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Dec
09
Book Review: What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us by Laura van den Berg
2009 at 12am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Published October 2009 by Dzanc Books
Okay people, if I had picked up Laura van den Berg’s debut collection of short fiction What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us on my own (instead of accepting a review copy from the author, who happens to be quite lovely), my review of it would only be one sentence. And this is what it would say:
There is one glaring problem with this book, and that’s there isn’t nearly enough of it.
Now here’s why.
At just shy of 150 pages, this is the perfect one-sitting read for a wintry afternoon, but it took me almost a week to finish it because I didn’t want it to end. I’d read a story. I’d think about the story. I’d go to bed and wake up the next morning still thinking about the story. I would love the story and want to hold it in the palm of my hand so I could examine its intricacies and appreciate even the tiniest details. I would very nearly swoon.
And then at some point, I would remember that I needed to finish the book so I could write a review of it, so I would read another story and jump down the rabbit hole of pondering and examining and gushing all over again.
Then, when I did finally finish reading the very last story, it took two more weeks of pondering and examining and gushing (and more than a little praying for my powers of articulation to return) for me to sit down and start writing. But I’m here now, and this is what I want you to know.
The stories in What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us are marked by a quiet, delicate, beautiful melancholy. Many of the characters are searching for something elusive or imaginary—the Loch Ness monster, a rare flower, a monster living in Lake Michigan—and this forces us to wonder what other, more tangible things they might be looking for (or studiously avoiding) and what real connections they’re missing out on while they devote all of their time and energy to the search for something they will never or can never find.
Nearly all of van den Berg’s characters have suffered recent losses, the residue of which permeates the stories and conveys the distinct impression that all of these people live in a world that is nothing but shades of gray….but somehow, tha’s okay. In fact, it is more than okay. It becomes gorgeous.
The beauty of van den Berg’s writing, the skill with which she first exposes and then explorers her characters’ buried emotions, and the overwhelming humanness of it all remind us of our own losses, of the shades of gray that color our world, and of the almost magical way that hope—even hope in something we can never find—presents a silver lining.
Every so often, I read a book that I wish could just go on forever, and What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us is one such book. Whether you are a longtime lover of short fiction or a newcomer to the form, these stories will touch you, make you think, and leave you more willing to believe in magic than you were just minutes before. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. 4.75 out of 5.
Laura van den Berg is currently being honored as a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers author. Visit her website to learn more about her writing, and stay tuned for a guest post coming soon!
This book sounds freakin gorgeous.
-Aimee
http://myflutteringheart.blogspot.com
Well, a review doesn’t get much better than that. Short stories are something I’ve only recently explored, and now I firmly believe it is an art form. Not every author can communicate and influence and cause swooning in a handful of pages. Plus I love that cover. I’m writing this one down. Thanks Rebecca!
[...] Book Review: What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us by Laura van den Berg [...]
I feel the same way about short fiction, Sandy. Not that writing a novel is easy, but I think it’s even harder to write good short stories because you have to be able to pack so much into so few pages and convey many emotions with few words. This is a great one, and I’m so glad you’ll be reading it.
I asked for a copy of this one but didn’t receive one. I am very picky about short fiction. I just finished Forgetting English by Midge Raymond and that was quietly beautiful as well. I love it. I would like to read this one too and compare.
wow Rebecca it sounds fantastic and like something I would really like. Your review itself is beautiful!
saw this one in a store and thought about buying it. this review pushed me over the edge! i just added it to my wish list.
This is going on my wishlist NOW. Thank you for the great review! It sounds like just the sort of book I love to read.
Sandra
*****
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Sounds like a beautiful book and it seems like the cover captures the mood, too.
Yes! The cover definitely conveys the overall tone of the book, and it is most excellent.
Aww, thanks Amy! I think you will like it. Very quiet and contemplative.
Dang it, Rebecca, you don’t just add to my wish list, you give me MUST READ books.
In a way, it sounds like these short stories are almost like extended poems.
I think you’ve definitely convinced me!
I really enjoy good short stories and am always looking for recommendations. I don’t think I could find a better one than your post. I love beautifully written stories that you find yourself thinking about long after you finish reading them. And for several reasons, these characters and stories sound like ones I can definitely connect with. This is already on my tbr list!
[...] was inspired to pick up this novel based on Rebecca’s review. She was so enthusiastic about it that when I saw it just sitting there, untouched, at the [...]
[...] Lady's Blog Last week I raved about Laura van den Berg’s debut collection of short stories What the World Will Look Like When All the Water Leaves Us, which is simply enchanting. Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Laura to The Book Lady’s [...]