An Unforgettable Summer in 1956

Marcia Peck’s novel, Water Music: A Cape Cod Story, sets the stage with eleven-year-old Lily Grainger’s narration of her family’s annual summer vacation at their undeveloped property on the shore of a salt pond in Cape Cod. The story unfolds in the summer of 1956, a historically significant year due to the shipwreck of the Andrea Doria. Lily, on the cusp of turning twelve, provides a poignant and insightful perspective on the events that transpire.

A Tapestry of Tension and Turbulence

The novel uniquely mirrors the Beaufort Scale of wind velocities, with each chapter heading marking increasing speeds and corresponding tensions. As Lily’s parents’ marriage deteriorates, so does the relationship between her uncle George and aunt Fanny. The escalating family turmoil is depicted through the lens of the gathering storm, a metaphor for the brewing conflicts. In the prologue, Lily reflects, “All summer the storm gathered and gathered, took its breath from every direction we thought we knew, and lashed us into spindrift.”

Music and Growing Up

Peck, a cellist, infuses the narrative with her love for music, drawing connections between musicality and language. Lily’s growth throughout the novel is intertwined with her adventures in the picturesque Cape Cod and her burgeoning interest in learning to play the classical cello. Her bond with her older sister Dodie and cousin Nicole adds layers to her coming-of-age journey. Additionally, the strained relationship with her mother Lydia, who shows an unconscious preference for Dodie, complicates Lily’s emotions and actions.

A Masterpiece of Lyrical Prose

Water Music: A Cape Cod Story is not just a narrative of familial discord but also a tale of resilience and self-discovery. The atmospheric stranding of pilot whales parallels the emotional strandings within the family, highlighting the complexities of human connections. With unforgettable characters, lyrical prose, and vividly wrought settings, Marcia Peck’s debut novel is a nuanced masterpiece that resonates deeply with readers.