LitPick Review
Based on real events, Water Fire Steam tells the story of Rolla Jones, a civil engineer commissioned to engineer a water system for the growing town of Spokane Falls, Washington. In 1884, Rolla traveled out west to begin working, leaving his fiance back east. By 1889, everything seemed to be perfect: Rolla had a happy family, his design for the water system had been successfully implemented, and he was respected throughout the town. One day, all of this shatters when the town experiences a catastrophic fire. Are Rolla and his water system somehow to blame? And will he be able to repair the relationships broken as a result?
Opinion:
The story is written in a way that makes the reader feel familiar with the setting and the characters. I loved reading about Rolla's experience as he traveled west and the sort of "culture shock" he initially felt upon arriving in Spokane Falls. The descriptions of the town made it feel like I could actually be there. In addition, the characters were also well written. Even though I don't share Rolla's life experiences, I was still able to relate to his emotions: the depression, the rejection, the frustration and anger, and even his love for his family. One other thing I liked about the writing was the subtle foreshadowing. From almost the very beginning, there were subtle hints that I only noticed if I payed close attention, and it made the storytelling that much better.
