Old Man River
I know, of course, that the Mississippi River is generally referred to as “old man river.” Even if it isn’t the longest river in North America, it is huge! I am partial, however, to the Tennessee River because I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee where ‘the river’ refers to the Tennessee. In fact, I was just there seeing friends and relatives and can attest to the fact that ‘the river’ is the hallmark of the city.
The River Knows Your Name, by Kelly Mustian, is set in Mississippi and North Carolina. It tells the story of two sisters, and there is a bit of a mystery because the girls find out that they do not share the same mother. One sister has no memory of a dark night when a mysterious man dropped her off in the mountains. The other thinks she does, however hazy it may be. This book is described as being very ‘atmospheric.’ I guess the stage is set for a look into the past.
The River is Waiting, by Wally Lamb, was an Oprah Book Club book. You know what that can mean–very emotional. And this book does not disappoint. It may hold too much tragedy for some readers to take. There are some very rough scenes. According to a reviewer in the LA Times, the ending didn’t satisfy many of his expectations. If you are a Lamb fan, however, you might want to give the book a try.
Where the Rivers Merge is by lowcountry author Mary Alice Monroe. The book, of course, is set in the lowcountry–the Ace Basin of South Carolina. It is a multi-generational story of a strong Southern woman who must make a difficult decision. It’s the first time Monroe has written an historical novel so her fans can’t say enough wonderful things about it. And if you don’t want to read the book after watching the video below, you must not cry during Hallmark movies!!