Properties of Thirst

Here is a summary of the book:
"Properties of Thirst" is a novel by Marianne Wiggins that tells the story of a family facing tragedy during World War II, when the government decides to build a Japanese American internment camp next to their ranch. The book explores themes of family, love, and the American Dream, and is a "magnificent" exploration of one of the darkest periods in American history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Fifteen years after the publication of her acclaimed novel Evidence of Things Unseen, Marianne Wiggins returns with a monumental work of fiction that is destined to become an American classic. Titled Properties of Thirst, this sweeping masterpiece takes place during World War II and delves into the profound themes of family, the American Dream, and the limitations of both.

The story revolves around Rocky Rhodes, a man who has dedicated his life to protecting his beloved California ranch from the encroachment of the LA Water Corporation. It is on this ranch that he and his wife, Lou, raised their twins, Sunny and Stryker, and it is here that Rocky has mourned Lou's passing in the years since her death. As Sunny and Stryker approach adulthood, the country teeters on the brink of war, and Stryker decides to join the fight, deploying to Pearl Harbor just before the bombs strike.

However, the Rhodes family is faced with an unimaginable tragedy when the government decides to build a Japanese American internment camp next to their ranch. Rocky realizes that the land he has fought so hard to protect faces even greater threats than the watermen he has battled for years. Complicating matters further is the fact that the idealistic Department of the Interior man assigned to build the camp, who initially underestimates the gravity of his task, becomes infatuated with Sunny and becomes entangled in the Rhodes family's lives.

Properties of Thirst is a magnificent novel that is both universal and intimate. It explores the changing American landscape and delves into one of the darkest periods in this country's history, all through the stories of individual loves and losses that weave together. Wiggins' writing is masterful, and her characters are deeply relatable and compelling. This is a book that will stay with readers long after they have turned the last page.

In conclusion, Properties of Thirst is a remarkable achievement that showcases Marianne Wiggins' talent as a writer. It is a book that will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds, and it is destined to become an American classic.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 140 x 214 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781416571278