This week, I’m linking up again with Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea who hosts a post every Tuesday for people to share the first chapter / paragraph of the book they are reading, or thinking of reading soon. I really enjoy these tasters when I read them on other blogs so wanted to join in.
This week, I’ reading The Well by Catherine Chanter, which I knew nothing about when I picked up at the library. However, thanks to Goodreads, I now know this is what it is about…
Ruth Ardingly has just been released from prison to serve out a sentence of house arrest for arson and suspected murder at her farm, The Well. Beyond its borders, some people whisper she is a witch; others a messiah. For as soon as Ruth returns to The Well, rain begins to fall on the farm. And it has not rained anywhere else in the country in over three years.
Ruth and her husband Mark had moved years before from London to this ancient idyll in the hopes of starting their lives over. But then the drought began, and as the surrounding land dried up and died, and The Well grew lush and full of life, they came to see their fortune would come at a price. From the envy of their neighbors to the mandates of the government, from the fanaticism of a religious order called the Sisters of the Rose to the everyday difficulties of staying close as husband and wife, mother and child; all these forces led to a horrifying crime: the death of their seven-year-old grandson, drowned with cruel irony in one of the few ponds left in the countryside.
Now back at The Well, Ruth must piece together the tragedy that shattered her marriage, her family, and her dream. For she believes her grandson’s death was no accident, and that the murderer is among the people she trusted most. Alone except for her guards on a tiny green jewel in a world rapidly turning to dust, Ruth begins to confront her worst fears and learns what really happened in the dark heart of The Well.
And this is how it starts…
“The Well has won me back. Tonight will be my first night under house arrest. First of how many? I scarcely dared hope they would allow me to return, yet when it came to the last night in the unit, I clung to the comfort blanket of my sleeping pills and section order, desperate to stay. Security. National security. Secure accommodation. An insecure conviction. It may keep me in, but all the security in the world will not keep the ghosts out; if I am home, they will be also.”
What do you think…would you keep reading?
Emma
One Readers Thoughts 
I think I would have to read further. It does sound interesting. A bleak sounding world.
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I like the idea of it being not too distant a future. I find the world we face scary at times and this feeds my fear but usually gives me hope too.
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I’m intrigued by the synopsis and opening. Will see if my library has a copy.
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That’s what got me…only 30 pages in but still intrigued
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Oh, I definitely want to know more. I am pretty sure the story will lead us to some of the answers. Thanks for sharing…and here’s mine: “NO ONE KNOWS”
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Me too! I hope I’m not disappointed x
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The intro you shared definitely has me wanting to know more. This sounds like it will be very interesting. I hope you enjoy it!
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I hope I do too. I do like a good bit of dystopian fiction.
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I’m intrigued and wondering why The Well prospered while everyone else’s farms were failing.
My Tuesday post features THE ALL-GIRL FILLING STATION’S LAST REUNION by Fannie Flagg.
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100 pages in and I have no idea yet but enjoying reading how it all started.
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I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that picks up a book and knows nothing about it. It looks interesting. Girl Who Reads
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I do it all the time. I don’t know a better way to step outside my comfort zone or find new authors.
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It’s not my typical kind of book, but, yet I am intrigued.
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I do like a bit of dystopian fiction but it has to be good. I hope this is…
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I gave this book a try, but just couldn’t get into it. Of course, dystopian fiction really isn’t my thing to begin with. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts!
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I normally like this style and so far so good. Main problem is I picked up a hard back and I’m out of the habit of carrying around a heavy book!
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[…] I was in a bit of a reading slump for some reason so, other than The Well (which I did an intro for Tuesday), I didn’t read much else. When I got home, all I wanted to do was veg in front of the tv, […]
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