The Water DancerThe Water Dancer
Score Modern
What it's about
Hiram Walker was born into bondage in Virginia. When his mother was sold away, he lost all memory of her, but gained a mysterious power. Years later, when he almost drowns in a river, that power saves his life, and he decides to escape the only home he's ever known.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 20 weeks on the lists. It's the first novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of Between the World and Me.
You'll love it if you liked
The Underground Railroad
Kindred
BelovedGood to know
It blends historical fiction with magical elements. It starts slowly.
By the numbers
- Readers66 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #60 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #118 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #428 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #830 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
More by Ta-Nehisi Coates
If you like this, read next
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Fall of Giants
Between Two Fires
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The Luminaries
Gods of Jade and ShadowExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Water Dancer worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 20 weeks on the lists. It ranks #830 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Water Dancer about?
Hiram Walker was born into bondage in Virginia. When his mother was sold away, he lost all memory of her, but gained a mysterious power. Years later, when he almost drowns in a river, that power saves his life, and he decides to escape the only home he's ever known.
How long does it take to read The Water Dancer?
About 10 hours (401 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Water Dancer?
If you liked it, try The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler or Beloved by Toni Morrison.