BOOK REVIEW - EVERYTHING IS WATER by Simon Cleary

Simon Cleary's invitation to join his twenty-seven day walk on the banks of the Brisbane River rewards the reader with an invigorating, inspirational adventure - from its source to the sea. Cleary brings to life - his River, its brutality and beauty.

His careful observance of plants and pebbles, flora and fauna, the bends and eddies of the river, connected to wider stories of waterways and human history, viewed through a global lens, instils a holistic and vibrant dimension to the experience.

"Everything is Water' is a rich narrative celebrating the author's relationship with nature, family, friends and strangers he meets on his adventure.

Cleary's intimate storytelling style, often poetic, engaging, immerses the reader in the moment. Vivid imagery brings the journey to life. "Walking down the middle of the sandy bed, we're following the current as surely as if we were in a canoe... We're walking in flow, in the heart of a moving river, propelled along by waves of pebble and quartz and sand." The rhythm is mesmerising, like a musical beat.

'Everything is Water' is lyrical and meditative. The river is a teacher for us to listen, look and learn with a clear philosophical message inviting us to "navigate our own path." A reminder that we are mostly water and interconnected with all living things who are also mostly water, a unifying factor that encourages us to care and respect all creation.

A beautiful book I gladly rate four stars.