Scan barcode
ryleee's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book is 'Teen Mom' set in 'Where the Crawdads Sing' . The setting is established well and includes nice imagery of the scenery in rural Colorado, which makes it easy to imagine. The main protagonists are likeable enough, but I wish we had a bit more insight into some of the ancillary characters (Seth, their dad), to want to empathise with them through the series of unfortunate events that befall them towards the end. For example, I wanted the dad to give us SOMETHING to say that he knew about the baby, and still loved Victoria, and acknowledge his failings as a father since the mum died. But alas, even on his deathbed the man was stoic.
It feels like four stories mashed together, supposedly linked through the impending flooding of Victoria's home town. Because of this, the pacing often lurches forward in places to get through the plot points at the expense of relationship-building between the characters. The ending is wholesome enough, but pretty far-fetched and abrupt.
If you're into internal-monologue-narration, and knowing the protagonist's feelings and experiences intimately, then you will probably enjoy this book!
It feels like four stories mashed together, supposedly linked through the impending flooding of Victoria's home town. Because of this, the pacing often lurches forward in places to get through the plot points at the expense of relationship-building between the characters. The ending is wholesome enough, but pretty far-fetched and abrupt.
If you're into internal-monologue-narration, and knowing the protagonist's feelings and experiences intimately, then you will probably enjoy this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Car accident, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Colonisation
emmieanna's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Just as a single rainstorm can erode the banks and change the course of a river, so can a single circumstance of a girl’s life erase who she was before.
It has taken me two months to properly review this book, and honestly I still don’t know what to say. One thing I know for sure is that it is CRIMINALLY underrated. This book affected me so incredibly deeply and I honestly don’t think I will be the same.
I wish I could give Victoria a massive hug because girl was going through it and became an incredibly strong woman despite, I would love to be her friend. She quietly absorbs and reflects, really staying true to her personal values, overall gaining a lot from the life she has built for herself.
Shelley Read balanced plot and character development really well, I loved how encompassing and varied the topics she explored in the story. It deals with heavy themes, racism towards Indigenous Peoples and gender roles being two of the most prominent, but also highlighting familial trauma and selfless sacrifices, all of which broke my heart.
I have been and forever will recommend this book, my opinion has only inflated over time and I will never stop tell people to read it. If they don’t make a film starring Margaret Qualley or Emily Carey soon I will cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
dch7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
beccajreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
This was tough to read at times, but beautiful too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Torture, and War
Minor: Vomit, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I have about 4K words of thoughts about this that are more appropriate for elsewhere, but I am absolutely baffled that other reviews didn't mention the fact that this book uses violence against a Native person to prompt personal growth from a white woman. Wil shows up, gets called slurs, has no characterization,
*bought at Analogue Books & Records in Pueblo, CO
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
this was so so disappointing. the characters are incredibly one dimensional and stereotypical, the plot is incredibly unbelievable and boring, and the author used the singular Indigenous American character is barely featured and simply used to further the main characters story and then thrown away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
maryfranvs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Sexism, Car accident, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Infertility and Sexual content
alixcallender's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I have great affection for Victoria, and I loved the slow, reflective, mournful pacing. But I do take issue with a few things:
- Far to many peach metaphors. We get it.
- Where is Wilson Moon’s actual personality?
- The near-end was overly fluffy and convenient. (Without giving anything away, I will just say that I am not convinced that Victoria could have imagined *that outcome* with such accuracy, nor do I believe that two people can glean such perfect and correct meaning from a pile of rocks.)
It was very much like Where the Crawdad’s Sing, so if you liked that story you’ll probably like this one too. It’s a poolside read. I read it quickly, and enjoyed it!
- Far to many peach metaphors. We get it.
- Where is Wilson Moon’s actual personality?
- The near-end was overly fluffy and convenient. (Without giving anything away, I will just say that I am not convinced that Victoria could have imagined *that outcome* with such accuracy, nor do I believe that two people can glean such perfect and correct meaning from a pile of rocks.)
It was very much like Where the Crawdad’s Sing, so if you liked that story you’ll probably like this one too. It’s a poolside read. I read it quickly, and enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Infertility, Sexual content, and Car accident
shelfofunread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
1948. Iola, Colorado. When Victoria ‘Torie’ Nash bumps into Wil Moon at the intersection between Main Street and North Laura, her life changes forever.
Seventeen-year-old Torie has been keeping house for her father, uncle and younger brother on the family peach farm ever since her mother died. It’s a quiet life – and not an entirely satisfactory one – but Torie never questions the rhythm of it until one fateful encounter with a stranger.
Wilson Moon is an enigma. He says he’s just a drifter: that he moves through life as a river and lives life as he chooses. But Wil is Native American and to others in the small town of Iola, that means trouble. Soon Torie isn’t the only one trying to find Wilson Moon. Her troubled brother, Seth, and his friends are after the reward that has been placed on Wil’s head. As Torie and Wil are drawn into a love affair as passionate as it is dangerous, tragedy shadows their footsteps. And when it arrives, Torie will need every ounce of her inner strength and courage to follow Wil’s advice and go as a river, wherever her life leads.
