The Water Dancer

Ranked #18 in Slavery, Ranked #20 in Magical Realismsee more rankings.

Young Hiram Walker was born into bondage. When his mother was sold away, Hiram was robbed of all memory of her—but was gifted with a mysterious power. Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. This brush with death births an urgency in Hiram and a daring scheme: to escape from the only home he’s ever known.

So begins an unexpected journey that takes Hiram from the corrupt grandeur of Virginia’s proud plantations to desperate guerrilla cells in the wilderness, from the coffin of the deep South to dangerously utopic movements in the North. Even...
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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Water Dancer from the world's leading experts.

Oprah Winfrey CEO/O NetworkThe only thing more thrilling than being captivated by a book is being able to share it with others. Which is why I’m excited to bring @oprahsbookclub to @apple starting TODAY! My first pick, The Water Dancer by the brilliant Ta-Nehisi Coates. It will enthrall you. #ReadwithUs https://t.co/DG99kTKrWu (Source)

John Rampton Oprah on Ta-Nehisi Coates' sci-fi debut: 'One of the best books I've ever read' https://t.co/S4r62JQOFe https://t.co/Nmd8PU7yYN (Source)

Rick Klau @goodreads @taffyakner @thrillkinson @itsDanielSuarez @blakecrouch1 @eliotpeper @RonanFarrow @cbracy The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehesi Coates. Coates sees us—all of us—with a clarity that is as unnerving as it is breathtaking. He sees our failures, our aspirations, our hypocrisy, our pettiness, our beauty. Astounding book. https://t.co/afUvOdc8ne (Source)

Wade Davis Ii Day 1 in the French countryside & it’s about to go down. I waited til we got to France to start your fave writers favorite writer book & my dude @tanehisipcoates - #thewaterdancer - I cant wait to read in front of the fire for hours & bathe in brilliance. https://t.co/YCnP9IJ9j1 (Source)

Zamandlovu Ndlovu I’m using an image because I kind soul who felt for this book stole it from living room. I usually find Ta-Nehisi Coates‘ writing both breathtaking and hard work. I’m a bit of a lazy reader, I don’t like prose that sing all the time. But the premise of this book seems cool 🤷🏾‍♀️ https://t.co/IqVjKE34Hu (Source)


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