The River by Peter Heller

Peter Heller is the author of the best-selling novels The Dog Stars, Celine, and The Painter. His latest novel, The River follows two close buddies on a wilderness canoe journey that devolves into a harrowing fight for life.

Jack and Wynn have paddled many rivers together in the two years they'd known each other, and climbed a lot of peaks - well versed in camping and portage they have no problem living off the land and prefer to travel in the old ways, not even carrying an emergency phone. Although in their early twenties (between semesters at college) both are well rounded; Wynn is an Arts major who appreciates the work of Goldsworthy with Jack leaning towards Thoreau and Faulkner. At the beginning of their journey on the Maskwa River south of Hudson's Bay, a distant forest fire begins which they feel they can stay ahead of. Across a foggy lake, they pass a couple they cannot see violently arguing; later, as they navigate a waterfall, a man erratically appears on the river claiming his wife has disappeared. The friends travel back and find she had been attacked, but why and by whom? With life threatening injuries (unable to walk or talk), they put her into their canoe and return to find the man has stolen or destroyed all their gear and supplies. The three must now make their way towards the end of the river for help, into the very face of the flashing forest fire which disobeys every rule, and the threat of an unseen assailant targeting them around every turn.

This is a must read. Before I reached the end, I actually started back at the beginning and reread the novel again before the finale (which was poetic and perfect). Heller has a mastery of language that makes me want to linger on every paragraph, every sentence. Much more than a wilderness survival novel, Heller has a spare style of using words that are unused and fresh - exactly the right word, catching my eye. Many times I stopped to realize there was nothing unnessesary in the writing - nothing unneeded or diverting - it was well honed. A real pleasure to read. He obviously has a solid knowledge of boating and the land with which to set this adventure against. Like the river, there are some calm moments of meditation between the friends before the capsizing danger of the rapids - Heller handles it all with style.

It's hard to review a book that you like so much. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a daring wilderness experience, but above that, to anyone who appreciates well crafted novels.

It's all about the writing.

2019 / Hardcover / 253 pages