Go As A River, the debut novel from Coloradoan author Shelley Read, is as lyrical as it is is moving. It is clear that this novel has been written by an author who knows and loves the landscape of Colorado. I sometimes struggle with long paragraphs of description but the luscious rendition of the mountains, canyons, and creeks are an absolute delight to read, and Read’s depiction of small-time life means that Iola and its inhabitants leap off the page.
The characters are, for the most part, wonderfully drawn, especially Torie herself who comes of age and flourishes into a strong and independent woman as the novel progresses. I also found Seth, although abhorrent as a human being, to be a convincing antagonist, driven through life by envy and resentment. I was a tad less convinced by Wil who, at times, seems almost too good to be true but, as the novel is told from Torie’s perspective, it’s natural that she would see him as this ‘perfect’ figure given the events that take place and her own experiences up until that point in her life.
The novel deals with some very difficult issues so trigger warnings for racism/racial hatred/racial slurs, discrimination, alcohol abuse, PTSD, death of a parent, childbirth/birth trauma, abandonment, and mentions of violence, domestic violence and violent death. For the most part these issues are navigated sensitively although there were one or two areas where I felt the novel would have benefited from slightly more nuance. There’s a lot packed into 300 pages and although it is by no means a ‘pacy’ book – with lingering, lyrical descriptions throughout and a relatively sedate opening section – there were times when I felt the story needed a little more room to breath.
The need to move the plot forwards occasionally detracted from some of the larger themes that the novel engages with, such as the treatment of Native peoples, the effects of poverty in small-town rural America, and the impact that developments made in the name of ‘progress’ can have upon communities and individuals. This is a shame because Shelley Read writes so beautifully and clearly has a great passion for Colorado, it’s history, its landscape, and its people. I honestly can’t believe that this is a debut novel because the quality of the writing is exceptional.
As a coming-of-age novel, Go As A River is a compassionate and moving portrait of a young woman finding her place in the world. Richly descriptive and evocative, this is sure to appeal to fans of writers such as Kristen Hannah. Although I didn’t find all the characters as fully-drawn, the focus upon one women’s journey and her interactions with the world also has similarities to Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle, and the lush descriptions of the landscape are sure to appeal to anyone who has loved Where the Crawdads Sing.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the Blog Tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Seventeen-year-old Torie has been keeping house for her father, uncle and younger brother on the family peach farm ever since her mother died. It’s a quiet life – and not an entirely satisfactory one – but Torie never questions the rhythm of it until one fateful encounter with a stranger.
Wilson Moon is an enigma. He says he’s just a drifter: that he moves through life as a river and lives life as he chooses. But Wil is Native American and to others in the small town of Iola, that means trouble. Soon Torie isn’t the only one trying to find Wilson Moon. Her troubled brother, Seth, and his friends are after the reward that has been placed on Wil’s head. As Torie and Wil are drawn into a love affair as passionate as it is dangerous, tragedy shadows their footsteps. And when it arrives, Torie will need every ounce of her inner strength and courage to follow Wil’s advice and go as a river, wherever her life leads.
Go As A River, the debut novel from Coloradoan author Shelley Read, is as lyrical as it is is moving. It is clear that this novel has been written by an author who knows and loves the landscape of Colorado. I sometimes struggle with long paragraphs of description but the luscious rendition of the mountains, canyons, and creeks are an absolute delight to read, and Read’s depiction of small-time life means that Iola and its inhabitants leap off the page.
The characters are, for the most part, wonderfully drawn, especially Torie herself who comes of age and flourishes into a strong and independent woman as the novel progresses. I also found Seth, although abhorrent as a human being, to be a convincing antagonist, driven through life by envy and resentment. I was a tad less convinced by Wil who, at times, seems almost too good to be true but, as the novel is told from Torie’s perspective, it’s natural that she would see him as this ‘perfect’ figure given the events that take place and her own experiences up until that point in her life.
The novel deals with some very difficult issues so trigger warnings for racism/racial hatred/racial slurs, discrimination, alcohol abuse, PTSD, death of a parent, childbirth/birth trauma, abandonment, and mentions of violence, domestic violence and violent death. For the most part these issues are navigated sensitively although there were one or two areas where I felt the novel would have benefited from slightly more nuance. There’s a lot packed into 300 pages and although it is by no means a ‘pacy’ book – with lingering, lyrical descriptions throughout and a relatively sedate opening section – there were times when I felt the story needed a little more room to breath.
The need to move the plot forwards occasionally detracted from some of the larger themes that the novel engages with, such as the treatment of Native peoples, the effects of poverty in small-town rural America, and the impact that developments made in the name of ‘progress’ can have upon communities and individuals. This is a shame because Shelley Read writes so beautifully and clearly has a great passion for Colorado, it’s history, its landscape, and its people. I honestly can’t believe that this is a debut novel because the quality of the writing is exceptional.
As a coming-of-age novel, Go As A River is a compassionate and moving portrait of a young woman finding her place in the world. Richly descriptive and evocative, this is sure to appeal to fans of writers such as Kristen Hannah. Although I didn’t find all the characters as fully-drawn, the focus upon one women’s journey and her interactions with the world also has similarities to Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle, and the lush descriptions of the landscape are sure to appeal to anyone who has loved Where the Crawdads Sing.
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com as part of the Blog Tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cursing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War