The Lake's Water is Never Sweet -Giulia Caminito

 The Lake's Water is Never Sweet - Giulia Caminito

Pub. Date: July 8, 2025

She read

Gaia lives a poverty stricken life with her domineering mother, disabled father, older brother who is embracing Anarchism, and younger twin brothers in Rome. An opportunity arises for the family to move to a lake community where Gaia completes her schooling. The family struggles financially and Gaia never has the material goods or opportunities of many of her peers. Her vulnerable relationships with female and male friends are fraught with self doubt, resentments, changing loyalties. 

Beautifully written, the prose is almost lyrical at times. Many will find this reminiscent of a Ferrante novel; I thought it darker. Caminito paints a bleak picture of those at the bottom of the social/financial ladder. Coming of age in the 1990s, Gaia is filled with insecurity. sadness, fear, anger, rage at times. I really didn’t get the sense that she felt any hope for her future. 

People will have differing reactions to the final chapter. I liked it. I enjoyed the evocative reminiscence.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @spiegelandgrau for the DRC.

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