The River

By Michael Neale

“The River is a story that will transform how you see yourself and the world.” —Andy Andrews, New York Times best-selling author of The Noticer, The Traveler’s Gift, and How Do You Kill 11 Million People?

“You were made for The River . . .”

Gabriel Clarke is mysteriously drawn to The River, a ribbon of frothy white water carving its way through steep canyons high in the Colorado Rockies. The rushing waters beckon him to experience freedom and adventure.

But something holds him back—the memory of the terrible event he witnessed on The River when he was just five years old—something no child should ever see.

Chains of fear and resentment imprison Gabriel, keeping him from discovering the treasures of The River. He remains trapped, afraid to take hold of the life awaiting him.

When he returns to The River after years away, his heart knows he is finally home. His destiny is within reach. Claiming that destiny will be the hardest—and bravest—thing he has ever done.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Sep 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781401688493

Book preview

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Contents

A Note from the Author

From an Entry in a Journal

Prologue

1. The Big Hike

2. Life in Kansas

3. The Pond

4. Corn Dogs and Marbles

5. Mister Earl and the Pig Trip

6. The New Teacher

7. A Visitor Comes to the Farm

8. A Birthday Gift

9. The Phone Call

10. The Trip to The River

11. The Girl

12. The River Speaks

13. Samuel and Big Water Adventures

14. Class V

15. The Last Night

16. Good-bye and The Journal

17. No More Kansas

18. Hanging Out with Ezra

19. An Unexpected Introduction

20. A Dinner to Remember

21. The Night Run

22. The War Room

23. A Trip Home

Epilogue

Reading Group Guide

Acknowledgments

Author Interview

About the Author

An excerpt from Into the Canyon

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A Note from the Author

If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.

—Barry Lopez, in Crow and Weasel

I’VE ALWAYS LOVED TO TELL STORIES, ESPECIALLY with friends or family. I love sharing the fun of an unlikely event, a self-deprecating faux pas, or a whimsical conversation with one of my kids. There’s nothing like a great story.

My grandfather was a wonderful storyteller. I used to sit next to his wood-burning stove with a Chek Root Beer float in hand, listening to him tell me about his childhood. He described the hardships of growing up during the Great Depression, how he used to build Goodyear blimps, and how his personally customized RV always broke down at the top of some mountain pass in the harshest of winters.

I never really cared whether his stories were based on fact or fiction. I just loved getting lost in the magic of his words. It was as if I could experience those adventures and relationships too, even though I was only eight years old.

The story I’m about to tell you is inspired by a collage of events, conversations, and happenings in my life and the life of my family. I believe you’ll find some of your story here as well. I’m not sure how that happens, but it always does.

Michael Neale

2012

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From an Entry in a Journal

I love coming to The River.

The River is magical. It’s full of wonder and mystery. For thousands of years, The River has been carving its way through the Earth. As the water pours over the landscape, crashes against the banks, and cascades over the rocks, everything changes in its path. The terrain, the trees, even the wildlife-everything is shaped by The River. Everything in the canyon is at the mercy of The River.

The River is wild, free, and untamable. It’s foaming, twisting, and thundering. There are places where the water shoots down into crevices and canyons and creates this amazing thunder, and then there are places where the water settles into pools of complete calm. There are peaceful eddies where the riverbed is flat and the gradient is level, where the water mirrors the beautiful mountains surrounding the landscape. I love being with The River.

The River is alive. The River is timeless, and it’s moving all over the world.

I find myself drawn to The River. With its beauty and power, The River calls to me. The River can be known but not fully. Therein lies the mystery. The River has a voice, and I love the way it sounds. When I’m with The River, I just know it’s where I’m meant to be. It touches something deep inside my soul. It connects me to a bigger story in some indescribable way. I could spend countless hours just watching and listening.

Since I was a small child, I’ve been fascinated and captivated by The River. It’s mesmerizing, really. The waters speak to me. Whether I’m skipping stones in a smooth eddy or feeling the thunder of a waterfall, when I’m with The River, I feel alive.

I’ve experienced The River in many ways in my life. I haven’t always understood those experiences. What I will say is that The River has allowed me to feel the deepest grief and given me the greatest joy.

I must confess, though, that there have been times when I’ve been angry with The River. It doesn’t seem to mind. I’ve been afraid of The River too, but somehow it keeps drawing me in. I am a small speck compared to its mighty waters, yet The River seems completely aware of me in a cosmic sort of way. Whether I was indifferent, aloof, or passionately bitter, The River never stopped calling me.

I’ve watched The River from places high in the mountains where you couldn’t hear the water’s movement. The sight reminded me of a rich Monet hanging on the wall.

I’ve sat on the banks and listened to the water flowing by gently, whispering to me like a mother soothing her child to sleep. I’ve waded into the calm eddies, where the cool water cascaded over my toes, massaging my feet and invigorating my skin.

