Our book for October was “River Woman” by Donna Hermans.
I loved this story, although very sad. The language is simple, lyrical and beautiful. The main character of this book is Kelithe, a young woman in Jamaica who always longs for the love and acceptance of her mother and she is doubtful that she will ever get it.
Kelithe is left behind in Jamaica by her mother, Sonya, who moved to America, and she is raised by her very strict grandmother who holds a lot of contempt for her daughter Sonya and the way that she abandoned her daughter.
After a romantic encounter with a stranger from America, Kelithe finds herself pregnant and scared. But the tragedy of this book is that Kelithe had a son, Timothy, three years old, who drowned in shallow water at the Rio Minho River.
Kelithe was there with other women washing clothes. According to the women, Kelithe stood and watched her child die, and these women and other residents of the small town, Standfast, were determined that she would not get away with this heinous act.
“River Woman” is a heartbreaking and beautiful novel that brings tears to your emotions. There is an outrage and sadness that you feel toward Kelithe and, at the same time, you feel contempt for the residents of Standfast because they have come to a decision in their minds that she has committed this horrible crime of not trying to save her child.
I think this was a tragic accident that could happen to any mother. These women jumped to conclusions and went out of their way to have her prosecuted.
If you read this book, I think a lot of mothers would agree with me.
This is an outstanding debut by Donna Hemans and has one of the beautiful covers of a first-time author. I look forward to reading more of her books.
Our last book of the year will be in November. I look foward to presenting it to you.
