Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Beautiful . . . A striking first novel of love and strength and growth, set against the forests and rivers of Colorado’s high country. Read is a gifted writer, and the book is a literary triumph.”—Denver Post
“With gorgeous descriptions of the great outdoors, an illicit love story, and an unforgettable protagonist, Go as a River offers something for everyone.”—Real Simple
“Read delicately unfurls the growing attraction between Torie and Wil, set against vicious bigotry toward Native Americans. Their love is the “small fateful twist” that forever changes the trajectory of Torie’s life. With delicate precision, Read evokes both Colorado’s rugged wilderness and the landscapes of her characters’ troubled hearts. An auspicious debut.”—Kirkus (starred review)
“Shelley Read creates a truly convincing and lovable character in Torie, who faces loss and despair, and has to make a decision which is driven by love, yet tragic for herself. It’s a captivating novel, impossible to put down and one which will be remembered long after reading it.”—Irish Examiner
“This soaring, compassionate tale of female resilience is set against a breath-taking picture of our natural world—its trees and mountains and light.”—The Independent (UK)
“Lyrical . . . Read, a fifth-generation Coloradan, draws characters and settings with period authenticity, stunning imagery, and deft metaphors.”—Booklist
“Evocative . . . moving . . . fascinating . . . Through lush imagery of the natural world, Go as a River shows the possibility of growing in the most challenging of circumstances, the power that flows through us, and how the natural world can give us the strength to keep on going.”—The i Paper
“Shelley Read's lyrical voice is a force of nature, and when she lends it to a woman leading a hardscrabble life in rural Colorado, the result is tragic, uplifting—and completely unforgettable.”—Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
“Shelley Read has written a splendid American Gothic tale of a young woman broken by circumstances who must find a way to forgive before she can love. Victoria Nash is a character for the ages as she navigates loss and despair on the road to redemption. The vast plains and desert canyons of her Colorado home are filled with ghosts until a mysterious drifter arrives and changes the course of her life forever. Go as a River is a stunning debut set in the soul of the American dream.”—Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone
“In Go as a River, Shelley Read delivers a heartbreaking and uplifting tale of a girl becoming a woman in a man’s world. Young Victoria Nash is as tough and resilient as the Colorado mountains where she takes refuge, and as tender as the peaches that are her family legacy. Book clubs will love this redemptive story.”—Tiffany Quay Tyson, author of The Past Is Never
“Completely spellbinding, vivid, and luminous.”—Jane Green, author of Sister Stardust
“Shelley Read’s devastatingly beautiful debut, Go as a River, delivers so very much: the tenderness and curiosity of young love, the eternal pangs of loss, the brutality of racism, the sustaining power of nature even in the face of man’s destruction, and the precarious miracle of a mother’s love. Suffused with wisdom and compassion, this shattering testimony to life is one to be savored, treasured, shared.”—Meg Waite Clayton, internationally bestselling author of The Postmistress of Paris
About the Author
Shelley Read’s debut novel, Go as a River, is an international bestseller that has sold over a million copies worldwide, been translated into thirty-four languages, and is in development for film with the Mazur Kaplan Company. Winner of the High Plains Book Award for Fiction and the Reading the West Book Award for Debut Fiction, Go as a River is also a Sunday Times bestseller, a Goodreads Choice Award finalist, an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Debut Fiction, an Indie Next Pick, and a Colorado Public Radio Books We Love selection, among other national and international accolades.
Shelley was an award-winning senior lecturer at Western Colorado University for nearly three decades, where she taught writing, literature, environmental studies, and honors. She is a mom, mountaineer, world traveler, and fifth-generation Coloradan who lives with her family in the Elk Mountains of Colorado’s Western Slope.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME READ ! Can’t believe it’s a DEBUT book !
