The Story of Land and Sea by Katy Simpson Smith

The Story of Land and Sea (P.S. (Paperback))

by Katy Simpson Smith

A lyrical and spellbinding story of love, loss, and war from a standout new voice in fiction. Katy Simpson Smith has already been acclaimed as an ‘heir apparent to to Michael Ondaatje and Marilynne Robinson’

North Carolina, 1793. When nine-year-old Tab catches yellow fever, her father John steals her onto a boat, hoping the sea air will cure his only child. For comfort, he tells Tab stories about her mother Helen, who died in childbirth.

Two decades earlier, Helen is given a slave girl for her tenth birthday. Moll’s arrival is meant to teach Helen discipline but soon the girls are close confidantes, until the arrival of John, a pirate turned soldier. And as the town is threatened in the dying embers of the Revolution, Helen must decide between a life of security on the family plantation and a sea adventure with the man she loves.

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

3 of 5 stars

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Caffeinated Aspects
• The writing was told in three separate narratives, and while I had some issues, one has to recognize how Smith’s words create music. There are passages, phrases and descriptions that bring forth  colorful images to the reader.

• The first part shares the story of ten-year-old Tabitha and her father John. Helen her mother died in childbirth and Tabitha longs to learn about her through her father and grandfather Asa. This was perhaps my favorite of the three stories and took place in 1793. Tabitha was whimsical, and I loved how she longed for stories about the past.

• For the second story we move back in time and learn Helen’s story. We witness her religious upbringing, and interaction with slaves. Helen was spoiled, and the exact opposite of what Tabitha imagined. Here we meet her house slave Moll and are given her story. She is forced into a loveless marriage and I felt for Moll.

• The third section takes us back to 1793 as John and Asa deal with their loss. Asa is a God fearing man of faith and John has no faith, yet longs for peace.

• The story does not have a lot of movement, and yet it is a powerful story about love, loss, acceptance, and moving forward. Religion is a factor here, and it is soul searching and realistic while abstaining from preaching.

• I loved how Smith introduced us to Tabitha first, and gave us her thoughts on her mother. It reflects on how we see and remember those we love. Meeting Helen in the second part made the telling and knowing of her far more entertaining.

Decaffeinated Aspects
• The story is sad and steeped in religious beliefs. The story does not meander,nor does ebb and flow rather it just is.

• I enjoyed the first two narratives but by the third, was a tad depressing, and it was not a strong finish for me. In retrospect, I think if I had paused between ections it might have worked better.

Copy received from publisher.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 July, 2014: Finished reading
  • 30 July, 2014: Reviewed