Sarah Hall is one of my favorite authors ever. She has this way of writing that makes you stand back and say "whoa" as you're reading. In this book, there is the same quality about her writing and you will not be sorry you've read this. It is by far one of the best fictional stories you will read this year.

The action takes place in 1936 and 1937, in a small village in the Lake District of England. The people of the village, while not so much insular, are very close, and they depend on each other in most aspects of life. Into this setting, progress decides it must rear its ugly head, and that a dam must be built to create a reservoir. How this affects the people of this area is only part of the story, but I won't say more. It is truly a thing of beauty to read. The characters are very real, and the setting alone will become vivid and real as you read. I HIGHLY recommend this one!