Go as a River

Books | Fiction / Women

4.4

(63)

Shelley Read

In the spirit of Where the Crawdads Sing, and set amid the beauty and wilderness of the Colorado mountains, an unforgettable and deeply moving story of a young woman who follows her heartSeventeen-year-old Victoria Nash runs the household on her family's peach farm in the small ranch town of Iola, Colorado—the sole surviving female in a family of troubled men. Wilson Moon is a young drifter with a mysterious past, displaced from his tribal land but determined to live as he chooses.Victoria's chance encounter with Wil on a street corner profoundly alters both of their young lives, igniting as much passion as danger. When tragedy strikes, Victoria leaves the only life she has ever known, fleeing into the nearby mountains. Taking shelter in a small hut, she struggles to survive in the wilderness, with no clear notion of what her future will be. As the seasons change, she also charts the changes in herself, finding in the natural world the strength and meaning that set her on a quest to regain all that she has lost, even as the Gunnison River rises to submerge her homeland—its ranches, farms, and the beloved peach orchard that has been in her family for generations.Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola in the 1960s, Go as a River is a story of deeply held love in the midst of hardship and loss, but also of finding courage, resilience, friendship, and finally, home—where least expected. This stunning debut explores what it means to lead your life as if it were a river—gathering and flowing, finding a way forward even when the river is dammed.

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More Details:

Author

Shelley Read

Pages

320

Publisher

Doubleday Canada

Published Date

2023-02-28

ISBN

0385688776 9780385688772

Community ReviewsSee all

"A chance encounter on a street corner of her small town sets into motion events that reverberate across decades. This beautifully written, heartfelt story will stay with me. Recommend. "

Jackie Davidson

"Beautifully written, this haunting story of a young teen woman coming to age in a home that only serves men because the women have all died. She falls in love with an outsider and after becoming pregnant she has to run. Her decisions that follow shape the remainder of her life; love turning into longing. I loved this book!!!"

Merry

"This is a beautifully written story about love, loss, tragedies, triumphs and ultimately finding strength in sorrow. I loved her use of the title throughout the story. Like a river you collect pieces of your life, both good and bad, and you carry them with you as you go. My one criticism is I didn’t want the book to end when it did. "

Katie Harrison

"I didn’t consider this book “devastatingly beautiful “ as described by some other readers. I felt it wordy at times and dragged. However the author is extremely well written. She is very vivid and lyrical. I was not brought to tears as many others were. It’s a good read, in my opinion but not a page turner. "

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Chris Brown

""Go as a River" is a story of preserverance, strength, and hope! I will admit that this is not usually the type of historical fiction novel that I would typically read, but I truly enjoyed this book! It made me tear up a few times! I will also warn that this book is most definitely a slow burn, so one has to give the book time to truly appreciate it!!! "

Cherry Lover 🍒

"Such a cozy and touching read! Loved every page!"

Alexandra Jones

"This book will draw you in from the first few pages. Torie is immediately likeable and her journey through this book is amazing and heartbreaking. Parts of this book took my breath away just imagining the pain that she endured. It’s a must read!"

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Kate Foster

"The author is very well written. Parts of the story are very drawn out with figurative language. The story ends beautifully... a little bit of a cliffhanger."