The River Is Waiting (Oprah's Book Club)

By: Wally Lamb

Narrated by: Jeremy Sisto

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

#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.

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

Critic reviews

"Actor Jeremy Sisto is a convincing and talented performer who skillfully immerses listeners in the psyche of Corby Ledbetter, particularly with his tone."

Gutwrenching

I went in not knowing anything about the story so it really caught me off guard when the accident happened. I don’t know if I would have read it if I knew. It was a hard book for a mom of 4 to read. So many emotions. But I stick with it and gave it 4 starts.

When Oprah calls for a THIRD time ...

This is my first Wally Lamb book. I figured if Oprah recommended him for a third time in 20 years, it's time for me to see what the buzz is about. I'm now a bonafide Wally Lamb fan. This book held my attention from the beginning, and the conclusion was raw but honest. READ/LISTEN TO THIS BOOK!!

Engaging

This book had my interest in the first chapter. This book was hard to stop, I listened every chance I got. It definitely brought me to tears with it's unexpected ending.

Heartbreaking

The writer’s choice of heart wrenching words to describe the characters’ reactions to the tragedies.

How long till Lamb’s next book?

I love his books so much! How long do we wait for his next book? I finished River is Waiting in one day.