‘23 - DEBUT NOVEL - 5 STARSDESCRIPTION : Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola, Colorado in the 1960s. Compared to The Four Winds and Where the Crawdads Sing. Seventeen-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 and determined to live as he chooses. Victoria encounters Wil by chance on a street corner, a meeting that profoundly alters both of their young lives, unknowingly igniting as much passion as danger. When tragedy strikes, Victoria leaves the only life she has ever known. She flees into the surrounding mountains where she struggles to survive in the wilderness with no clear notion of what her future will bring. As the seasons change, she also charts the changes in herself, finding in the beautiful but harsh landscape the meaning and strength to move forward and rebuild all that she has lost, even as the Gunnison River threatens to submerge her homeland―its ranches, farms, and the beloved peach orchard that has been in her family for generations.REVIEW : Recommended by gottapeanow who loved it 5/5 stars; best book of ‘23; left her completely gutted; “Honestly, how can this be the author's first novel? It's totally brilliant. What a peach! (Pun intended.) Gorgeous prose, riveting characters, and a mesmerizing plot that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let you go til the very last word”. Because of this great review I spotted on Bolo on sale for $1.99 (reg 14.99)m grabbed it and jumped right-in.LOVED THIS LAST PARAGRAPH IN THE PROLOGUE……“Imagine a town silent, forgotten, decomposing at the bottom of a lake that once was a river. If this makes you wonder whether the joys and pain of a place wash away as the floodwaters rise and swallow, I can tell you they do not. The landscapes of our youths create us, and we carry them within us, storied by all they gave and stole, in who we become”.ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION OF HOW WILSON LOOKS AT LIFE…..“He rarely looked to the future, and to the past even less, but gathered up the current moment in both hands to admire its particulars, with no apology and no sense it should be otherwise”.The writing is beautiful and flows so well. I found myself reading slower to feel every word. Victoria was such a memorable character and her experiences should inspire strength and determination in all of us. All these feelings at only 40%. I wanted this book to go on for another 300 pages. I really would LOVE a sequel ! I can only hope and dream.GO AS A RIVER, PEACE.
4.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking, Hopeful, and Amazing
4-1/2 StarsShelley Read’s Go As a River is a painfully beautiful story set against the breathtaking backdrop of rural Colorado. The novel follows Victoria (Torie) Nash, a young woman whose life is shaped by love, loss, and resilience. Torie’s journey is marked by a forbidden romance that alters her path forever, leading to heartbreak and ultimately hope. Later, the introduction of Inga adds another layer of emotional depth, making the story even more poignant.The descriptions of Colorado’s natural beauty are stunningly atmospheric and transportive, immersing readers in the vivid scenery. The character development is extraordinary; both Torie and Inga left an indelible mark on my heart. Their struggles and triumphs are portrayed with such raw authenticity that I couldn’t help but feel deeply connected to their stories.This novel is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful, balancing pain with perseverance in a way that leaves a lasting impression. It was a phenomenal choice to close out my 2024 reading goals, a fitting tribute to a year filled with amazing books. Go As a River is a stunning read that I highly recommend.
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
What a lovely story of sorrow and redemption. Beautifully written and compelling. I read it in three days. It pulled me in.
5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite
Victoria Nash lives with her silent father, her disabled uncle, and her malicious brother on a farm whose peaches are legendary and renowned. This is Colorado, 1940s, and the men treat Torie as a servant--worse, almost as an animal. The father would be kind but he's consumed by grief. The brother is a psychopath, and the uncle is just a bitter jerk. Torie has such a hard life--the description of her first menstrual period without womanly guidance is absolutely wrenching--but she suffers in obedient silence. Her mother, aunt, and beloved other brother died in a car wreck, leaving her to grow up in this situation. When as a seventeen year old, she meets a young Native American man in town, the two of them start a relationship that's fated for tragedy. This story covers so many years and so many incredible events, it's hard for me to even describe it, but the writer is talented and the descriptions rich and evocative, not just of the human condition (injustice, jealousy, betrayal, found family, coming-of-age, etc.) but also of the exquisite beauty of Colorado. I wish the story hadn't ended so abruptly, but that's because it was so good, I could have used a few more pages of looking into the future. Well done.
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written book!
Well told story of the effects of the Gunnison River Dam project that displaced thousands of people.
