Winner of the 2023 Independent Press Award for Literary Fiction
Winner of the 2023 IAN Book of the Year Awards for Outstanding Multicultural Fiction
Winner of the 2023 IPPY Awards Bronze Medal for Best Regional Ebook (Fiction)
Distinguished Favorite in the 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Literary Fiction
Finalist in the 2023 Eyelands Book Awards
Finalist in the 2023 IAN Book of the Year Awards for Literary Fiction
Finalist in the 2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards for Multicultural Fiction
Finalist in the 17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards for New Fiction
The Girl in the Water is the story of a multiethnic group of young friends, coming of age in Estonia and Ukraine in the last days of the Soviet Union. Their lives are shaped by an Afghan war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse and legacy of a suffocating society.
The novel examines life and choice in the aftermath of trauma and has garnered praise as both a lifelike family drama and a literary statement in the tradition of the Russian classics:
"The author includes emotional, compelling scenes with every character, as each one has been dealt a vastly different hand of cards." -Audrey Davis, Independent Book Review
"Joseph Howse evokes the literary styles of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky ... The author has composed a book like Tchaikovsky would a symphony; tight, disciplined, yet bubbling with unspoken passion and near-magical allegory." -Rob Errera, IndieReader
"a captivating story that sheds light on the complexities of human nature in times of great change ... A must-read" -Benji Allen, Waikato Independent
"wonderfully written" -Chris Reed, NZ Booklovers
"quite lovely" -Nicky Walker, Radio New Zealand Nine To Noon
Scenes of shortwave listening and roaming the hinterlands provide a backdrop to the young characters' search for themselves within a failing civilization that sees non-cooperation and unhappiness as a disease.
At the centre of this multilayered story of family, society, and nature is a Soviet girl, Nadia, who, one day on a remote beach, looks up from her book to see that her friend is drowning.
Nadia is an abstract thinker growing up in an era of endgames. She is a bookworm, an architect of reckless pranks, a day-and-night wanderer, a compulsive witness, and a note-taker. All around her she sees people quietly gambling with life and soul for little apparent gain. As her illusions unravel, she asks herself, what is to be done?
The Girl in the Water is a tragicomedy. It is an intricate study of beauty and futility in everyday life and a call for compassion and humour in a cruel world.
Industry Reviews
"a captivating story that sheds light on the complexities of human nature in times of great change ... A must-read for anyone interested in the impact of historical events and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity." -Benji Allen, Waikato Independent
"Joseph Howse evokes the literary styles of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky ... Howse's novel feels Russian, from its ornate structure to its social commentary to its wry humor. The author has composed a book like Tchaikovsky would a symphony; tight, disciplined, yet bubbling with unspoken passion and near-magical allegory." -Rob Errera, IndieReader
"Howse excels at drawing textured portraits of multi-faceted women. ... The Girl in the Water is a major achievement in a debut novel: a story populated with unforgettable characters who occupy the reader's mind long after the book is back on the shelf." -BlueInk Review
"Howse's novel is dense and detailed but alive with feeling, insight, and Nadia's stirring, stinging, poetic thoughts. It juxtaposes in-depth, almost reportorial portraiture of a society's decline with the fresh exuberance of youth, plus the terror and possibility of what might come next, when history itself ... offers little reason for optimism." -BookLife Reviews
"Intentional and poetic, ... the book excels because of its close-up focus on Nadia and her loved ones. Nadia is a lively, sympathetic heroine, and the people around her are engaging in each moment. Her glimpses at the world around her are sensitive and self-aware, and she, her friends, and her family members honor the people who live through difficult times with them. Among their ranks, shy romances bloom into relationships, friendships evolve, and families continue to love one another despite the keen drama around them." -Chloe Clark, Foreword Clarion Reviews
"OUR VERDICT: GET IT ... Nadia's journey is a memorable one. She comes of age in places as diverse as Estonia and Ukraine, which, while beset by Soviet malaise, abound with colorful characters." -Kirkus Reviews
"RECOMMENDED ... This is a winning story with a great deal of heart and a more than satisfying conclusion." -The US Review of Books
"[The characters'] caring for one another and the people around them in need was quite lovely. Those values of family and support remain strong even in quite a bleak time." -Nicky Walker, Radio New Zealand Nine To Noon
"Howse's prose is wonderfully written. Through the narrative he is able to create realism in the descriptions and authentic moments between people. ... Centering on the dialogue, Howse uses language well and is able to present the vocabulary of each of the characters with a sense of authenticity. ... [The novel] demonstrates more than just the vivid description of a time in our world's history where oppressed people overcame incredible obstacles. It also celebrates life, and all that is to be gained through the experiences of togetherness and connection." -Chris Reed, NZ Booklovers
"A resilient coming-of-age story ... The author includes emotional, compelling scenes with every character, as each one has been dealt a vastly different hand of cards. ... It feels very down-to-Earth and includes necessary comical moments throughout. I did not know much about the events or places in this book before, but after finishing it and doing a little extra curiosity research, I'm thankful to have learned something new in such an engaging way." -Audrey Davis, Independent Book Review
