Sara Gruen (Water for Elephants) is a writer who I’ve always heard great things about, but I’ve never read her because none of her novels appealed to me. Until At The Water’s Edge. It’s set in the Scottish highlands and tells the story of three young Americans who, during World War II, come in search of the Loch Ness Monster. I like the time period, I like the setting and I like the Loch Ness monster.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by At The Water’s Edge. Perhaps my expectations were out of whack. I had thought that Gruen wrote literary fiction, but this was as light as light gets. The characters were hollow and one-dimensional. The protagonist, Maddie, was the weakest woman I’ve seen in literature in a long while. She was constantly getting weak in the knees at the mere sight of her love interest. Fainting spells were abundant, as was her need to be rescued.
I did, however, enjoy how Gruen delighted in the Scots language in much the same way as i do. She inserted here and there in a nice way. The weather was dreich. People sat down for a blether. They et cock-a-leeky soup. All the good words came out.
Who would like this book? Sara Gruen has her fans and, as it turns out, I’m not one of them. I think it’s because I had the wrong perception of her. At The Water’s Edge is not a literary novel. It’s a damsel in distress novel. Not quite my cuppa.
52 books or bust 
After reading Water For Elephants, I was surprised by how light and romance-y this book felt. I pretty much agree with you, except I did find it funny in parts (although, maybe I wasn’t supposed to?). And, how about that cold porridge?
That cold porridge kept in a drawer, that was totally a thing over here. Maybe it still is in some places.
I’ve only read one book by her and I’ve heard that this one was disappointing. That said, it was a #30Authors recommendation, so it seems like people either love it or hate it!
I had such a visceral reaction of total hate for this book! I was so shocked by how much I couldn’t stand it – the male characters were horrible, Maddie was so pathetic and the amount of time that it porridge eating was mentioned was maddening!! 🙂
So glad you felt the same way as me. Though as one who lives in Scotland the whole porridge thing kind of rings true.
I’ve been passing on everything by Gruen after reading Water for Elephants. The animal abuse in that novel may have permanently turned me off this author!
Interesting.
Too bad. The Loch Ness Monster deserves better. I thought Water for Elephants was okay but havent run to her novels since.