4.0 out of 5 stars Pulls you in like a river
This is a courageous first novel because the author instinctively knows the issues that capture the heart- and she covers them well, such as: Life and death, longing and letting go, surrender and fulfillment, living authentically, the mother-child bond, finding true identity, giving oneself away, romantic love at its most sacrificial, losing a parent, losing a child, hope and disappointment, the fight to survive, our bond with creation and with creator, prejudice and acceptance, forgiveness, belonging and isolation, family bonds, and the courage to find oneself in the midst of it all. She does an excellent job weaving together these themes within a historically rich backdrop that is not only believable, but relevant to today and how we live our lives. As a native Coloradan, I was mesmerized, but as a human, I was enriched--I felt like I went on a journey as the characters developed- and yes, it is sad- but these themes carry the story, just like a river carries life through all sorts of landscapes-- which we hope to never have to endure, but after reading this, somehow feel that if called upon, we could.
Touching and beautifully written
Go as a River is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant debut that weaves together love, loss, resilience, and the enduring connection to nature. Set in post-war Colorado, the story follows Victoria Nash, a young woman navigating personal tragedy and societal expectations as she carves out her own path. Shelley Read’s lyrical prose and vivid sense of place bring the landscape—and Victoria’s quiet strength—to life. It’s a moving coming-of-age novel that stays with you long after the final page.
A Story that will Stay in your Heart.
Torie (Victoria), a seventeen-year-old girl, sees a boy — Wilson Moon — who arrests her thoughts completely. She has never felt this way before, and she knows that from that moment on, everything will be different.Living with her father, volatile younger brother, and a wounded uncle returned from war, Torie shoulders the responsibilities of a motherless home. She cooks, cleans, cares for her family, and helps her father on their peach farm.Wilson Moon, an "outsider* wanders into her town, only to be met with prejudice and suspicion. The townspeople call him a thief, forcing him to become a runaway — finding refuge in the most unexpected of places.Torie’s brother Seth vows to find and report him. But after many sleepless nights, Torie discovers where Wilson is hiding, and the two begin to meet in secret. In her heart, she knows he has stayed only for her. Yet secrets can’t stay hidden forever. What follows is a tale of love, loss, survival, and resilience.From the very first page, I was captivated by Ms. Read’s evocative writing style — simple yet profoundly powerful. The story, narrated by Torie, spans several years, and the serene backdrop of nature beautifully complements the emotional depth of the plot. If you are a lover of nature, you will find yourself completely immersed in her journey.Torie’s experiences feel relatable and endearing, and the scenes come alive vividly. I would have loved to see a little more of her relationship with her brother, Seth, which felt slightly unresolved. Some moments might feel larger than life, but for me, they worked perfectly.Overall, I loved this story in its entirety and look forward to reading more of Ms. Read’s
Una lectura obligatoria
He leído cientos de libros y esto es uno de mis favoritos.Es una lástima que la autora, Shelley Read, solo haya escrito un libro.
A Joy to Read
“Flowing forward against obstacles was not my whole story. For, like the river, I had also gathered along the way all the tiny pieces connecting me to everything else, and doing this had delivered me here”While some of the storyline and events in the book felt less plausible, I was able to overlook them with this haunting but sad human story of love, survival, courage, family, and impossible choices. The beauty of the book was to be found in the natural landscape and the writing, but most of all within the character of the central female character, Victoria. A very memorable read.The Plot - “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.” and this ‘single circumstance’ was when Torie met Wilson Moon, a native American that was to become her first love and enduring soulmate. Rejected by society, Wil was forbidden to have any relationships, work and a life in this mid Colorado town, lola. Not to be dissuaded by the prejudice to be found in others, Torie embarks on an adventure that can only end in tragedy.Review and Comments - This wonderful book is brimming with themes that draws the reader in from the beginning and holds you there to the final moments - hopeful, willing, and anxious about the life that should have been.A coming of age story? – Yes, but with themes of motherhood, survival, nature, abandonment, murder, and racism, the tides of time force the young Torie to accept those things she cannot change but also gives her the courage to take fate into her own hands and in search of her son. Moving and evocative. Both heart-warming and heart wrenching. A beauty of a book. Sentimental but not gushing with over dramatic scenes either.
Tender and profound
I am too full of emotion and admiration, overwhelmed by a sense of synchronicity, to begin to describe the moving and profound impact this glorious novel has had on me. It's tenderness, beauty and courage resonate deeply.Thank you, Shelley Read.What a gift!
