The Water Thief

AudioBook Review: Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4 Let’s be honest, it will be the characters and their choices that will ultimately make or break this book for each reader or listener, and unless one is looking for a ‘what could go wrong’ while on a humanitarian mission, the story follows struggles of time immemorial – power, haves versus have-nots, right versus wrong and the long-lasting effects of colonialization and the subjugation of peoples believed to be ‘less than’. In this book, Nick is a thirty-something engineer living in London, pottering along as expected until the death of his father pushes him into a spate of self-examination. He decides that, even though newly engaged, he is drawn to put his skills to work in helping with a construction project in Africa. Arriving in country, Nick is placed with a host family and finds that the project, much as he feared and was warned about, has been delayed and beset by many of the issues that thrive in the ‘developing’ world: low-skilled labor, corruption, lack of infrastructure, theft, overly ambitious plans and a general sense of ‘this is how it always is that provides a cushion (of sorts) that seems to soften the missteps and bring them a sense of ‘acceptable’. And, as Nick’s work becomes more problematic, his life in the host family home also becomes entangled with complications, some as a result of his presence, some due to the young son and his ever-increasing observations, and most due to a relationship struck with the woman of the house. I’m not sure that the affair actually was required, but the ‘expectations’ and Nick’s overly invested approach to the people and the dire situations found after drought and a water monopoly push him to a choice that, while morally correct, becomes one of those can two wrongs ever make a right situations. Narration for this story is provided by Dominic Thorburn, a new to me narrator who presented the story in all of its permutations with care and clarity. The story mixes third person narration with flashes of the host family’s son’s input in first person – detailing his recognition of the situation both in his home and in his country as the story progresses. Beautiful prose that presents a rather spare overview of situations and considerations, with occasional flashes of color that add a presence and depth to a story that is already layered and mired in difficulties, questions and conundrums. There is a certain sense of ‘been here before’ in this book – as the tales of corruption, subjugation and wealthy using the power of ‘ownership’ to keep their position firmly planted on the necks and backs of those who have not. I’m not entirely sure what readers are meant to do with this new information – perhaps understand a bit more about the ‘polemic’ and ‘talking points’ of the haves – and then digging deeper to see upon just whom they are standing. I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Recorded Books for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.