August 2025:

The River is Waiting

by Wally Lamb

I learned about this summer's book, The River Is Waiting (TRIW) , through Skyler who is a member of the TCADPs bookclub. They are also reading TRIW so she sent it to me so we could read it together then talk about.

I loved the idea and when the book came in I started reading it and couldn't put it down. I've read a zillion books so usually when I start reading I can guess the plot and ending. TRIW surprised me at least four times. I also have to say it's a hard read because the story contains some ruff events.

The story is about Corby, a young guy who's married and they have twin toddlers. Corby and his family are involved in an accident that involves a DWI situation and someone loses their life. This results in Corby being sentenced to prison.

As I started this book I thought that the main character would probably have an accident and someone's life would be taken. A car crash or something. When I got to that part of the story and realized what happened my reaction was so visceral that I had to stop reading and put the book down. I couldn't bare imagining the scene it was tuff!

But here's the thing about what happened, it was the type accident that happens all to often in daily life. What made it a crime was Corby that under the influence when it occurred. The was so hard to think about but also so real.

A large part of the story is about Corby's life in prison and the effects of his being incarcerated has on his family. If you have a loved one who is incarcerated and you make time and effort to include them in your life, you understand. The letters, phone calls, visits -- the sacrifice made for the person who's in prison. The author does a very good job at describing this and as you read about it you realize that the entire family is doing time with Corby.

This is the first book I've read by this author and found that Lamb is a master at writing about flawed characters and making the reader feel compassion for them anyway. I especially identified with Corby, in part because I'm in the middle of my "doing time" experience, I understand what Corby's going through. I did not like Corby's wife, Emily at all. For me, she was a made to hate character. So I was blown away at how the author rehabilitated her and made me care for her in the end. That was some awesome writing.

A favorite part of the story is the letter a psychologist Dr. Patel writes to Corby right before he begins to serve his sentence. In the letter she gives him a few suggestions that will help him transition into life in prison. At the end of letter Dr. Patel asks Corby to think about the choice every person has when they enter prison. You move towards the dark or the light. You can use this time to better yourself or further imprison yourself. You can use the experience as graduate school for criminals, or go within and do the work needed to become a better person. That was great.

Another part that I loved was about hope. In an AA meeting, Corby shared that he was trying to hold onto hope that when he got out he could continue life with his family. But what if his wife had moved on? Wouldn't let him come home? He just didn't want hope to sucker punch him.

A fellow prisoner shares with Corby that hope will never sucker punch you. You need hope, without it you become bitter and cynical, you start saying what's the use?

That is wisdom and reminded me of this absolute truth. I loved TRIW and think if you read it you'll learn a lot and enjoy it too!