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Go as a River: A Novel
AED9169
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Imported From: United States
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Visit the Spiegel & Grau Store
Go as a River: A Novel
AED9169
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Beautiful . . . A striking first novel of love and strength and growth, set against the forests and rivers of Colorado’s high country. Read is a gifted writer, and the book is a literary triumph.”—Denver Post
“With gorgeous descriptions of the great outdoors, an illicit love story, and an unforgettable protagonist, Go as a River offers something for everyone.”—Real Simple
“Read delicately unfurls the growing attraction between Torie and Wil, set against vicious bigotry toward Native Americans. Their love is the “small fateful twist” that forever changes the trajectory of Torie’s life. With delicate precision, Read evokes both Colorado’s rugged wilderness and the landscapes of her characters’ troubled hearts. An auspicious debut.”—Kirkus (starred review)
“Shelley Read creates a truly convincing and lovable character in Torie, who faces loss and despair, and has to make a decision which is driven by love, yet tragic for herself. It’s a captivating novel, impossible to put down and one which will be remembered long after reading it.”—Irish Examiner
“This soaring, compassionate tale of female resilience is set against a breath-taking picture of our natural world—its trees and mountains and light.”—The Independent (UK)
“Lyrical . . . Read, a fifth-generation Coloradan, draws characters and settings with period authenticity, stunning imagery, and deft metaphors.”—Booklist
“Evocative . . . moving . . . fascinating . . . Through lush imagery of the natural world, Go as a River shows the possibility of growing in the most challenging of circumstances, the power that flows through us, and how the natural world can give us the strength to keep on going.”—The i Paper
“Shelley Read's lyrical voice is a force of nature, and when she lends it to a woman leading a hardscrabble life in rural Colorado, the result is tragic, uplifting—and completely unforgettable.”—Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
“Shelley Read has written a splendid American Gothic tale of a young woman broken by circumstances who must find a way to forgive before she can love. Victoria Nash is a character for the ages as she navigates loss and despair on the road to redemption. The vast plains and desert canyons of her Colorado home are filled with ghosts until a mysterious drifter arrives and changes the course of her life forever. Go as a River is a stunning debut set in the soul of the American dream.”—Adriana Trigiani, author of The Good Left Undone
“In Go as a River, Shelley Read delivers a heartbreaking and uplifting tale of a girl becoming a woman in a man’s world. Young Victoria Nash is as tough and resilient as the Colorado mountains where she takes refuge, and as tender as the peaches that are her family legacy. Book clubs will love this redemptive story.”—Tiffany Quay Tyson, author of The Past Is Never
“Completely spellbinding, vivid, and luminous.”—Jane Green, author of Sister Stardust
“Shelley Read’s devastatingly beautiful debut, Go as a River, delivers so very much: the tenderness and curiosity of young love, the eternal pangs of loss, the brutality of racism, the sustaining power of nature even in the face of man’s destruction, and the precarious miracle of a mother’s love. Suffused with wisdom and compassion, this shattering testimony to life is one to be savored, treasured, shared.”—Meg Waite Clayton, internationally bestselling author of The Postmistress of Paris
About the Author
Shelley Read’s debut novel, Go as a River, is an international bestseller that has sold over a million copies worldwide, been translated into thirty-four languages, and is in development for film with the Mazur Kaplan Company. Winner of the High Plains Book Award for Fiction and the Reading the West Book Award for Debut Fiction, Go as a River is also a Sunday Times bestseller, a Goodreads Choice Award finalist, an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Debut Fiction, an Indie Next Pick, and a Colorado Public Radio Books We Love selection, among other national and international accolades.
Shelley was an award-winning senior lecturer at Western Colorado University for nearly three decades, where she taught writing, literature, environmental studies, and honors. She is a mom, mountaineer, world traveler, and fifth-generation Coloradan who lives with her family in the Elk Mountains of Colorado’s Western Slope.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME READ ! Can’t believe it’s a DEBUT book !
