Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The River by Peter Heller

9 reviews

chelsl's review

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read this in two days!. I love the author's nature writing. I am an outdoorsy person and so if you aren't, I guess this could go either way (it could be interesting because it's not your own experience, or you could be bored by it) - but for me it's so lovely. The character development of the two main characters is also great, and the plot had me tense and I couldn't put it down. It is so gripping but then there are these scenes of paddling, or fishing, that are a balm. I can't convey how much I loved this book. It feels real.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault

scipio_africanus's review

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

caroline_rk's review

adventurous dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

The depictions of nature are that of someone experienced. I was initially hooked by the story of the man and woman. Upon finishing this book I just feel disappointed in Heller’s lack of being able to write a fully formed female character. Very sad ending that happens abruptly. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Rape and Violence

eemcnell's review

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Rape

michelleb's review

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book started as a slow burn, with descriptions of lush forests and spending time on the river. The element of mystery comes in about a quarter of the way. Not only are they looking out for a forest fire but also so not-so-nice humans. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Xenophobia

Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, and Sexual violence

mschmidt's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow is all I can say. I thought this would be a slow build but once it got going, man was it going. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Rape

bookmaven17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was a re-read and, personally, I think it was better the second time!  This book is part adventure and part thriller.  Peter Heller has an amazing way of making the landscape a prominent character in all of his books.  I am right there -- in the canoe, on the river.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault and Animal cruelty

horizonous's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, and Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

◦ Death = Friend

wordswithjustine's review

adventurous sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Beautiful language, lovely nature writing, inexplicably tense from the very beginning.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault