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There are currently 61 member reviews
for The Well
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Judy G. (Carmel, IN)
"The Well" Written
I was drawn into this book by the theme of loneliness and the effect loneliness can have on our minds. Ruth's imprisonment and her search for the truth were very well written. Some of the descriptive paragraphs (of both landscapes and people) at the Well prompted me to stop reading, read again and reflect before moving on. Those unplanned "stops" in reading are the mark of an exceptional author for me.
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Bobbie D. (Boca Raton, FL)
Secrets of The Well
The Well takes place in England. The story begins with an attorney, accused of watching porn on the office computer. He and his wife decide to move to the country and start a new life. They find "The Well", a large acreage that looks like "Eden" but turns out to be more like "Hell". Why do they have water when the rest of the country is suffering from a drought? People camp out on their land, including a group of "Sisters of the Rose" and a caravan of strangers that include Mark and Ruth's daughter and grandson. Witchcraft? Murder! Even the government comes and takes over the property. Where is the small carved rose?
You are quickly drawn into this bizarre story. The characters are well defined. Some you like, some not so much. But you have to read on to ferret out the truth.
Good read!
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Dawn C. (Meridian, ID)
The Well by Catherine Chanter
This book is set in England. Mark and Ruth flee to the Well after a scandal to renew their marriage and let the dust settle. That year England had a severe drought, and the only place that receives rain is at the Well. As the drought continues they begin to get notoriety because there farm gets rain, has lush crops, and the local farmers are getting angry. Add their odd daughter shows up with her son and a ragtag group of stragglers. Things continue to get worse as a group of nuns shows up too. No spoilers here, but it was an odd story, but well written.
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Lesley F. (San Diego, CA)
Frightening Tale with a Ring of Real Possibility
It seemed to be set in the future and had all the feeling of a Margaret Atwood, a good thing in a thriller. Then, it felt like it was happening not post-apocalyptic but right now, like a Dean Koontz fright story. The details of a horrifying crime slowly emerge as the reader lives in the mind of Ruth Ardingly, an average woman of today, and tries to understand what in the world happened to her and her family - and recognizing many of the thought processes along the way. Catherine Chanter's writing is surely poetic but the thriller is also imbued with Chanter's experience as a psychiatrist. It will make the reader writhe in discomfort for Ruth. It was a book that could not be put down but I could not give it the 5 it might have deserved because the crime was too awful and happened to a small person who sounds like one close to me!
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Asha K. (Bellerose, NY)
Obfuscation and Subterfuge.
Vastly grateful to have received this book as an advance reader copy.
Once I started this read, I couldn't put it down. This is a deeply engaging and thought provoking book.
The protagonist gets obfuscated often by her emotions, her unmet needs, and her thirst for belonging. Her trust is betrayed and the larger societal issues of deprivation due to the drought, religious fanaticism, and dependence on nature are nicely woven together to tell a story that is captivating and heartfelt.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to find an intelligent and satisfying read.
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Lora G. (Niceville, FL)
The Well
When I first started The Well, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it but it soon captivated me and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were well developed and the book was very well written. I can't wait till it is published and suggest it to our book club.
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Cindy C. (Withee, WI)
The Well
On the bad side, I thought the pace of the book was too slow. It didn't really pull me in and want me to finish it in a single sitting. On the good side, there are many twists in the plot. Every time you think you have things figured out, there is a new twist in the story. I have to admit that although I found the setting somewhat unrealistic, I did find the relationships among the characters to be very believable. So overall, even though I didn't think it was a great book, it was an okay read.
