Review of Sip Lake

[Ramadevi Tatavarthi]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sip Lake" by joseph basara.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The novel Sip Lake, authored by Joseph Basara, revolves around the life of Owen Cloud, who leaves his old neighborhood for Cypress City and soon gets employed as an orderly for his locality’s hospital. While at work and even in social situations, like in contact with Tina, the neighbor, he has a lot of time to think and probably dreams of his future. Owen dwells on the specific aspects of his life, namely identity, belonging, and time. His encounters expose aspects of different characters’ existence and point of view, which gives the book occasional comedy, philosophy, and satire. With the development of the story, the main character Owen experiences personal and professional problems and tries to reveal the meaning of his life.
 
It is an elaborate presentation of how the book weaves and unwraps the daily affairs and encounters of the main character, Owen Cloud. The character growth is vivid here, especially that of Owen, and the reader follows this change as the main subject of the story. Trace Owen’s life from his days in Cypress City as a relative newcomer to his contemplation of the meaning of life and his role in it, and the author provides a well-thought-out, believable, and thoroughly realistic main character. 
 
The plot of the story is closely linked to the atmosphere of Cypress City. The seemingly peaceful setting and the various elements and socio-dynamics that are implied by small-town America enrich the plot. One of the book’s key highlights is that it focuses on subjects that come close to the universal, including love, loss, friendship, and the need for meaning. Such themes run throughout the book in a way that makes the readers think about their own existence. Whether it is the memoir of Owen’s past, his relationship with other staff members of the hospital, or his developing love interest in Tina, the book brings the reader in touch with some raw and real experiences of life.
 
It is very difficult to come up with a dislike for this book because, honestly, there is none. Thus, from my analysis based on close reading, the book does not contain any errors, and the editing is superb. I would give it 5 out of 5 stars based on an understanding of one’s self, the portrayal of the environment, and the themes depicted in the story. I would highly recommend this book to readers who like themes like self-search and realization, human communication, and life’s hardships, to which many audiences are responsive.

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Sip Lake
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