River

By Esther Kinsky, Iain Galbraith (translator),

Book cover of River

Book description

"A magnificent novel."—The New Yorker

"This is a book to relish."—The Guardian

A woman moves to a London suburb near the River Lea, without knowing quite why or for how long. Over a series of long, solitary walks she reminisces about the rivers she has encountered during her life, from…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked River as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Like Milkman above, this was my favorite book the year I read it, and I plan to re-read it soon. It’s a quietly intense and lonely story, in first person, with an unnamed female narrator whose “family” is the community she lives in by a river in England.

She rarely deals directly with these people, though her interactions are generally described in retrospect, and, in a way, her constant observation and evaluation of her surroundings make the urban/industrial landscape part of her family, too.

Urban landscapes have been an important part of my life, too; they have shaped much of…

From Richard's list on family beyond blood ties.

If you love River...

Ad

Book cover of The Road from Belhaven

The Road from Belhaven by Margot Livesey,

The Road from Belhaven is set in 1880s Scotland. Growing up in the care of her grandparents on Belhaven Farm, Lizzie Craig discovers as a small girl that she can see the future. But she soon realises that she must keep her gift a secret. While she can sometimes glimpse…

Want books like River?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like River.

Browse books like River

Book cover of My Brilliant Friend
Book cover of Milkman
Book cover of Ducks, Newburyport

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,762

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like River, you might also like...

Hatching Love by Heidi Matonis,

Book cover of Hatching Love

This is a story of how the human-animal bond can heal, connect and redeem us all – even possibly a very jaded ghost!

The story opens with Tom’s wife, Beth, receiving a shipment of duck eggs. She has watched a YouTube video and was charmed by the idea of hatching…

Ferry to Cooperation Island by Carol Newman Cronin,

Book cover of Ferry to Cooperation Island

James Malloy is a ferry captain--or used to be, until he was unceremoniously fired and replaced by a "girl" named Courtney Farris. Now, instead of piloting Brenton Island’s daily lifeline to the glitzy docks of Newport, Rhode Island, James spends his days beached, bitter, and bored.

When he discovers a…

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in women, presidential biography, and feminism?

Women 658 books
Feminism 365 books