A review by serendipitysbooks
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The River is Waiting is the story of Corby, a stay-at-home dad with an alcohol and drug problem that contributes to a terrible tragedy. I loved this book for its moral complexity, the way it dealt in shades of grey. Yes, Corby's actions had horrific consequences, but he wasn't an irredeemably bad person, and in a couple of instances made choices that reflected well on his character. I appreciated the way the story highlighted the flaws, inadequacies, and abuses inherent in the prison system and the way inmates are powerless to protect themselves. Many readers will consider the ending to be a cop-out, but I rather liked it. Lamb has resisted the temptation to show us whether he thinks atonement is possible, thus forcing  the reader to wrestle with the issue themselves. A thought-provoking, powerful, and brutal book with a deeply flawed character that Lamb had me rooting for. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Rape

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic