THE SWEETNESS OF WATER

This achingly beautiful, unforgettable debut novel is easily one my early favorite books of the year. The Sweetness of Water finds the town of Old Ox, Georgia in a state of uncertainty following the Civil War. Longtime residents Isabelle and George Walker grieve the wartime loss of their son. Prentiss and Landry, two formerly enslaved brothers, become the Walkers' employees and friends, healing their sorrow while dividing them from their community. And two Confederate soldiers ignite a forbidden passion for one another, unleashing a chain of events that will become the town’s destruction and reckoning for years to come.

Replete with history and heroism, The Sweetness of Water explores the unbreakable bonds between brothers, spouses and "found family" against the backdrop of racism and oppression. I found myself thinking about these brave, beautifully rendered characters even when I was not turning the pages - their choices, heartbreak and chances at redemption stayed with me long after the final pages were closed. I loved the book’s depiction of how fraught the notion of freedom can be, and the ways it can also be found in nature, in silence, in making space for hope. Even the minor characters had my heart - the donkey is more endearing than many humans in most novels. In short, this book is not to be missed and I can’t wait to see what Nathan Harris writes next.

In a pivotal scene, a basket of peaches are delivered to a jail cell where a man awaits his demise, a gesture of sweetness in the darkest hour. Isabelle’s peaches inspired me to make this Peaches and Cream Pretzel Pie, made with summer peaches and a pie crust from pretzel crumbs. I hope you’ll make this salty-sweet recipe too, and enjoy a slice on a warm day while reading this special book.