The Nature of Water and Air

Regina McBride

This is a story of a young Irish girl, Clodagh, born to a wealthy father and his mysterious bride. The father dies before Clodagh and her twin sister are born. Shortly after the death of her twin sister, young Clodagh watches her mother walk into the sea never to return. Clodagh is haunted by yearning for her father and intense curiousity about her mother.

This book made me think about the nature of love and desire and people who confuse the two. I thought it read like poetry. It has one of the best last lines I've ever read. It was interesting, too, to read about the Travellers and their nomadic way of life, and about the mythical sea creature called a selkie.

I did not understand the title. I picked up tons of water references but any air references were lost on me.

I enjoyed this book enough to read something else by Regina McBride.