The River Is Waiting (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel
#1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb, celebrated for two prior Oprah Book Club selections, returns with an exceptional third pick, a propulsive novel following a young father grappling with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness.
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Readers say Wally Lamb’s *The River Is Waiting* is a powerful, emotional novel with compelling storytelling and authentic characters. Many agree it in...
This is by far my favorite book read! This was so intense, but very good! I was saddened immediately starting the book. The loss of a child and dealing with family tragedy in the book was well developed. Then the entire time when Cordy was in prison was tragic, sad, and did get me angry. The ending was beautifully put together!
What’s it about?
Corby Ledbetter is a young father who is struggling to keep it all together. He has lost his job and is having trouble finding another. He is staying home with his twin toddlers and trying to hide his burgeoning addiction issues. When everything comes to a head one morning his life will change forever.
What did it make me think about?
Our justice system.
Should I read it?
Well this is another Oprah Book Club pick. I thought it was well written and the topic interested me. I never grew to love Corby or Emily so that probably held me back from giving it a higher rating. My favorite characters were Manny and the librarian and they saved the book for me. Even though Corby is a nice guy and you feel for him, he just never seems to grow up. Having someone write a story about life in prison that did not seem sensationalized was what kept me turning the pages. I admire that Wally Lamb kept the character of Corby realistic, but sometimes I desperately wanted him to do better. It was interesting to note that Wally Lamb has volunteered in a women’s prison for over 20 years. Kudos to him! I think most readers will enjoy this book. The topic is hard so just be aware of that.
Quote-
“Before they sent me here, I was aware that Blacks got a raw deal in the criminal justice system. That was something I knew but didn’t think too much about. Now it’s something I’m starting to feel. And it doesn’t feel good.”
Corby Ledbetter is a young father who is struggling to keep it all together. He has lost his job and is having trouble finding another. He is staying home with his twin toddlers and trying to hide his burgeoning addiction issues. When everything comes to a head one morning his life will change forever.
What did it make me think about?
Our justice system.
Should I read it?
Well this is another Oprah Book Club pick. I thought it was well written and the topic interested me. I never grew to love Corby or Emily so that probably held me back from giving it a higher rating. My favorite characters were Manny and the librarian and they saved the book for me. Even though Corby is a nice guy and you feel for him, he just never seems to grow up. Having someone write a story about life in prison that did not seem sensationalized was what kept me turning the pages. I admire that Wally Lamb kept the character of Corby realistic, but sometimes I desperately wanted him to do better. It was interesting to note that Wally Lamb has volunteered in a women’s prison for over 20 years. Kudos to him! I think most readers will enjoy this book. The topic is hard so just be aware of that.
Quote-
“Before they sent me here, I was aware that Blacks got a raw deal in the criminal justice system. That was something I knew but didn’t think too much about. Now it’s something I’m starting to feel. And it doesn’t feel good.”
https://cerebralspice.wordpress.com/2025/08/01/book-list-the-river-is-waiting-by-wally-lamb
Powerful and intriguing, male protagonist going through what I unimaginable to many of us, definitely to me. The story is tragic, so prepare for that; however, I definitely recommend it.
One copy editing goof on page 297 troubled me. Incorrect placement of quotation marks in the fifth paragraph. Not a deal breaker, but as those copyedit errors do, it crashed into my reading and destroyed the flow I had been in. I recovered, but I hope the published fixes it in future print runs.
Powerful and intriguing, male protagonist going through what I unimaginable to many of us, definitely to me. The story is tragic, so prepare for that; however, I definitely recommend it.
One copy editing goof on page 297 troubled me. Incorrect placement of quotation marks in the fifth paragraph. Not a deal breaker, but as those copyedit errors do, it crashed into my reading and destroyed the flow I had been in. I recovered, but I hope the published fixes it in future print runs.
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