Reviews

Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell

Only show reviews with written explanations

book_concierge's review

3.0

Audiobook narrated by Susan Bennett

From the book jacket - After the violent death of her father, sixteen-year-old Margo Crane takes to the Stark River in her grandfather’s rowboat, with only a few supplies and a biography of her hero Annie Oakley, in search of her mother. But the river, Margo’s childhood paradise, is a dangerous place for a young woman traveling alone, and she must be strong to survive, using her knowledge of the natural world and her ability to look unsparingly into the hearts of those around her.

My reactions
I hardly know what to write about this novel. Very early on I was disturbed by Margo and the adults around her – or should I say the adult who was NOT around her, specifically her mother. I wanted to hug her and keep her safe and warm. And then I wanted to shake her till her teeth rattled. I was distressed by her circumstances, her poor choices, her acting out (specifically when it came to men), her apparent lack of any sort of moral compass. And yet … she is a compelling character and I couldn’t just turn away from her.

Still, this is no Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s central character had a certain innocence about him, and Margo seems to lack innocence. This is no mere adventure, her very survival depends on her ability to make a go of it. I had to keep reminding myself about how young she is; even Campbell keeps reminding the reader of Margo’s real age. The ending is both hopeful and heart-breaking.

Susan Bennett does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has a tendency to draw an audible breath just before each sentence, and that “breathy” delivery was a distraction until I got used to it. Her pacing was good, and she has enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the characters.

felixroe's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous relaxing sad medium-paced

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

3.5

reikista's review

Go to review page

4.0

I loved the presence of the river and the landscape in this book, and the relationships, especially towards the end, warmed me.

coleycole's review

Go to review page

4.0

Loved it! Great writing... and I just really wanted to adopt the main character.

mjfay's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

guitarlisa's review

Go to review page

emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.25

shirleytupperfreeman's review

Go to review page

This is written by a woman from Kalamazoo so I thought I'd check it out. I liked it. People are comparing it to Huck Finn and Homer's The Odyssey. The main character, Margo, is a sharpshooter whose hero is Annie Oakley. After the death of her father, she begins a quest to find her mother. She never strays far from the river - the only place she feels at home. She meets a number of interesting people who change her life for both better and worse. In a review article in the local paper, the author notes that she based Margo on Odysseus but with a key difference: "A man would have battles; a young woman would have relationships." It's a unique story and a good, if quirky, read.