El Canto de Agua (Song of the Water Saints) Book

2.5 It is always challenging when reading a novel about a different culture, this being set in the Dominican Republic, that one has not enough knowledge to judge the book or the writing style. In this case I liked the writing, Rosario has a choppier style of writing, often small paragraphs, yet was able to make me feel as if I was part of that culture. I often felt like a voyeur. Like I was there only to observe. Also from these description we get a view of the political situation on this country, though the main story concerns the women.

Beginning of the twentieth century, and Graciela wants nothing to do with the usual roles of wives and mothers, she wants to experience things. She does not want to settle. I really liked her, she was a very colorful character. She does have a daughter, and eventually the daughter and her daughter end up in the United States. Seems that all the women have inherited Graciela's lust for life.

I would have rated this higher, but at times I felt the sex, which was extremely gritty was not necessary, unless it was to provide a shock value, which was to imply that the life these women led was shocking. I honestly don't know. Also while the story was interesting, it did not provide a cohesive story, and the pacing was very uneven with the first part taking the longest and the rest seemed to go quicker.

Yet, I cannot say I will never read this author again, I think she has an amazing talent and it may just be me and the culture, the style of writing. I think she has a talent that bears watching.