Go as a River by Shelley Read is a heart-wrenching first novel that explores the themes of love, loss, determination, and the unyielding human spirit. Against the mid-20th-century Colorado landscape, the story unfolds around Victoria Nash’s life, a young woman whose life echoes the unrelenting passage of the river that governs her life.
Plot Overview
In 1948, Victoria Nash is a seventeen-year-old girl living in the small town of Iola, Colorado, helping out on her family’s peach farm. Her life is forever changed when she meets Wilson Moon, an enigmatic Indigenous man who is looking for his way. Their random meeting grows into a deep bond, defying the social conventions of the day.
As their relationship develops, they encounter the bitter realities of bigotry and prejudice. A brutal showdown results in Wilson’s vanishing, leaving Victoria struggling to come to terms with grief and a secret that sets her on a path of discovery. She heads into the wilderness, battling the elements and her own demons, only to re-emerge stronger and wiser.
Decades later, the Blue Mesa Dam construction risks engulfing Iola, representing the loss of heritage and homeland. Victoria’s return to the town and her attempts to save her family’s heritage highlight the novel’s investigation of resilience and the long-lasting connection to one’s heritage.
Character Analysis
Victoria Nash
Victoria is a gritty and contemplative heroine. Her transition from secluded farm girl to woman facing injustices in society and tragedy in her life is engrossing. Her strength comes from her capacity for survival and the ability to change, the river metaphor of holding on and transforming.
Wilson Moon
Wilson, or Wil, is a mysterious figure whose presence defies the status quo of Iola. His presence in Victoria’s life acts as a catalyst for her change. Wil’s character accentuates themes of identity, belonging, and effects of systemic bias.
Supporting Characters
The novel boasts a supporting cast of characters, such as Victoria’s brother Seth, whose motives are fueled by ingrained prejudice, and Ruby-Alice, an isolated woman who provides refuge and insight. These characters add depth to the story, offering different viewpoints and enriching Victoria’s path.
Themes and Symbolism
Resilience and Survival
Victoria’s narrative is an affirmation of human resilience. Her strength in coping with personal loss, societal condemnation, and environmental transformations signifies the theme of survival over adversity.
Love and Loss
The novel explores the nature of love—its power to heal and its ability to hurt. Victoria’s relationship with Wil and the loss she suffers define her perception of love’s transformative power.
Identity and Belonging
Both Victoria and Wil struggle with issues of identity and belonging. What they experience is reflective of wider societal problems, such as racial discrimination and the quest for self in an evolving world.
Nature and the River Metaphor
The river is a major metaphor, representing the ever-flowing nature of life and the impossibility of arrest. Nature is both shown as haven and agent of disruption, reflecting Victoria’s inner turmoil and development.
Literary Style and Reception
Shelley Read’s writing is praised for its lyricism and imagery. Her study of the environment gives depth to the descriptions of the landscape in Colorado, heightening the novel’s sense of immersion.
Reviewers and readers alike have commended the novel for its emotional resonance and characterisation. Victoria’s progress touches the heart, providing a story that is intimate yet at the same time universally identifiable.
Conclusion
Go as a River is a gripping journey through a woman’s life of love, loss, and discovery. Shelley Read weaves a story that is precise in its geography yet universal in its appeal. The novel asks readers to consider the forces that form us and the strength it takes to ride the currents of life.
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