Immortal Water by Brian Van Norman; Moving and Haunting Historical and Contemporary Fiction About The Search for Eternal Youth

 

Immortal Water by Brian Van Norman; Moving and Haunting Historical and Contemporary Fiction About The Search for Eternal Youth

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: I suppose it’s strangely fitting that a state like Florida with its tourist traps, Florida Men, and hordes of retirees would have a mythological story connected to its origins as a Spanish colony. It’s a state that practically lives for a story like that: quirky sites for people to visit, odd locals who are stereotyped as dim, weird, and boisterous, and an economy practically built on tourists and people relocating towards a sunny climate. With how Florida is often seen, is it any wonder that the Fountain of Youth myth is so prevalent in its legends?

Historically, there is some doubt whether Juan Ponce de Leon was really looking for the Fountain of Youth. Modern historians thought the explorer and conquistador was more concerned about finding new lands to conquer and plunder for its riches than preserving his youth. But still the Fountain of Youth legend persists and continues in pop culture. 

Brian Van Norman explores the Fountain of Youth legend in his novel, Immortal Water. It is a Historical and Contemporary Novel about the search for eternal youth, and immortality, the problems with aging, and the experience and wisdom that come with it.

Immortal Water tells two stories. The first is that of Ponce de Leon who is suffering from a series of setbacks involving rivalries and political machinations against him. On one last voyage, Mayaimi, a captive Calusa woman, spins him tales of a fountain whose waters promise eternal life, so Ponce knows exactly where he’s going next.

The contemporary story is that of Ross Porter, a retired history professor who receives the devastating news that his wife, Emily is dying. While the two are determined to make the most of Emily’s final days, Ross becomes consumed with the legend of Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth. After Emily dies, he is determined to find the Fountain himself.

Immortal Water ties the two stories thematically of two men faced with their aging bodies and diminished reputations trying to find a lasting legacy that allows them to live if not physically then certainly metaphorically forever. They want to find a means to escape death, age, and decline and acquire second chances to recapture their youth and glory. 

Ponce de Leon and Ross couldn’t be more different from each other though their end goals are the same. It's through their differences where the motivations become clear. 

Ponce de Leon is motivated by his diminishing reputation and influence. He was once a proud conquistador and explorer, appointed governor of the island that he overpowered, a friend and fellow voyager of Christopher Columbus. He plundered many lands and enslaved or vanquished their people. To the Reader, that is not a proud accomplishment but to de Leon himself and to the Spanish Kingdom of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella whose goal was to obtain wealth and spread Christianity by word or sword, it was.

Unfortunately, a world like that where conquest of outside lands is all too easy so are conquests from within. Corruption, currying favor, and political enemies are quite common in these nations that are now governed by representatives from Spain. Ponce de Leon has his share of enemies. Even though he was personally close to Christopher Columbus, Ponce de Leon finds himself at odds with Columbus’s son, Diego who is now viceroy and is removing the old guards who no longer have a place within the current Spanish colonial governments.

Ponce de Leon feels the punch of being tyrannized. As he dominated the indigenous people, he was dominated by the current government that he helped bring about. He feels redundant and his influence diminishes as he gets older. He lost respect from his fellow countryman and his own family. Even his son backs Columbus Junior over him. He believes that finding the Fountain of Youth will not only extend his life but revitalize his reputation.

A counter to Ponce de Leon’s journey is Mayaimi. She was abducted from her village and is extremely resentful of being passed around and treated like a sexual plaything by her captors. Ponce de Leon dismisses her as being ignorant and backwards, but she is definitely smarter, more self-aware, and manipulative than he realizes. His experience with her is limited because of his arrogance in leadership. It never occurs to him that she and her people will resist their captivity in any way possible.

She is the one who encourages his search for the Fountain of Youth. She builds up the legend knowing that Ponce de Leon could not resist chasing such a dream. While she follows the spiritual path, it appears that she doesn't believe in the Fountain of Youth or at least doesn't think it's worth pursuing. However, she doesn't mind playing her village legends to her benefit. If Ponce de Leon finds it, she's none the better. But if he doesn't, he will have wasted his life on a fool's errand or die in the process.

Ponce de Leon's story is one of the arrogance of shaping the world including the passage of time to fit one's own desires. By contrast, Ross Porter’s story is one of obsession that comes with filling a void of grief. Instead of wanting to control the world, Ross himself is shaped and controlled by it.

Instead of a life of suspicion, tyranny, and ambition, Ross’ is one of loss, regret, and sorrow. He had a happy life with Emily and his family. He and Emily were curious about history but not consumed by it. They enjoyed the search and the reading more than the pursuit. The book spends quite a long time exploring Ross and Emily's marriage before he goes looking for the Fountain of Youth. Their marriage was one of happiness, curiosity, and an awareness of aging bodies and time running out.

Even during the most joyful events, there is always a sense that Ross and Emily's happiness is short lived. They reunite with their children, in-laws, and grandchildren knowing that this may be the last time that they will be together. When Emily dies, Ross feels a deep growing hollow chasm in his life, one that can't be filled. He remembers his wife's weakening frail body and diminished spirit. Every pain and ache that comes with aging is magnified within him. He needs something to fill that chasm and like most academics, it's filled with the pursuit of knowledge, the pursuit of eternal youth and immortality.

Ross’ mind is caught inside memories of his life with Emily and his research of the Fountain's location. His motives might be different but he is every bit as single minded and determined as Ponce de Leon. This determination puts him at odds with friends and family, particularly his son who questions Ross’ obsession and sanity. Even though his concern is out of love and not power like de Leon’s son, Ross feels just as isolated as de Leon did in his search. The isolation turns to obsession to find the Fountain.

While Emily is not cunning or manipulative as Mayaimi, she is just as much a catalyst for her husband's search as the Calusa woman is to her captors. Her deteriorating body reminds her husband about the physical complications of age. Her love of vacationing in Florida gives Ross a means to begin his journey. Ross even dreams of her giving clues to the location of the Fountain.

Both Ross and Ponce de Leon share certain attributes in common. The most important are feeling ostracized and silenced by the younger generation, diminishing of their influence and authority, feeling physical pain, and the yearning to find late in life significance. They may long to swallow the drink that rejuvenates their bodies, gives them energy, and allows them to live a few more years. But the most important draw is not the physical benefits but the prestigious ones.

If they find and deliver the Fountain of Youth, their names will go down in history. Ponce de Leon could obtain money and power that eluded him. Ross could create a lasting legacy to his and Emily's marriage. It's the immortality of fame that is just as if not more important than the immortality of the body. 

Immortal Water is a fascinating quest about two flawed men searching for immortality only to find that the real immortality happens during the time they have left. It is in the legacy, the lessons, the people, and the emotional impact that they left behind.

Weekly Reader: Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson; Incredible Story of Amazing Group of Women Who Fought Management For Their Health and Safety

 

Weekly Reader: Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson; Incredible Story of Amazing Group of Women Who Fought Management For Their Health and Safety

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: The story of the Radium Girls is a tragic one. From 1917-1920, female factory workers were diagnosed with cancer caused by working unprotected with radium paint to paint numbers and dials on watches. They were told to lick the brushes to wet them and dip them into the paint. While the factory owners and management were warned about the potential dangers of radium poisoning, they kept this information from the workers. 

Five women sued the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois. The suit was settled out of court in 1938 even though sadly, many of the women did not live to see the results. However, the case created long term change in ensuring employee safety by creating regulations in which employees are informed of every potential risk and are properly equipped and attired for the workplace to maintain their health and safety.

Samantha Wilcoxson personalizes the moving story with her historical fiction novel, Luminous The Story of a Radium Girl. She takes the perspective of one of the women, Catherine Wolfe Donohue. The book begins with her as a naive girl excited to work at Radium Dial because of its impact in the community. She can financially support the aunt and uncle who raised her. It's hard and tedious work but she has a talent for putting those tiny numbers on the face. She befriends many of her coworkers and her employer, Mr. Reed seems like a nice guy. She even starts being courted by Tom Donohue. Then her coworkers start becoming mysteriously illl. One is losing her teeth. Another gets severe headaches. Catherine herself starts getting severe pain in her hip. Then their health gets worse and they realize the source of their problem: Radium Dial.

It's very easy to look back on these women with judgment, to think why didn't they look for another job? If they were so sick why didn't they notice sooner? What responsibility did management have to protect their health? 

Telling the story from the point of view of one of the women answers those questions. Wilcoxson writes a firm character study about a woman who always strives to do the right thing to be a good obedient religious person, but finds sometimes that's not enough in a world with employers who care about the bottom line and getting their products finished and don't care who has to suffer and die for it. A trait that unfortunately is still present in many business owners and managers today.

Catherine is written as the type of person who would rather none of this happened at all. She is someone who is content to find any sort of work, pick up a decent paycheck to take home to her aunt and uncle, hang out with friends, maybe get married and have children. She is a guileless woman who wants to do right by her family, community, and God.

 If they tell Catherine that the radium is safe, she believes them. After all, she doesn't personally know enough about radium to challenge them. Mr. Reed gives off a trustworthy vibe. He doesn't chase the female employees and even shares a laugh with them. She gets along with her fellow coworkers, developing a sisterhood even before they become sick.

Catherine is also in a pretty desperate financial situation. She isn't exactly swimming with money and during her time at Radium Dial, the Great Depression kicks in so she can't afford to quit a job no matter how much she is becoming aware that she and her colleagues are literally dying. Her aunt and uncle are getting older and she wants to care for them as well as they took care of her. Further compounding the situation is that Ottawa is a company town with Radium Dial. Even if she tried to get another job, Radium Dial will put enough of a black mark that she can't be hired anywhere. 

According to the book, Radium Dial's management was told of the potential risks of radium and did not warn the workers of even the possibility of illness. Even when workers in New Jersey succumbed to illness, they said that it wouldn't happen to them because they used a different type of paint. When one of the workers is hospitalized, they wish her well and then fire her. When the employees go to the local doctors, it becomes clear that Radium Dial's managers forced them to lie about their diagnosis and say that no they don't have cancer. Every action they take is in the name of profit and it is easy to see why the courts favor the workers.

Many of the situations are incredibly graphic showing the reality of the cancers eating away at these poor women's bodies. One has her arm amputated and another has to suffer as her teeth keep falling out. In one chapter, Catherine is eating food as pieces of her jaw bone break off. Her legs become so weakened that Tom has to carry her everywhere she goes.

Ironically, as Catherine's body weakens, her spirit strengthens. She takes the lead in getting the lawsuit going. She grants interviews allowing her picture to be taken to show Readers exactly what these women are going through. Tom helps her and the other women get a doctor who is willing to tell them the truth about their health and an attorney who will take their case. 

Catherine's Catholic faith also emboldens her. She tries to go to church as long as she can walk and struggles to kneel. Even when she is unable to move, the priest arrives to give her communion and other rituals. Catherine credits her faith to get her through this painful tumultuous time and giving her the power to use her voice and speak for herself and the other women.

Luminous is the type of book where an ordinary person finds their inner courage to speak out against inhumane decisions that put profit over people. It took women like Catherine Wolfe Donohue and the others to make people see the results of these decisions and improve the lives of future workers even if they didn't live to see that improvement.