Where the River Bends Elissa P Matthews Books
Download As PDF : Where the River Bends Elissa P Matthews Books
“... a forceful story about racial identity” (Kirkus Reviews)
Now an top 100 best seller!
"The plot takes some interesting and surprising turns... I was quickly captured by the story and found myself eagerly turning the pages to see where it would lead." ( Customer Review)
Where the River Bends In a turbulent and decisive period of American history, a mother and son fight to save themselves -- and each other -- from the destruction that sex, power and racism can cause.
On a rainy day in November 1931, two years after the crash of the New York Stock Exchange, Celeste Vandenholm's husband drives his car over a cliff and ends up in a coma. Celeste is left with a teenage son, an autistic daughter, a Park Avenue lifestyle and a negative bank balance. She struggles to hold her family together, but one setback after another sends her life spiraling out of control. But Celeste has a secret...
Until the night of his father’s car crash, David Vandenholm’s life is charmed and his future golden. As his family's finances plummet, he struggles to care for his sister, help support his mother, and maintain his sense of self in an increasingly hostile environment. When David discovers his mother’s secret, he reacts with anger and blind emotion, triggering a deadly confrontation that claims victims in more ways than one.
Setting New York City; Charlottesville, Virginia; Sculley’s Bend, Virginia
Where the River Bends Elissa P Matthews Books
Before reading Elissa Matthews’ Where the River Bends, I knew as much about racism in the US in the 1930s as I did in the 1920s or the 1910s or the 1900s… which is to say: nearly zero! But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t imagine it (It had to be pretty bad, right?) And while this isn’t an “in-your-face” story of the evils of racism (and sexism, for that matter), there was enough in this tale to make me cringe… more than once. Eye-opening, for sure.But that’s not all there is to this wonderful story. The way the characters interact, experience, learn, and grow comes from the mind of a truly talented writer. The action scenes are gripping. The lies and betrayals stung me as much as I imagine the way they stung the characters they hurt. The settings are rich and alive in my mind’s eye. There’s an enormous amount of detail (and I imagine: research) when it comes to figures of speech and lingo and jargon, day to day life in two very different worlds, the power and importance of religion – for some but not for others.
There are a few unanswered questions that I wish were wrapped up, but not enough to disappoint. (…I just deleted 4 questions I’ll have to ask Elissa about. Almost gave away some spoilers.) Where the characters go from here, I have to feel optimistic about. But I guess I’ll have to imagine it and not read it. Pretty damned good ending, too.
Highly recommend.
Product details
|
Tags : Amazon.com: Where the River Bends (9780990678601): Elissa P. Matthews: Books,Elissa P. Matthews,Where the River Bends,Copake Lake Press,0990678601,African Americans,Families,FICTION Historical General,FictionAfrican American - Historical,FICTION African American Historical
People also read other books :
- Crochet A Beginners Guide to Crochet (Audible Audio Edition) Nancy Ross sangita chauhan Books
- His Bewildering Bride The Brides of Paradise Ranch Spicy Version Book 3 edition by Merry Farmer Romance eBooks
- Blood and Salt edition by Barbara Sapergia Literature Fiction eBooks
- Kate Naughty Costume A Hotwife Novel edition by Lexi Archer Literature Fiction eBooks
- The Methuselah Man Will Dresser Books
Where the River Bends Elissa P Matthews Books Reviews
I absolutely loved the story. Although the story was set in the early 1930's, the themes of social justice and entitlement ring true today. If you need a pick for book club, I think this novel will provide lively discussion.
Well written story. The language was gentle-no descriptive violence, just the sad hint of the action. The descriptive language and dialogue, when the setting was the south, felt very real and natural.
A very well written story and resolution of conflict. I highly recommend this book.
The theme of the book isn't unique, but it was well written with great character development. I really enjoyed how the main characters transformed themselves by the end of the book. In the beginning of the book I didn't think much of the characters, but in the end I was very proud of all of them.
The plot of this engaging tale takes some interesting and surprising turns as an affluent New York family deals with the travails of sudden bankruptcy in the Stock Market crash and Depression. Their diminished circumstances force them to confront secrets that alter the lives of every member and reveal hidden strengths and weaknesses along the way. I was quickly captured by the story and found myself eagerly turning the pages to see where it would lead. To say more would spoil several revelations that drive the characters' actions. Ms. Matthews has a deft touch with dialogue and the nuances of dialect as it was spoken in different regions and cultures in 1930's America. An excellent first book by a new author.
Gripping story with a twisting plot. Subtitled "the story of a tragedy" and that's exactly what it is, bringing to mind real life events that surely inspired this fictional version. A gripping read, with realistic characters and a good sense of "voice" - an excellent first novel.
This book takes place in NYC and Sculley's Bend, a fictional village just outside Charlottesville, Virginia. The events in this book are eerily reminiscent of the recent events.
As a reader looking for great literature, "Where the River Bends" is masterfully suspenseful. You will think you know what will happen. And you will probably be right. But what really happens is so much fuller, engaging, and soul-thrilling than anything you could have imagined.
As an African-American reader, Elissa Matthews celebrates sisterhood, healing, cooperation, and love in extremely oppressed African-American communities.
As a person, this book encourages me that we can become the best of people in the worst of circumstances and after our biggest mistakes. Getting over them is not about ignoring them. Woe unto us if we do, suggests "Where the River Bends". Rather, facing our anger and obstacles is the pathway to new realizations and great beginnings.
This is one of our country's greatest books.
I always enjoy travelling through time to another era by reading fiction. This novel really brought the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of 1930s to life, both for the wealthy and the poor. It tells the story of the tragic effects of the stock market crash on one apparently wealthy family, but unexpected twists prove that appearances are deceiving. I don't want to give away too much, but the issues that are revealed as the veneers are pulled away are evocative not only of the era but also of American society through the generations
Before reading Elissa Matthews’ Where the River Bends, I knew as much about racism in the US in the 1930s as I did in the 1920s or the 1910s or the 1900s… which is to say nearly zero! But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t imagine it (It had to be pretty bad, right?) And while this isn’t an “in-your-face” story of the evils of racism (and sexism, for that matter), there was enough in this tale to make me cringe… more than once. Eye-opening, for sure.
But that’s not all there is to this wonderful story. The way the characters interact, experience, learn, and grow comes from the mind of a truly talented writer. The action scenes are gripping. The lies and betrayals stung me as much as I imagine the way they stung the characters they hurt. The settings are rich and alive in my mind’s eye. There’s an enormous amount of detail (and I imagine research) when it comes to figures of speech and lingo and jargon, day to day life in two very different worlds, the power and importance of religion – for some but not for others.
There are a few unanswered questions that I wish were wrapped up, but not enough to disappoint. (…I just deleted 4 questions I’ll have to ask Elissa about. Almost gave away some spoilers.) Where the characters go from here, I have to feel optimistic about. But I guess I’ll have to imagine it and not read it. Pretty damned good ending, too.
Highly recommend.
0 Response to "≡ Read Free Where the River Bends Elissa P Matthews Books"
Post a Comment