Review: At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

Philadelphia, 1944. Madeline Hyde and her husband, Ellis, are disowned by his family after a rowdy New Years Eve.  Already the source of shame due to his inability to serve in the war, Ellis and his best friend Hank decide the only way to get back in his father's good graces is to succeed where he himself failed.  The trio manages to obtain transport across the Atlantic, despite the ongoing war, to find proof of the existence of the Loch Ness monster.

Torn from life as she knew it, Madeline is forced to watch as Ellis and Hank embark upon fruitless attempts at filing the elusive monster. The find shelter in a remote village in the Scottish countryside.  At first, the locals have nothing but contempt for the trio, but soon Madeline begins to see the charm and beauty in the stark world around her.  Madeline soon realizes that the monster her husband and good friend are hunting down isn't the only monster in her midst.  With the strength of the new friendships she has forged around her, Madeline is able to embrace the new beauty she has discovered around her, and within herself.  Always held bound and repressed due to her family's tragic history, Madeline sheds the vulnerability and dependence that once controlled her, transforming into a remarkable and strong individual.

Admittedly, I was drawn to this book when I read mention of the Loch Ness monster. You know me, I’m drawn to the dark and unusual. And though the hunt for this elusive creature is the backdrop for this novel, that’s where it ends.  Surprisingly (or not!), I’m fine with that, for what evolved around me as I turned the pages was a beautifully crafted story of one woman’s transformation from a weak and dependent young wife to a fully assured, incredibly strong woman.

As the story began, I was skeptical. I’m not afraid to admit that in the beginning of this novel, I hated Madeline’s character. She lacked a backbone, went along with everything her husband demanded because she felt she had no choice.  Then, as if the beauty and strength of the setting embraced her, I couldn’t help but have admiration of the woman she had become.

The state of the world around them echoed within Madeline. The internal battle raging within Madeline was just as devastating as the war around them. The tragic history of the village, the loss experienced by those around her, didn’t serve as a detraction, instead forced Madeline to see that beauty and love exists despite all the tragedy.

While the reader is forced to suspend disbelief at some aspects of the novel (like how did the trio gain safe passage in the midst of a World War?),  this is all rewarded by the truly uplifting and hopeful transformation that takes place not only within Madeline but in the remote and mourning village around her.

If you are looking for a richly crafted historical fiction, undoubtedly this is the read for you. Highly recommended!