing it. I don't remember the memoir being that bad, but maybe it was. Maybe I've gotten more empathetic to people since becoming a parent.
Kathryn Harrison is definitely a skilled author that I will continue to read.. She has several other books on my wish list. But I didn't like the meandering style of this one. It was like family snapshots, little vignettes, mixed with all these dream journal entries, and it didn't follow much of a story arc or go anywhere.
January 6, 2013
I was unsure as to whether to give this 3 or 4 stars...I think I'm going to go with 4. The subject matter is enough to throw me off and make me not want to finish the book, but after reading other reviews I decided to keep with it. I am so glad that I did! Ms. Harrison is an extremely talented writer, who drew me in with her honesty and gift of language. I want to read more from her but I think I will take a break for awhile from reading at this level of intensity.
January 7, 2013
Well, I am not a fan of this style. The book was like reading random memories and not really in order. I kept waiting to be hooked, drawn in and captured by the main character, or at least the story line. There is no real conclusion to the story, it just marches on afterwards and you are kept longing for some real closure.
I was left wondering many things about the story. For example, does she remember her abuse as an infant or was it told to her? And by who? The story isnt really clear on a motive for it or who would have told her such abuse even happened.
She spends alot of time analyzing her mother. She doesnt spend much time analyzing her own motives so the character seems to drag on. It just felt self indulgent and a tad whiny to me.
I was hoping to feel the main characters, at least one would be nice. The closest I came to that was the grandfather. I could almost make out his face.
The book isnt horrible but it is not stellar in my opinion. As my mom would say, just not my cup of tea. Im embarking on a historical fiction book by this same author so I am hoping to be enchanted long enough to finish it.
I was left wondering many things about the story. For example, does she remember her abuse as an infant or was it told to her? And by who? The story isnt really clear on a motive for it or who would have told her such abuse even happened.
She spends alot of time analyzing her mother. She doesnt spend much time analyzing her own motives so the character seems to drag on. It just felt self indulgent and a tad whiny to me.
I was hoping to feel the main characters, at least one would be nice. The closest I came to that was the grandfather. I could almost make out his face.
The book isnt horrible but it is not stellar in my opinion. As my mom would say, just not my cup of tea. Im embarking on a historical fiction book by this same author so I am hoping to be enchanted long enough to finish it.
June 23, 2017
. A fictionalized account of Harrison’s notorious memoir The Kiss. This novel focuses on the protagonist Isabel, her mother who is dying of cancer and her grandmother. Basically a coming-of-age story, the incestuous relationship with her father (who she doesn’t really meet until she is 18) is only a small section of the narrative. I surmise it was the principal theme of The Kiss, which I have not read. Thicker Than Water was a relatively good read, well-written and it held my interest.
January 26, 2013
I wanted to give up on finishing this book several times, but somehow I powered thru. The subject is very disturbing to me, but loved the honesty of the author. As a recovering anorexic and bulimic I could really relate to her chapter on the subject. Would like to read other books by the author.
June 7, 2007
A "novel" that is clearly almost a memoir (she wrote one of those later) about incest. Not a cheerful topic, but this book is well-written, if you can stomach it.
June 3, 2010
It's all about Kathryn Harrison.
May 19, 2010
Disturbing, but well-written.
Read
June 22, 20101st edition
July 12, 2015
Beautifully written, but disturbing as hell.
September 13, 2010
This is basically the same story as her memoir The Kiss, which was published later. Another case where fiction is better.
January 7, 2013
Disturbing subject matter. Beautifully written.
July 23, 2017
Disturbing. The precursor to "The Kiss" which I thought was a better book.
March 9, 2023
Die Eltern von Isabel heirateten jung und wurden bald wieder geschieden. Isabel bleibt bei ihrer Mutter, später wird sie von ihren Großeltern aufgezogen. Während das Verhältnis zu ihren Eltern und der Großmutter distanziert ist, ist der Großvater der einzige Mensch, den Isabel aufrichtig und ohne Hintergedanken liebt.
die Geschichte sehr bekannt vor, so als ob ich das Buch schon einmal gelesen habe. Aber ich habe einige Seiten gebraucht, um zu erkennen: sie erinnert stark an Harrisons Autobiografie. So sehr, dass es auf mich wirkte, als ob Kathryn Harrison ihre Biografie neu eingekleidet und unter der Kleidung nichts verändert hat. Wie im Original ist die Geschichte flach, obwohl bedrückende Dinge erzählt werden. Nur der Großvater ist die einzige warmherzige Person in Isabels Leben, das reicht weder für sie, noch für mich.
die Geschichte sehr bekannt vor, so als ob ich das Buch schon einmal gelesen habe. Aber ich habe einige Seiten gebraucht, um zu erkennen: sie erinnert stark an Harrisons Autobiografie. So sehr, dass es auf mich wirkte, als ob Kathryn Harrison ihre Biografie neu eingekleidet und unter der Kleidung nichts verändert hat. Wie im Original ist die Geschichte flach, obwohl bedrückende Dinge erzählt werden. Nur der Großvater ist die einzige warmherzige Person in Isabels Leben, das reicht weder für sie, noch für mich.
February 26, 2020
I can't believe I actually finished this book. I was tempted to dispense with it many times but kept thinking the end would be worth it. Well it wasn't!
I did not care for her style of writing and found it very hard to follow. I didn't think her descriptions drew in the reader at all. She even made the characters seem dull!
I did not care for her style of writing and found it very hard to follow. I didn't think her descriptions drew in the reader at all. She even made the characters seem dull!
April 20, 2022
I stayed with it for longer than I should have. It almost numbed me to the disturbing events...maybe that was the point. Boring doesn't describe the feeling. I skipped over a lot, hoping that some life would occur. I understand when emotions are complicated. Didn't like any of the characters and found it difficult to stay with any of them.
August 14, 2020
Boring. Waste of my time.
December 13, 2021
The writing is exquisite. However, except for the grandparents, I found it difficult to like or feel for any of the characters.
February 17, 2024
i read the author’s “this kiss” memoir first. in my opinion “the kiss” is better, but this definitely adds to the story, although in this book one has to question what exactly is fiction and what is not. if you enjoyed the kiss then i believe you will enjoy this book and vice versa.
i have issues with the author saying that her mother sexually assaulted her as a very small child, not because i don’t believe it, but because it isn’t mentioned in her subsequent memoirs, and this book is technically fiction. i wish she would clarify the truth of this matter somewhere.
i have issues with the author saying that her mother sexually assaulted her as a very small child, not because i don’t believe it, but because it isn’t mentioned in her subsequent memoirs, and this book is technically fiction. i wish she would clarify the truth of this matter somewhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2008
And you thought your family was messed up..highly disturbing.
June 10, 2015
good potential but didn't have strong climax or ending
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews