THE RIVER
by Peter Heller
I take great pleasure in getting a book recommendation from a friend and finding that I love the book as much as they did. My friend, Jane and I almost always agree on books. So when she urged both my husband and me to read The River, I figured it had to be good. It is excellent. I love everything about this book.
Heller sets his adventure story in the wilds of the northern forests of Canada. Two guys who are old college friends set out on a weeks-long canoe trip, hoping to relax and take in what their pristine, gorgeous surroundings have to offer. Not too far into their journey, they find themselves rescuing a woman who has been bludgeoned and left for dead. Their adventure becomes desperate as they try to get her to safety, outrun an oncoming fire and avoid the woman’s attacker who seems to be stalking them.
Not only is the story riveting, Heller tells it poetically. His writing is sparse yet beautiful. The story moves with a rhythm similar to what the men must have been feeling – pulsating with fear and wonder. Heller cinematically evokes both the forest’s charms and its dangers. He portrays the two men’s friendship with an appealing combination of humor and heart rarely found in literature. I can’t say enough good things about this novel. You have to read it and let me know what you think. (Liz)
P.S. I loved The River so much that I had to read more by Peter Heller. On Jane’s recommendation, my husband and I both read The Painter, an equally well-written, if darker novel. Set in New Mexico and Colorado, The Painter’s protagonist murders a man he encounters who is beating a horse. As much as the story pulls you in, Heller’s brilliantly choreographed revelation of the protagonist’s true nature is what really makes this story memorable.
A SECOND HELPING
For pure entertainment and page-turning adventure, I can’t think of a book I would recommend more strongly. On top of the drama, it’s also beautifully written with intelligent observations about nature, friendship and a human’s will to survive. (Lily)
