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What did you think of The River We Remember and why?
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This is such a wonderful story. It is emotionally engaging, a story of memories new and old. Jewel is akin to Three Pines in providing a haven for characters dealing with the demons from their service in various wars and from poor personal choices. William Kent Krueger has us explore “whether we ever really heal from the wounds–brutality, loss, disappointment, disgrace, guilt–that war delivers to our souls.” The characters are like real human beings, some likeable and some not. There is genuine concern and compassion on the part of Brody Dern and Angie Madison for the people of Jewel, especially Felix Klein. But there are demons loose in Jewel in the form of racism, prejudice and sexual abuse. Because of these demons, there is a crime to solve. Secondarily, there is the coming of age of Scott Madison and the “what ifs” consequences in his life. In the Bluestones, we see forgiveness for the atrocities they have endured and in Noah Bluestone, there is the ultimate sacrifice of his life to save that of Del Wolfe. “We all die, but some of us–those who are blessed or maybe just lucky–have the opportunity before that end to be redeemed. We can let go, forgive others, and also forgive ourselves for the worst of what we are or have been.”
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So, I was captivated by TRWR, as I am by William Kent Krueger’s books and for the same reasons. The story on the murder of Jimmy Quinn, who did it, how and why is superbly written and unfolds with clues that are obvious and yet I failed to recognize them.
But the deeper connection is with the characters, particularly Brody Dern and Noah Bluestone. Both of them had a moral and ethical compass (not a legal one) and were willing to follow it and accept the consequences.
None of the characters in TRWR is superficial or stereotypical. Every character, Brody, Noah, his wife, Angie Madison, Marta Quinn and Connie Graff, Chqrlie Bauer, Del and even “Creasy” is profoundly human, flawed and a product of their circumstances and the life and path they must follow.
I recommend TRWR for its ability to create deeply human connections and tell an amazing story.
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I agree with you, Jane and Nancy. There’s a lot of humanity in the TRWR as reflected through the characters and town of TRWR. Nancy, you put it very well. Jewel is similar to Three Pines as it is a place of refuge but there is also darkness there. WKK digs into the effects of war and how it wounds people not only immediately but for generations. And he has a lot to say about bravery, kindness, and compassion and its ability to heal.
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I was drawn in by the writing in this book; it was like a movie unfolding in my head; and since I had to listen to it on audiobook instead of having a hard copy, I had to imagine every little bit of it —even the spellings of the names, some of which I see I got wrong, thanks to your mentioning them!
The book has a lot to say, and a lot going on. The characters are indeed deep and well-drawn, and I had deep sympathy for so many of them. So many wounded people, both physically and mentally. So much resilience and strength, and a lot of goodness, despite all that. Their way of life was not so very far off from my own experiences of small town midwestern life, so while it seemed “long ago” in some ways, it was also quite familiar in others. Each town has its good, its bad, and its ugly. Jewel was no exception. Some of the subject matter was tough to listen to, and the ending just made me profoundly sad, all things considered. I appreciate this book, and will keep its lessons with me, but I doubt I’ll want to revisit it.
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