‘23 - DEBUT NOVEL - 5 STARSDESCRIPTION : Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola, Colorado in the 1960s. Compared to The Four Winds and Where the Crawdads Sing. Seventeen-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 and determined to live as he chooses. Victoria encounters Wil by chance on a street corner, a meeting that profoundly alters both of their young lives, unknowingly igniting as much passion as danger. When tragedy strikes, Victoria leaves the only life she has ever known. She flees into the surrounding mountains where she struggles to survive in the wilderness with no clear notion of what her future will bring. As the seasons change, she also charts the changes in herself, finding in the beautiful but harsh landscape the meaning and strength to move forward and rebuild all that she has lost, even as the Gunnison River threatens to submerge her homeland―its ranches, farms, and the beloved peach orchard that has been in her family for generations.REVIEW : Recommended by gottapeanow who loved it 5/5 stars; best book of ‘23; left her completely gutted; “Honestly, how can this be the author's first novel? It's totally brilliant. What a peach! (Pun intended.) Gorgeous prose, riveting characters, and a mesmerizing plot that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let you go til the very last word”. Because of this great review I spotted on Bolo on sale for $1.99 (reg 14.99)m grabbed it and jumped right-in.LOVED THIS LAST PARAGRAPH IN THE PROLOGUE……“Imagine a town silent, forgotten, decomposing at the bottom of a lake that once was a river. If this makes you wonder whether the joys and pain of a place wash away as the floodwaters rise and swallow, I can tell you they do not. The landscapes of our youths create us, and we carry them within us, storied by all they gave and stole, in who we become”.ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION OF HOW WILSON LOOKS AT LIFE…..“He rarely looked to the future, and to the past even less, but gathered up the current moment in both hands to admire its particulars, with no apology and no sense it should be otherwise”.The writing is beautiful and flows so well. I found myself reading slower to feel every word. Victoria was such a memorable character and her experiences should inspire strength and determination in all of us. All these feelings at only 40%. I wanted this book to go on for another 300 pages. I really would LOVE a sequel ! I can only hope and dream.GO AS A RIVER, PEACE.
4.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking, Hopeful, and Amazing
4-1/2 StarsShelley Read’s Go As a River is a painfully beautiful story set against the breathtaking backdrop of rural Colorado. The novel follows Victoria (Torie) Nash, a young woman whose life is shaped by love, loss, and resilience. Torie’s journey is marked by a forbidden romance that alters her path forever, leading to heartbreak and ultimately hope. Later, the introduction of Inga adds another layer of emotional depth, making the story even more poignant.The descriptions of Colorado’s natural beauty are stunningly atmospheric and transportive, immersing readers in the vivid scenery. The character development is extraordinary; both Torie and Inga left an indelible mark on my heart. Their struggles and triumphs are portrayed with such raw authenticity that I couldn’t help but feel deeply connected to their stories.This novel is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful, balancing pain with perseverance in a way that leaves a lasting impression. It was a phenomenal choice to close out my 2024 reading goals, a fitting tribute to a year filled with amazing books. Go As a River is a stunning read that I highly recommend.
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
What a lovely story of sorrow and redemption. Beautifully written and compelling. I read it in three days. It pulled me in.
5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite
Victoria Nash lives with her silent father, her disabled uncle, and her malicious brother on a farm whose peaches are legendary and renowned. This is Colorado, 1940s, and the men treat Torie as a servant--worse, almost as an animal. The father would be kind but he's consumed by grief. The brother is a psychopath, and the uncle is just a bitter jerk. Torie has such a hard life--the description of her first menstrual period without womanly guidance is absolutely wrenching--but she suffers in obedient silence. Her mother, aunt, and beloved other brother died in a car wreck, leaving her to grow up in this situation. When as a seventeen year old, she meets a young Native American man in town, the two of them start a relationship that's fated for tragedy. This story covers so many years and so many incredible events, it's hard for me to even describe it, but the writer is talented and the descriptions rich and evocative, not just of the human condition (injustice, jealousy, betrayal, found family, coming-of-age, etc.) but also of the exquisite beauty of Colorado. I wish the story hadn't ended so abruptly, but that's because it was so good, I could have used a few more pages of looking into the future. Well done.
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written book!
Well told story of the effects of the Gunnison River Dam project that displaced thousands of people.
