I thoroughly enjoyed THE BODY IS WATER (1995), the story of thirty-ish Jane Haus, a teacher who finds herself pregnant, and leaves her job (the latest of several) in Philadelphia to return to her childhood home in a small New Jersey beach town where her widowed father is staunchly resisting selling out to the powers of gentrification. With no particular plans for the future, she waits for the birth of her child, reconnecting with her uberorganized, successful genius older sister, who comes home from Atlanta to help; and her former high school health ed teacher and golf coach, who not-so-subtly courts the pregnant Jane, gradually insinuating himself into her delicate dilemma. In flashback fashion we learn of Jane's childhood and adolescence, growing up in the shadow of her brilliant sister, with little help from her often absent, sometimes ill mother, who died while Jane was away on a college-sponsored term in Mexico. During her seven months of pregnancy in the family home, Jane takes a part-time job teaching English to immigrants, and rummaging through attic boxes and her own confused memories to uncover some disturbing family secrets. I found the story of the Haus family to be very compelling and unique. This was Julie Schumacher's first novel, and I mostly loved it, except for the ending, which seemed a bit too abrupt, leaving too many unanswered questions. I know the book was written more than twenty-five years ago. But I'm wondering, is it too late for a sequel? Otherwise, a very good read with great characters. Very highly recommended.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER ( )

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