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There are currently 61 member reviews
for The Well
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Bink W. (Sopchoppy, FL)
Slow
I felt that the books with worth reading, but took a long time to finish inbetween other books. Just did not compel my attention. Sort of wanders around, but I liked the language.
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Beth T. (Savannah, GA)
I Drowned in The Well
When I am fortunate enough to score an ARC from BookBrowse, I feel an obligation to give the book my very best shot. I tried really hard to get enthused about The Well, but it was too much for me. It didn't pull me in in the first 100 pages, and the pace was waaaay too slow for my liking. While I can see that Ms. Chanter has promise as an author, this book simply was not my cup of well water.
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Nancy F. (Naples, FL)
The Last Quarter
I could not understand why it took me so long to finish this book. I felt that the descriptions of the environment were too detailed. This surprised me as I have such a love for all plants and environs yet the first two thirds of the book was too slow reading for my taste.
I thought the plot was excellent but it often became lost in beginning 27 chapters. I would suggest the editor tighten up the plot line into no more than 20-25 chapters.
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Carol N. (Indian Springs Village, AL)
The Well
I have mixed feelings about this book so I will give it an average rating rather than a good rating. The type of murder made it difficult for me to read, but not knowing who did the murder kept me going. I felt like the story could have been told in a shorter, less repetitive way - it seemed like the main character spent a lot of her time in reflection and meditation that could have been skipped. And I never understood why it was so easy for her to follow some strangers and essentially throw over her husband of 20 years. But the central premise of the book with the concept of no rain except in certain areas of the country was interesting. It would have been more interesting to me if we could have known what these scattered areas had in common. And once the mystery was solved, the main character then gave up on the land? That seemed odd to me too. I guess this just wasn't my type of book overall.
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Eileen P. (Pittsford, NY)
Religion run amok
The beginning of The Well captivated me. The premise of the story was interesting, and I appreciated how Chanter made the land where it continued to rain a character in the novel. Unfortunately, as soon as the Sisters of the Rose entered the story, it lost some of its momentum. The religious elements didn't interest me enough, and Ruth's role in the rise of it didn't seem well enough explained. The book is beautifully written, and the imagery in it is stunning, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome my impatience with how the story unfolded.
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JW Davis, CA
A psychological drama written by a psychiatrist
This book takes place in an ordinary place under extraordinary circumstances. The time and place is a post global-warmed England. A country in extreme drought which spawns old fears, superstitions, cults, witch hunts and Big Brother among the citizens. It is the story of a women with deep psychological problems and how she deals with her family and circumstances. This is not an uplifting story. It is a tale of human frailty and mob mentality, jealousy and mental defeat.
I did not find it an easy read because of the writing style. There was a lot of shifting back and forth from past to present. This seems to be a popular trend at present, but one I do not enjoy. Some of the characters were well developed, others not at all. Would like to have had a bit more information on a few of the supporting characters in the story.
This is not an unbelievable story - just the opposite. It is an example of some of the things that happen to people under extreme stress and how they choose to cope. A lesson for the future.
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Jane H. (Prospect, KY)
THE WELL
Although the writing was ethereal and lovely, this was one of the most irritating books I have ever read. I almost put it down several times as the story seemed redundant and drawn out. Honestly, by the end of it, I hoped all the characters would drown in The Well and be done with it. Only giving it a 3 because of the beautiful writing.
