The Last Summer of the Water Strider

Set in the summer of 1976, this coming-of-age novel follows seventeen-year-old Adam during his stay with his enigmatic uncle Henry in rural Somerset. After suffering a family tragedy, Adam leaves London to spend time at Henry's houseboat on the river. The peaceful village setting is disrupted by the arrival of Strawberry, a free-spirited American woman who becomes entangled with Henry's spiritual teachings and alternative lifestyle. Adam finds himself navigating complex relationships and questioning his understanding of truth, faith, and human nature. Through Adam's experiences during this transformative summer, the story explores tensions between rationality and mysticism, innocence and knowledge. The novel examines how beliefs shape reality and the ways people search for meaning in an uncertain world.

Readers found this coming-of-age story set in 1970s England to be atmospheric but slow-paced. Many connected with the detailed portrayal of the counterculture movement and philosophical themes, though some felt these elements overshadowed the plot. Liked: - Rich descriptions of the houseboat setting - Complex father-son dynamics - Historical accuracy of the time period - Integration of Eastern philosophy concepts Disliked: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Main character Adam can be passive/frustrating - Religious/philosophical discussions become repetitive - Some found the ending unsatisfying Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (121 ratings) Amazon UK: 4/5 (47 reviews) Amazon US: 3.5/5 (26 reviews) Sample reader comment: "Beautiful writing about an ugly summer. The philosophical elements worked for me but the plot meandered too much." - Goodreads reviewer Critics particularly noted the strong sense of time and place but questioned if the spiritual elements would resonate with all readers.

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🌊 The book's title refers to water striders - insects that can walk on water due to surface tension, serving as a metaphor for the delicate balance between different worlds explored in the novel. 🌿 Set in 1976, the story unfolds during one of Britain's most severe droughts, which saw temperatures reach 35.9°C (96.6°F) and led to widespread water rationing. 📚 Author Tim Lott won the Whitbread First Novel Award for his memoir "The Scent of Dried Roses," which explored his mother's suicide and his own battle with depression. 🎭 The character of Dummer, the protagonist's uncle, was partly inspired by Alan Watts, a British-American philosopher who helped popularize Eastern philosophy in Western culture during the 1960s and '70s. 🌅 The novel's setting in Cornwall's River Tamar region holds historical significance as a boundary between England and Cornwall, reflecting the book's themes of existing between different states of being.