The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

 

My thoughts

I gave this book five stars. Not because I loved it. I hated it. I think the author did a fantastic job of writing it. I think he did a fantastic job of making it emotional. It was such a sad book though. I cried so much while reading this book. It is definitely a heartbreaking tearjerker. It's definitely shattering. 

If you have lost a child do not read this book. If you have a loved on in prison maybe don't read it. If you love a good hard gut wrenching read, read it. I finished this book but good grief did it hurt. 

You meet Corby and Emily along with their two twin children. A boy and a girl. Corby lost his job and is a stay home dad taking care of the children. What a wonderful thing for him to do. Except that Corby has secrets. Bad secrets. He's addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol. He drinks during the day in hopes that his wife, Emily, won't know. Then a tragedy strikes and Corby is sent away to prison. He only got five years, to serve three, and three years probation. Not nearly enough for what he did. 

While in prison you get to see what life is like for Corby now. It's not pretty but still it's much easier than he deserves. I absolutely hated him but I did feel sorry for him in places and for certain reasons. I hated him for what he did. For the drinking and drugs and driving. For what to me seemed he didn't consider other people's feelings enough. He was so selfish. But still this book is very well written and the feelings it causes are so real. You truly will feel the emotions and sorrows and sadness that you should. Like you are part of this families lives.

Emily on the other hand was understandably filled with so much anger towards Corby. I didn't much like her either though. I think she should have gone to see Corby more and taken their child to see him. Yes she had every right to be angry. Every right to hate him. Though she didn't hate him. I would have. I did actually. She was just a bit selfish though. Both were. I do understand Emily more though. I felt bad for her. I can't say that she lost so much without acknowledging that they both lost so much. It was Corby's fault though. Yes Emily should have said something when she had her suspicions. But she was not his keeper exactly. Though if she did know or suspect she certainly should have made sure her children were not allowed in a vehicle with him. Period!!!

This is a very emotional book. It's sad. It's horrible. But it's also a good story. It's well written. It had an ending that gutted me in so many ways. And the letter from Corby's dad.... That was so so sad also. Good book but way to sad. 

Thank you to the publisher, #SimonElemont for this ARC. It is also a BOTM choice for me. 

About

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that's before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart.

Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother's enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?