It may take you a while to get hooked on Properties of Thirst, with its wide range of characters and historical setting and writing style. But, I soon got familiar and appreciated reading this book every other step of the way.
I have been fascinated with the period of Japanese internment following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I was first drawn in by Schiff, a young Army lieutenant changed with setting up the camp at Manzanar. The camp's next door neighbor Rocky owned a huge CA ranch, and he'd long been fighting the diversion of their water to supply Los Angeles. Rocky had twins, a son who'd been lost at Pearl Harbor, and a daughter, a chef, who becomes involved with Schiff.
You can see that this is a big book, and one well worth the time. Characters are complex and believable, and mostly admirable, and have stayed with me. The plot covers a lot of ground, but was easy to follow, I thought, although the little extra effort to read made me appreciate it more.
There is an interesting back story---which I did not know till I had finished the book---about this well-recognized author experiencing a debilitating stroke, and her daughter helping her finish the book. I was aware the ending felt a bit hurried, and the information about Wiggins' health explained that.
Properties of Thirst was very well reviewed, and I will be eager to know if others like it too.
“A changing American landscape is beautifully portrayed in PROPERTIES OF THIRST, a moving and gripping new novel by Marianne Wiggins. At the start of World War II, while Japanese families are relocated to Manzanar, the Rhodes family, who live on a ranch near the camp are equally uprooted by memories and circumstances. What follows is a rich and powerful portrayal of love, loss, and the enduring strength of family. A novel to be read and savored.”—Gail Tsukiyama, bestselling author
“[a] grand novel of principled and creative individuals caught in the vise of history… Loss, desire, moral dilemmas, reflection, and zesty dialogue with the energy of Frank Capra films generate a WWII home-front tale of profound and far-ranging inquiry and imagination, scintillating humor, intrepid romance, and conscience.”—Booklist *Starred Review*
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