The Waikato Independent reviews Joseph Howse’s The Girl in the Water
Winner of the 2023 Independent Press Award for Literary Fiction
Finalist in the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards for Multicultural Fiction
Review by Benji Allen –Wintec | Te Pūkenga journalism student
Canadian Joseph Howse’s debut novel, The Girl in the Water, immerses readers in a world that has long since vanished but whose legacy lingers on. Set in the final days of the Soviet Union, the novel explores the personal struggles and relationships of a group of young Ukrainian and Estonian friends as they come of age.
Howse draws on his academic style to expertly blend historical events of the Afghan war and the Chernobyl disaster with the characters’ personal experiences, resulting in a captivating story that sheds light on the complexities of human nature in times of great change.
The novel focuses on Nadia, a Ukrainian girl who witnesses a friend drowning on a remote beach. Nadia is an observer and abstract thinker, often with her nose buried in a book. She struggles to understand the purpose of life in a world that seems to be falling apart.
Howse’s characters feel like tightly coiled springs, repressed and constrained by generations of living under a heavy-handed, bureaucratic government. A suffocating backdrop of paperwork, procedures, rules, and regulations constantly looms, providing a stark contrast to the roiling emotions that bubble just beneath the surface.
Despite the heavy subject matter, The Girl in the Water is not without humour and moments of levity. Howse deftly captures the idiosyncrasies of the characters and positions them in scenes of listening to shortwave radio, wandering the countryside or poking a campfire.
One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of identity in the aftermath of trauma. The characters come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and are shaped by their experiences in different ways. Howse develops these complexities with sensitivity and nuance, making the novel a poignant examination of the human experience in a society that values conformity over individuality.
Howse skillfully draws upon the dichotomy between the modern urban landscape and the traditional rural way of life, much like the great Russian writer Tolstoy. He captures the essence of Russian literature with an elaborate structure, insightful social commentary, and witty humour.
Overall, The Girl in the Water is a compelling and insightful novel that offers a unique perspective on a turbulent period of history. A must-read for anyone interested in the impact of historical events and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a multilayered study of beauty and futility in everyday life, and a call for compassion and humour in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving.
The Waikato Independent gives The Girl in the Water 4.5 stars
Winner of the 2023 Independent Press Award for Literary Fiction
Finalist in the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards for Multicultural Fiction
Distributed in Aotearoa New Zealand by The CopyPress or find a copy at a local bookstore.
