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Bodies of Water
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
After ministering to fallen women in Victorian London, Evelyn has suffered a nervous breakdown and finds herself treated by the Water Doctors in the imposing Wakewater House, a hydropathy sanatorium.Years later, Wakewater House is renovated into modern apartments and Kirsten moves in, fresh from a break up and eager for the restorative calm of the Thames. But her archivist neighbour, Manon, fills her head with the rivere(tm)s murky past and with those men of science and art who were obsessed with the drowned women who were washed up on its banks.As Kirsten learns more about Wakewatere(tm)s secrets, she becomes haunted by a solitary figure in the river and increasingly desperate to understand what the water wants from her.
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review
Lindy
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this atmospheric novella-length ghost story, set in a riverside building in London with two timelines—Victorian and contemporary—and with an underlying theme of the roles of women in Western society. It‘s a bit slow to get rolling and leans more heavily on symbolic word choice than I care for, but bisexual characters and mythological water spirits are also part of the appeal. #LGBTQ

JazzFeathers Oh my goodness, that sounds so interesting! 2y
Lindy @JazzFeathers It‘s a book for readers who are looking for spooky atmosphere above all. I think you would also appreciate the folkloric references. 2y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Lindy
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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… hysterectomies and clitorectomies were often performed to cure women of the very condition Dr Porter had diagnosed Evelyn with. They were so ready with the scalpel, these medical men, to cut and slice, yet no one had thought that castration was the logical solution to venereal disease.

DrexEdit 😲😲 2y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
toofondofbooks
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Pickpick

Short novella set in Victorian England about the "water cure". Ok for a quick read.

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Jess_Franzino
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Pickpick

This book is filled with everything I love! Macabre Victorian setting, the corruption of health care and the horrible ways that women were viewed during that era—- all wrapped up in a beautifully told ghost story that is also ripe with literary and mythological allusions ♥️ BONUS: I learned about “Anatomical Venuses”.

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TieDyeDude
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed the read, but was left unsatisfied. The story kept making promising turns, but it seemed like the author kept changing her mind of what the story was or where it was going. The ending made sense, but still seemed underdeveloped. Some interesting ideas presented, though.

10 likes1 stack add
blurb
Kalalalatja
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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So not exactly a #creaturefromtheblacklagoon, but more a creature from the Thames river. Kirsten moves into an old hydropathy sanitorium next to the Thames. She starts to see a lonely figure at the river bank, and this lonely figure wants something from Kirsten. This novel is hauntingly creepy, and definitely made me give my nearest river the side eye once or twice 👀👀

#MonsterMadness2017

Moray_Reads Just managed to pick this one up for £1.89 on Kindle, thanks for the recommendation! 7y
LibrarianRyan 👍🏻🤓👻 7y
Kalalalatja @Moray_Reads hope you'll like it! 🤞 7y
89 likes10 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Kalalalatja
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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If the shoe (or hashtag) fits... 🌊🌊 #bodyofwater

I loved this gothic novel which gave me chills even though the weather was warm

#MayBookFlowers

RealLifeReading perfect! 👍👍 8y
69 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Lacythebookworm
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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I love the short works from Salt Publishing 😍 They make great #fastreads while providing depth and food for thought. #springflingreading

104 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Kalalalatja
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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In 2016 I only read 12 books published in 2016, and only these two were debuts. Luckily I loved both of these, so they fit #bestdebutsof2016. 👏

#feistyfeb

RealLifeReading I've not heard of these books! Will check them out 8y
Kalalalatja @RealLifeReading they are really good! The Butcher's Hook is weird and twisted, and so well written. And Bodies of Water is one of the most atmospheric books I have ever read 👍 8y
61 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Lacythebookworm
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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I had a great reading weekend and I really needed it! I would recommend all three! ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️

AmyG I am reading The Wonder....so far it's wonderful. 8y
Lacythebookworm @AmyG Yes! It's an interesting story that touches on gender and religion marvelously 👍 8y
81 likes2 comments
review
MusingsOnMidlife
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Mehso-so

High expectations were sadly not met. I was expecting eery creepiness but didn't get that at all. The historical elements were interesting but I found the writing to be clunky in places and a little repetitive. Still ⭐️⭐️⭐️, it was enjoyable, just not the fabulousness I was hoping for.

12 likes1 stack add
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ShelfofUnreadBooks
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Pickpick

Book #2 done! A fabulous little slice of the uncanny with a sideline exploration of women's rights and mental health issues. And did I mention the ghost in the river? Quite a bit to fit into 130 pages but, for the most part, this is a satisfying psychological thriller in the mould of 'The Turn of the Screw' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. #readathon @DeweysReadathon

13 likes1 stack add
blurb
Bookend451
Bodies of Water | V. H. Leslie
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Halfway through and really really enjoying it! So spooky at times!
#currentlyreading