Title: The River, by Moonlight
Author: Camille Marchetta
Pages: 362
Awards: Winner of The Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Independant Publishing
Publisher: virtualbookworm.com Publishing
Yearly Count: 57
Hey, and Welcome to Camille Marchetta's blog tour stop with The River, By Moonlight
!In 1917, on one April moonlit eve a woman happened to end up in New York City's Hudson River. The family that she leaves behind mourns the hole she leaves empty. How did she die? Why did she do it? Was it an accident? Chapter after chapter each character floods the pages with their perceptions about and relationship with the deceased Lily Canning.It is as if they all revolved around Lily and now that she is not there to engulf and delight them all, they don't know what else they have in common with each other besides their last names. She leaves behind so many loose ends, nothing is tied up neatly, it is as if she was blown by the wind into one of her moods of depression and thinks of a way to make it be the last time she will have to suffer.
I wasn't yearning to read another book on suicide just yet, since I just finished one (Surviving Ben's Suicide review) last week. But once again, when I began to read I was submersed in the read and wanted to know, what had actually happened. I enjoyed the chapter switch-ups, since each chapter was narrated by a different character who knew and loved Lily. I thought it flowed well, and made things even more interesting. Marchetta's writing is great, I felt as if I were in 1917 where the book was set. She did an excellent job of pace and writing style to match the times. Also, what made the book even more interesting were the thoughts the current war was bringing up in the characters, especially Lily.
What stood out the most to me about this novel, was the reality of blame amongst the family members and friends of Lily (or any other person who chooses to take their own life). Even more importantly I was once again reminded of how much each person who was touched by the deceased blamed themselves for Lily's death. Each of them showered with thoughts on how they could have just kept her with them a little longer, if....
Here are the two previous stops on this blog stop tour, excellent reviews, check 'em out!:
The Bluestocking Society
5 comments:
Sounds like a book that gives you a lot to think about. I'm curious already to know the reason behind her suicide. Great review!!
Thank you for the terrific review, Bethany. I can imagine the resistance you felt picking up another book about suicide,but I'm glad you did and that you finished it thinking it had been worth the effort. Camille
Great review Bethany! This sounds like an emotional read but one I'd like to read one day. I'll add it to my list.
Oh, I read this book and thought it was fantastic - a really great author.
You're getting a lot of winners - even if they aren't the happiest of books :)
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