"Go As a River": A Tale of Love, Loss, and Resilience

In her stunning debut novel published in 2023, Shelley Read weaves an achingly beautiful narrative set against the backdrop of 1940s Colorado, where the rugged landscape serves not merely as a setting but as a character itself, shaping and reflecting the journey of our protagonist, Victoria Nash.

At seventeen, Victoria (Torie) manages her family's peach farm in the Colorado high country, carrying the weight of responsibility for her father and brother after her mother's passing. Her life follows the predictable rhythm of the seasons until a chance encounter with a young man changes everything. Wilson Moon, a ranch hand of Indigenous descent, introduces Torie to a love so profound it threatens to unravel the carefully constructed fabric of their small-town society.

Read's prose flows like the river that gives the novel its name, with descriptions so vivid you can almost taste the summer peaches and feel the harsh winter wind cutting through the valley. The author's intimate knowledge of Colorado's landscape and history enriches every page, particularly in her detailed portrayal of the flooding of the town of Iola – a real historical event that serves as a powerful metaphor for the way life can sweep away everything we hold dear, forcing us to rebuild.

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The novel excels in its exploration of several profound themes: the power of the natural world to both destroy and heal, the complexity of family bonds, and the ways in which society's prejudices can shape individual destinies. Read particularly excels in her examination of grief – not just as a response to death, but as a companion.

What sets this book apart is its unflinching look at resilience. Torie's character development is masterfully crafted, showing how a young woman can bend without breaking, even when faced with devastating losses. The secondary characters are equally well-drawn, each one contributing to the rich tapestry of the story without falling into stereotypes or convenient plot devices.

Read's background as a professor of writing and literature shines through in her careful construction of both narrative and metaphor. The river serves as a constant presence throughout the novel, representing both the unstoppable flow of time and the way life continues to move forward, regardless of our attempts to hold onto the past. The peach orchard, too, becomes a powerful symbol of both roots and regeneration.

While the story deals with heavy themes including racial prejudice, loss, and social isolation, Read manages to infuse the narrative with moments of profound beauty and hope. The result is a book that leaves readers feeling both wrung out and restored, much like Torie herself. Read has crafted a debut that feels both timeless and timely, speaking to contemporary issues while remaining firmly rooted in its historical setting.

This is a novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate literary fiction that doesn't sacrifice emotional depth for intellectual complexity. It's a remarkable achievement that marks Shelley Read as an author to watch, and one that will leave readers reflecting on their own capacity for resilience long after they've turned the final page.

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