Dr. Anya Sharma's "Aqueous Solutions: The Hydricity of Modern Literature" is a profound and timely examination of how water, not merely as a subject but as a conceptual framework, has reshaped literary expression in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Sharma posits that a discernible "hydricity" has permeated contemporary writing, influencing narrative structure, character development, and thematic concerns. This book argues convincingly that authors like Richard Powers in "The Overstory" (2018), through his multi-perspectival approach to forest ecosystems, and Jenny Odell in "How to Do Nothing" (2019), by advocating for a grounded, place-based attentiveness, demonstrate a deliberate engagement with liquid, flowing, and interconnected modes of understanding and representation that mirror water's own properties. "Aqueous Solutions" provides a compelling lens through which to re-evaluate established literary canons and understand the emergent ecological consciousness in prose and poetry.
Sharma's central thesis—that water's physical and metaphorical attributes have become a dominant force in contemporary literary technique—is meticulously developed across her chapters. She begins by tracing the historical presence of water in literature, from ancient myths to Romantic poetry, establishing a baseline before detailing its more radical reconfigurations in recent decades. For instance, she analyzes how the fragmented, non-linear narratives found in works like David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas" (2004) echo the unpredictable currents and eddies of a river, suggesting that authors are adopting fluid structures to better represent complex, interconnected realities. The "water cycle" becomes a potent metaphor for narrative dissemination and transformation, with ideas and characters flowing between distinct story arcs, much like water moving through different states and locations. This structural fluidity, Sharma argues, is not merely aesthetic but a philosophical response to globalization and environmental crisis, where fixed, singular perspectives feel increasingly inadequate.
Furthermore, Sharma explores how hydricity influences characterization. Rather than solid, unchanging individuals, contemporary literature increasingly features characters who are mutable, adaptable, and deeply entwined with their environments. She points to the oceanic settings in Ocean Vuong's "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" (2019), where the vastness and depth of the sea mirror the complex, often submerged emotional lives of his characters. These characters absorb and reflect their surroundings, much like water takes on the properties of what it contains. This contrasts sharply with earlier literary traditions that often emphasized self-contained, heroically independent protagonists. Sharma suggests this shift reflects a broader cultural move towards recognizing our interdependence with the natural world, a sentiment powerfully articulated by the interconnectedness inherent in aquatic ecosystems.
The book's impact extends to its analysis of contemporary ecological literature. Sharma contends that the "aqueous turn" is intrinsically linked to the growing awareness of environmental precarity. Writers are not just describing environmental damage; they are adopting literary forms that embody ecological principles. The concept of "flow," for example, is not just about narrative movement but about the interconnectedness of all living things. When Sharma discusses the "watershed moment" in literature—referring to a significant thematic or stylistic shift—she links it directly to the increasing visibility of climate change and water scarcity. Her examination of poetry that directly addresses rising sea levels or drought conditions, such as the works of Camille T. Dungy, demonstrates how poets are using the very language and structure of water to convey urgency and evoke empathy, making the abstract threat of environmental change palpable. "Aqueous Solutions" is a significant contribution, offering a fresh and vital perspective on the currents shaping modern literary thought and practice.