Waterbaby: A Novel

This gripping tale, set so evocatively amidst the fogs and furies of the offseason Maine coast, explores the themes of compulsion, obsession, and forgiveness. It is also an intriguing exploration of the ways in which our ancestral pasts echo within our own psyches. --Lisa Alther, author of Kinflicks and Kinfolks

As children, Tam and her older brother were swimming when she suffered her first epileptic seizure. He pulled her from the water and was crowned a hero. Tam was labeled "disabled" and never swam again. And so began 30 years of vigilance, never allowing her body to betray her, never allowing her brother or her family or anyone else to influence her path. Now, in middle age, a lifetime's worth of control has taken its toll.

Exhausted, Tam heads to Maine where, while working on a genealogy project, she falls under the spell of two dead women: an ancestor, Mary Catherine, who died at 33; the other, the town ghost. Through their cloistered, tragic lives, Tam relives her own life over and over - until a distant cousin forces her to see herself in a new light. This novel of one woman's quest to transcend self-imposed limitations is superbly crafted and richly satisfying, and "shows us how, through resuscitating our pasts, and rescuing each other, we might just save ourselves" (Alex Shakar, author of Savage Girl).

The story is a captivating exploration of the echoes of ancestral pasts within one's own psyche. Tam's journey of compulsion, obsession, and the search for forgiveness unfolds against the evocative backdrop of the off-season Maine coast. As a child, Tam's first epileptic seizure while swimming with her brother became a defining moment, leading her to a life of constant vigilance to avoid any perceived weakness or vulnerability.

Over the course of 30 years, Tam's intense control and determination to prevent her body from "betraying" her have taken a toll. Seeking respite, she travels to Maine, where a genealogy project opens the door to the cloistered, tragic lives of two dead women - her ancestor, Mary Catherine, and the town's ghostly figure. Through the intertwining of these narratives, Tam is forced to confront her own life experiences and self-imposed limitations.

The novel is a richly satisfying exploration of how resuscitating the past and connecting with others can offer a path to self-understanding and, ultimately, salvation. The author's skillful crafting of the story and the compelling themes make this a captivating and thought-provoking read.

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