4.0 out of 5 stars Pulls you in like a river
This is a courageous first novel because the author instinctively knows the issues that capture the heart- and she covers them well, such as: Life and death, longing and letting go, surrender and fulfillment, living authentically, the mother-child bond, finding true identity, giving oneself away, romantic love at its most sacrificial, losing a parent, losing a child, hope and disappointment, the fight to survive, our bond with creation and with creator, prejudice and acceptance, forgiveness, belonging and isolation, family bonds, and the courage to find oneself in the midst of it all. She does an excellent job weaving together these themes within a historically rich backdrop that is not only believable, but relevant to today and how we live our lives. As a native Coloradan, I was mesmerized, but as a human, I was enriched--I felt like I went on a journey as the characters developed- and yes, it is sad- but these themes carry the story, just like a river carries life through all sorts of landscapes-- which we hope to never have to endure, but after reading this, somehow feel that if called upon, we could.
Touching and beautifully written
Go as a River is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant debut that weaves together love, loss, resilience, and the enduring connection to nature. Set in post-war Colorado, the story follows Victoria Nash, a young woman navigating personal tragedy and societal expectations as she carves out her own path. Shelley Read’s lyrical prose and vivid sense of place bring the landscape—and Victoria’s quiet strength—to life. It’s a moving coming-of-age novel that stays with you long after the final page.
A Story that will Stay in your Heart.
Torie (Victoria), a seventeen-year-old girl, sees a boy — Wilson Moon — who arrests her thoughts completely. She has never felt this way before, and she knows that from that moment on, everything will be different.Living with her father, volatile younger brother, and a wounded uncle returned from war, Torie shoulders the responsibilities of a motherless home. She cooks, cleans, cares for her family, and helps her father on their peach farm.Wilson Moon, an "outsider* wanders into her town, only to be met with prejudice and suspicion. The townspeople call him a thief, forcing him to become a runaway — finding refuge in the most unexpected of places.Torie’s brother Seth vows to find and report him. But after many sleepless nights, Torie discovers where Wilson is hiding, and the two begin to meet in secret. In her heart, she knows he has stayed only for her. Yet secrets can’t stay hidden forever. What follows is a tale of love, loss, survival, and resilience.From the very first page, I was captivated by Ms. Read’s evocative writing style — simple yet profoundly powerful. The story, narrated by Torie, spans several years, and the serene backdrop of nature beautifully complements the emotional depth of the plot. If you are a lover of nature, you will find yourself completely immersed in her journey.Torie’s experiences feel relatable and endearing, and the scenes come alive vividly. I would have loved to see a little more of her relationship with her brother, Seth, which felt slightly unresolved. Some moments might feel larger than life, but for me, they worked perfectly.Overall, I loved this story in its entirety and look forward to reading more of Ms. Read’s
Una lectura obligatoria
He leído cientos de libros y esto es uno de mis favoritos.Es una lástima que la autora, Shelley Read, solo haya escrito un libro.
A Joy to Read
“Flowing forward against obstacles was not my whole story. For, like the river, I had also gathered along the way all the tiny pieces connecting me to everything else, and doing this had delivered me here”While some of the storyline and events in the book felt less plausible, I was able to overlook them with this haunting but sad human story of love, survival, courage, family, and impossible choices. The beauty of the book was to be found in the natural landscape and the writing, but most of all within the character of the central female character, Victoria. A very memorable read.The Plot - “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.” and this ‘single circumstance’ was when Torie met Wilson Moon, a native American that was to become her first love and enduring soulmate. Rejected by society, Wil was forbidden to have any relationships, work and a life in this mid Colorado town, lola. Not to be dissuaded by the prejudice to be found in others, Torie embarks on an adventure that can only end in tragedy.Review and Comments - This wonderful book is brimming with themes that draws the reader in from the beginning and holds you there to the final moments - hopeful, willing, and anxious about the life that should have been.A coming of age story? – Yes, but with themes of motherhood, survival, nature, abandonment, murder, and racism, the tides of time force the young Torie to accept those things she cannot change but also gives her the courage to take fate into her own hands and in search of her son. Moving and evocative. Both heart-warming and heart wrenching. A beauty of a book. Sentimental but not gushing with over dramatic scenes either.
Tender and profound
I am too full of emotion and admiration, overwhelmed by a sense of synchronicity, to begin to describe the moving and profound impact this glorious novel has had on me. It's tenderness, beauty and courage resonate deeply.Thank you, Shelley Read.What a gift!
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