Water Salt and Water Cold
There is a good sweep of story [in The Coriander], all centred on the island [of Inishgillan]. There are characters who are full without being overstuffed with richness, a community that works out its hardships without having a boast made of them. There is a documentary quality to the whole book. Wherever we go on the island we are shown little snapshots to realise for us the feel of the place, explanations of why things are done in such a way, why somone said what he did, how some natural event had affected the landscape or the activities of men. I liked this fresh book very much.
William Mayne, "Water Salt and Water Cold," in New Statesman (© 1963 The Statesman & Nation Publishing Co. Ltd.), Vol. LXVI, No. 1704, November 8, 1963, p. 670.
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