"The Waters": A Conversation with Bonnie Jo Campbell

Art Works Podcast

Bonnie Jo Campbell discusses her novel, "The Waters," its fictional setting in Southwest Michigan, and the focus on the intricate dynamics within a family of women living in a swamp: Hermine, the herbalist grandmother; her restless daughter, Rose Thorn; and Rosie’s mathematically gifted daughter, Dorothy. Campbell discusses how the landscape shapes the characters' identities and lives, reflecting the struggles and changes in rural American communities. The women are outsiders in their own town, facing suspicion and blame from the men who feel displaced and troubled by the changing times.

Campbell also explores the novel’s use of fairytale tropes to deepen the storytelling, the importance of place in Campbell’s writing, and the role of animals like donkeys and rattlesnakes. Campbell shares insights into her writing process, emphasizing the authenticity and depth she strives to achieve, and the challenges she has in portraying female characters because of their layers of complexities. This episode offers a look into Campbell’s creative journey and the themes that make "The Waters" a compelling read. My thanks to Recorded Books for allowing us to use an excerpt from the audiobook The Waters, narrated by Lili Taylor.