I didn’t feel like Itäranta made the oppression and horrors of a dry future awful and dejected enough to justify the lie told in the epilogue. She uses repetition and a book ending for this small story that-unfortunately-remains small. Itäranta writes beautifully, but her story also falters and stumbles on preachiness in the beginning. That’s what happened to me with this book. You’re waiting for something to happen, something to take the song to the next level and surprise you. Except, you’re waiting for the song to take flight. You stop to listen and the more you do, the more you like it.
You don’t know the band, but you like the quiet, melancholic melody. A song comes up you’ve never heard before. Lyricism and water-related metaphors ease the reader into the rhythm of the book like into the tea ceremony that is central to the story.Imagine you’re listening to the radio. "Emmi Itaranta's language is carefully crafted, precise and just right.
"Itaranta's language is springwater clear." - Savon Sanomat (Finland) " Memory of Water is a magnificent addition to the field of Finnish speculative fiction and gives permission to expect a lot from its author in the future." - The Morning Newspaper (Aamulehti, Finland)
"I can't remember the last time I read a story so beautifully written and wise! Emmi Itaranta's debut is immediately absorbing, despite the fact that I thought I hated science fiction." - Me Naiset Magazine (Finland) Both in terms of style and themes this book is reminiscent of the work of the American Ursula Le Guin." - Helsinki Times (Finland) " Memory of Water is an emotionally nuanced moral study that draws its tensions from love, choices and the mark we all leave on the world. "Itäranta's fine debut is lyrically rendered, vivid and engaging despite a bit too much philosophy and a less-than-satisfying ending." - Kirkus The writing is gorgeous and delicate in this dystopian award-winning debut, which is unique in both its setting and the small scale that Finnish author Itäranta employs." - Library Journal
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