Book Review: The River

Sometimes you just like to sit down and enjoy a good story.  The River by Michael Neale is just that; it's a good story that is easy to read, yet it wasn't one of those books that I couldn't put down.  Instead, I felt that the story was pretty predictable and was really trying to make you take a look at your own life.

The main character, Gabriel, lost his father when he was only 5 years old.  He leaves The River in Colorado where he began his life to live with his mother in Kansas.  His life is full of fear and unresolved grief until he has the opportunity to return to The River at the age of 20.  There he learns about his heritage and purpose in life.

My complaints?  For being a "Christian" book, I would have liked to seen Gabriel find comfort in God.  There is never any mention of God in this book, yet Gabe does find that The River "talks to him" as well as he finds comfort in a bird.  Another thing (and it is a very small one) is that Gabriel's love interest, Tabitha, is very much the initiator in their relationship.  As a mother of a soon-to-be teenage daughter, I would have preferred Tabitha's character to have been not quite so assertive.  Call me old-fashioned...

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided with a free copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.