Book review: The River

 

ISBN 9780764212451

From the Back:

She looked once more at the dreaded river. Since Anna's death, it had been such a barrier . . . a place and a moment she could not seem to move past.
           
A line I can't move beyond...
The River

Tilly and Ruth, two formerly Amish sisters, are plagued by unresolved relationships when they reluctantly return to Lancaster County for their parents' landmark wedding anniversary. Since departing their Plain upbringing, Tilly has married an Englisher, but Ruth remains single and hasn't entirely forgotten her failed courtship with her Amish beau.

Past meets present as Tilly and Ruth yearn for acceptance and redemption. Can they face the future in the light of a past they can't undo?

My Reflections:

Beverly Lewis is one of my all time favorite authors so it is no surprise to my followers that I will give this new novel a glowing review.

Lewis has the ability to take mere pages of a book, words on a page and transform them into relationships, family, beauty, life and faith viewed from the onlooker. You become one with the story, merge into a world away from dirty floors and piled dishes. Lewis must write unceasingly; there's always a new book to read, keeping her dedicated readers satisfied and content.

Tilly a Amish drop out returns home after a note arrives from her brother, Melvin. In the letter he begs of her to return home for an anniversary celebration. He pleas for her to convince their sister Ruth to accompany Tilly as well. 

Both sisters have long ago left their Amish roots to join the fancy world. Tilly has made this transition wholly, marrying an Englisher, using modern appliances and even driving her red little car.

Ruth follows in her sisters footsteps, leaving the Amish life a few years after Tilly, but unlike Tilly Ruth does not marry an Englisher, she is still bruised over her relationship with her former beau.

Both sisters struggle with unresolved issues from the past, one of them being the untimely death of their young sister. To complicate things their father is not a well man, and each family member must come to terms with their past and the reasons for their actions.

Beverly Lewis is known for her Amish fiction, and "The River" is just another tribute to Lewis's stellar writing abilities. I most enjoyed the way Lewis slowly revealed tidbits of the story, bit by tantalizing bit, it made for a savory read.

I highly recommend this book, fall is here and what better to do than leave the dishes and the sticky floor and curl up with a good Beverly Lewis book and a great cuppa tea! Just do it after the kids go to bed, you wouldn't want to ignore the little ones..

 "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

About the Author:
 

Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is the New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has...

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