The Forms Of Water — Andrea Barrett

The Forms of Water by Andrea Barrett is a poignant and beautifully written novel about family, memory, and the enduring pull of the past. Set against the evocative landscape of New England, the story follows eighty-year-old Brendan Auberon — a former monk now living in a nursing home — as he orchestrates an unlikely escape with his nephew, Henry. Brendan’s one remaining wish is to visit his ancestral land, long since submerged to create the Stillwater Reservoir, before his time runs out.

What starts as a whimsical road trip soon deepens into a profound exploration of grief, fractured family ties, and the inescapable influence of history. Barrett masterfully intertwines Brendan’s vivid recollections of the past with the characters’ present-day struggles, offering a touching meditation on what it means to carry our personal and shared histories with us.

Perfect for readers who enjoy introspective literary fiction, multi-generational family sagas, and novels rooted in place and memory, The Forms of Water is a deeply human story of loss, reconciliation, and rediscovery.