Go as a River: A Novel
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* 2023 Reading the West Book Award * Finalist for Goodreads Choice Award * Colorado Public Radio 2023 Books We Love *
Set amid Colorado’s wild beauty, the heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a resilient young woman whose life is changed forever by one chance encounter. A tragic and uplifting novel of love and loss, family and survival—and hope—for readers of Great Circle, The Four Winds, and Where the Crawdads Sing.
“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
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, igniting as much passion as danger. When tragedy strikes, Victoria leaves the only life she has ever known, fleeing 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.
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 face 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 a river is dammed.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0B71C17R4
Publisher : Spiegel & Grau (February 28, 2023)
Publication date : February 28, 2023
Language : English
File size : 2183 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 321 pages
Customers say
Customers find the story heartbreaking, great, and compassionate. They praise the writing quality as eloquent, beautiful, and descriptive. Readers describe the book as wonderful, compelling, and enjoyable. They appreciate the riveting characters and their growth and change. They also mention the story is a tribute to strength and courage. In addition, they say the journey is momentous and feels deep.
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8 reviews for Go as a River: A Novel
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mnmloveli –
AWESOME READ ! Canât believe itâs a DEBUT book !
â23 – 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 familyâs peach farm in the small ranch town of Iola, Coloradoâthe 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 homelandâits 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 â23; left her completely gutted; âHonestly, 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 wordâ. Because of this great review I spotted on Amazon on sale for $1.99 (reg 14.99)m grabbed it and jumped right-in.LOVED THIS LAST PARAGRAPH IN THE PROLOGUEâ¦â¦âImagine 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 becomeâ.ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION OF HOW WILSON LOOKS AT LIFEâ¦..âHe 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 otherwiseâ.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.
Mountain Cat Mom –
Excellent, Beautiful writing
This author’s writing is really beautiful with excellent descriptions of nature more than the people in my opinion. It was an incredible story, much different than anything I’ve ever read before. I would have given it 3.5 stars, except I really felt let down at the end with the story ending too abruptly for my taste. I wanted more beyond about the main characters interacting. Yes I would recommend, although interestingly to me at least, I can understand the people who found it boring or too wordy.
ckyoung57 –
A beautiful story gently woven and written to last in your heart.
I loved this beautiful book. Each page pulled me in and once I started reading, I could not put it down. My heart went out to Wil Moon and Victoria. Their young love was so sweet and pure. Her heartache was crushing, but she never gave up. This was so well written and was perfect in every way. Loved it.
L F –
Good solid story
Enjoyed this read as it flowed well. I liked the two faceted story line of two mothers and their lives lived, sorrows endured, Loves had and lost. Characters were developed well. Words chosen painted that could easily be visualized throughout the book. More of a female maternal oriented read. Male readers may not experience the book as well.
Mimi –
Unforgettable, Amazing Story, Brilliant Writer
This book is what I call a âhummer.â That is a term I learned many years ago to describe a food that you just love. You slow down to eat it, you savor every bite, all talking ceases, time stands still and it is pure joy. This book is most definitely a hummer. It will stay with me for a long time. Unforgettable. Itâs a very sad story but also one of healing and redemption. So much tragedy but so beautiful. The writing is amazing. Lots of history: Pearl Harbor, WWII, the construction of the Blue Mesa Dam on the Gunnison River, west of Gunnison, Colorado in 1963 that flooded three small towns, the loss of livelihood, the suffering of families, a love affair, a baby, the Vietnam War and the draft, losing so many loved ones, starting a new life, finding solace, prejudice, injustice; growing, selling and savoring peaches, and so more. I slowed down my reading so I could savor every sentence. This isnât a book you just whip through to find out what happened. You take it slow, you savor every word, every sentence, and take it all in — like floating down a river on a rubber raft. I have to read it again.Shelley Read . . .youâve got to promise us some more!
Susan –
a tender tale of mother love
The author has a wonderful grasp of words. The story flows along with many surprises. It sometimes does not hold together and says different things about the same story, specifically Willâs home. Itâs a good read
JG –
Great read!
Well written. Read it in two daysâ¦Great story line â¦
Vicki Helderman –
Raw, heart breaking and achingly beautiful
I was not prepared for the journey this story would take me along. I was tempted to give it 4 stars only because some parts shattered my heart so entirely but probably all the more reason for a solid 5 stars. What a staggering tale of loss, grief, deep unfairness, strength, fortitude and forgiveness. Iâll be processing this one for a while.