The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb – 420 pages
ARC from Mary Sue Ricci books and Netalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin—and that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears apart his family. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he witnesses frightful acts of brutality. But he also experiences small acts of kindness and kinship. Buoyed by those and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can those he loves ever forgive his crimes?
My Review: 4.5 stars
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb is a book that broke my heart due to tragedy and put it together again with a sprinkle of hope.
I’ve been waiting for years for a new Wally Lamb book and boy did he deliver. The topic, the accidental death of a child due to alcoholism makes this a tough read. On the flip side, this book delves into how we can make ourselves better, learn from our mistakes and work towards forgiveness. Corby is a character that grew emotionally strong from his time in prison. He took the good nuggets from prison and made the best of them and suffered from the bad parts without ever wanting pity. He was a man who wanted his life back.
I learned a lot of about prison life, the gangs, hierarchy, getting sober and much more. This novel touched on topics that were tough: addiction, sexual assault, acceptance of our actions and the gift of forgiveness. None of these threads are easy to read, but they are explored with stunning and meaningful prose.
Lamb’s writing usurps any parts of the book that left you feeling uncomfortable. From what I see from other reviewers, this book is a love it or hate it. I think the tough subject matter is why the low reviewers shied away. Needless to say, I am definitely on the love it side!
Quotes I liked:
Can a man who caused the death of his child ever atone enough to be forgiven? Is absolution even possible?”
“If you focus on what’s harmonious and beautiful in your present surroundings, harmony and beauty will follow you.”
“Having hope is kind of like praying. Like asking God for something and hoping He’ll hear you.”
