Heartbreaking. This novel got under my skin, and like life itself, moved me, annoyed me, humbled me, struck me, and changed me. I believe that to be human in this world is to be heartbroken, vulnerable and uncertain. And compassionate. To be truly human is to be compassionate. In this novel, Benjamin Alire Sáenz spoke to that. I won't go through the blurb, in fact I don't really know if anyone will read this review, but if you are reading and are looking for something to take you on a journey that goes beyond nationality, gender, and "normalcy", then this might be a good choice. I was compelled to buy this book when I read one of the main characters was deaf-mute. That intrigued me very much and I have found that exploring different boundaries of human experience through literature feels real and meaningful and dignified. Sometimes it takes me a while to find a book that is really worthwhile. I end up going through many novels that eroticize everything. For me, violence for violence's sake is not sexy. Aggression, drama, and crudeness is not sexy. Kindness, now that is sexy. When a writer can portray genuine kindness in his characters, that does something very profound to me. It's almost sensual. It makes all that time spent looking for a good book so very worth it.
We divide time into years. We divide years into seasons. We have different names for every river, a different name for every ocean on the earth. But the river does not know that we have named it "river"—it does not know that it is separate from the waters that call "Come." Come. The river has flowed a thousand years. [...] River, I have been gone a long time. I am returning to your waters. River, I've come back. River, I'm afraid.
What do You think about Carry Me Like Water (1996)?
This book is absolutely beautiful!!!Benjamin Saenz is so good at writing so poetically!!! I love how he tackles extremely harsh life problems with such beauty! He made me love my hometown El Paso!♡A must read!♡♡♡
—Ana
