This book will live rent free in my mind for the foreseeable!
Within the pages of It Comes From the River, we meet three female characters: Alex, who lives with her emotionally abusive husband and their 15-month-old daughter, then Lauren, a single mother of two boys who finds herself in desperate territory in trying to make ends meet, and finally, we meet Nancy, an elderly woman whose son has moved her into a care home where she finds that she’s lost herself and her identity, a caged bird longing for the freedom that she once had. Each character so different, but bound together; each chapter injects sub-chapters from each of the women’s viewpoints which helps the reader to empathise with each of them. We uncover the pivotal themes of the book, which include motherhood at all stages as well as female identities beyond motherhood. There was an essence of women under the traditional male gaze, how they seem to be outgrown and villainised amongst their peers. And although we see these themes develop mainly from the characters POVs, we also get insight on them from Gytrash’s point of view. This character, in folklore, is known as a benevolent spirit, usually depicted as a large dog to help guide lost travelers, and since in some ways these women have become lost, it’s such a unique way to show how they have been swept up in lives that may have been portrayed to them differently. It Comes from the River is a book about survival and hope and MY GOSH I devoured it! I adored the way that the lives of the characters are penned and created to meet at a crossroads. I was obsessed.
Rachel Bower has written a novel that many of us may see parts of ourselves in, it’s eye-opening and heartbreaking, but also filled with understanding and finally, hope. Rachel’s writing is captivating and sparkles, even in the darker parts of the novel. the plotlines are important, but can also at times be triggering to some. Rachel writes these difficult scenes in a way that words aren’t needed but the insinuation is there. I feel like this is such an important novel as it shows abuse in it’s various forms, while also depicting hope and resilience in a cleverly executed way. It Comes From the River is a truly unforgettable debut, with the essence of humanity and folklore cleverly injected throughout, showing the strength of women when we work together and support one another. Truly incredible!
Reviewed by Danielle.
Published on 30/01/25 by Bloomsbury
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