To float down the gentle rapids without a raft is like being carried in the strong arms of a father. Love pushes out any fear as you’re lifted through the canyon. You feel adventure and safety at the same time.

I’ve skipped rocks on the mirrored water. I’ve fly-fished in the deepest gorges, and better yet, I’ve rafted monstrous whitewater in breathtaking canyons all over the world. I’m still learning to trust The River, though, because I don’t know all that the waters have in store for me.

But I do know this: I can’t live without The River. I’m still fearful yet drawn in. I’m in awe yet completely at home. Somehow, in the deepest places, I feel The River knows I’m here. I can’t explain it. I just know. It has never left me, and I will never leave it. I am captured and set free in this beautiful dance of hearts.

I can tell you this from my journey: the more you experience The River, the more you want to stay close by. When you experience The River, you live.

Gabriel Clarke     

November 7, 1979

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Prologue

EVERY NOW AND THEN, YOU HAVE AN ENCOUNTER with someone who simply changes your life. A conversation or interaction so profound, it seems otherworldly. You can’t get his (or her) story out of your head and heart.

It’s hard to explain how powerful stories can resonate within us on many levels, but it’s often because of the way they speak with passion, heartache, or even joy. Maybe it’s the way they unknowingly reach into our heart of hearts with their words.

I don’t think these encounters happen by chance. I think there is a reason, although we will never understand the full weaving of life’s tapestry of events this side of the eternal. I have had such an encounter with someone. It moved me to my core, so much so that I had to share it with you. I’ll keep sharing it as long as I have breath. For the next few pages, I’d like you to grab a cup of coffee—or a root beer float—and sit down and let me tell you about a conversation I had with a man named Gabriel Clarke.

It all began when I was traveling back to Nashville from the West Coast. My first flight from LAX landed in Denver at about 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday night, when things at DIA were slowing down a bit. I was feeling exhausted after two days of countless meetings, a lack of rest (I don’t sleep well away from home), and the tiring travel.

I’m not sure what it is about planes, but the only way I can describe it is that flying makes me feel stale, grimy, and in need of a teeth cleaning. I got off of my first flight from Los Angeles and approached the monitor to see which gate was handling my connecting flight.

According to my itinerary, I had about fifty minutes until my flight to Nashville took off. The monitor said otherwise. Like a deer staring into oncoming headlights, I stood fixated at the monitor, hoping my glare would supernaturally change the DELAYED message to BOARDING.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. After a quick visit to the restroom, I made the trek to my new gate, dodging the carts carrying the old folks and doing my best to ignore the annoying beeps. When I arrived, I discovered that my flight was not delayed—it was canceled due to mechanical issues with the aircraft.

There wasn’t much I could do except queue up with a line of agitated passengers waiting to speak with the gate agent. In a very unsympathetic and get over it tone, she explained that my only option was to reschedule on a different flight leaving at 10:50 p.m.

I did some quick calculations. With the time change, this would put me in my own bed on our small farm forty-five minutes outside of Nashville at about three a.m. Oh joy. I love going home, just not in the middle of the night when I’m tiptoeing around like a burglar, trying to keep our chocolate labs from waking the kids.

I took a deep breath and resigned myself to my fate. I had a three-and-a-half-hour rendezvous with the C Concourse in Denver, there was no way around it. I hunted for a quiet corner where I could spend some time reading and listening to music. It was a rare opportunity for downtime, so I figured I’d make the most of it.

About eight gates down, I found an entire section where the lights were dim, the hanging flat-screen TVs were turned off, and the gates were closed. There wasn’t a soul in sight. I looked for the best spot and claimed a section of seating in the back corner, next to the windows that looked out over the tarmac. I called my wife and kids to say good night and break the news that I wouldn’t see them until the morning.

After we said our good-byes, I immediately reached for my iPod, plugged in my earphones, and shut out the world by listening to my favorite movie scores. I had a spy novel I’d started on the flight from LA, so I pulled the oversized paperback out of my backpack, propped my feet up on the chair across from me, and began reading. After ten pages, though, my solitude and bliss came to an abrupt end.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large character moving toward me. Who in the world is heading all the way over here? Surely it’s not someone I know from home. My thoughts were running a mile a minute. Sure enough, this man plopped down two seats from me and opened a canvas bag that looked to be filled with enough camping and hiking gear to scale the Himalayas.

I couldn’t believe it. Of all the places in the airport, why would he sit down right next to me? I ignored him, burying my head in my book, but he kept going through his canvas bag, checking his equipment and carrying on a one-sided conversation with himself.

I turned my music up, sighed loudly, and returned to my book, trying to send a message that I wanted to be left alone. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that he kept looking over at me again and again. I could tell he was itching for conversation, so I looked up from my book and gave Mountain Man a halfhearted grin.

He was at least six feet tall and built like an Australian rugby player. A long, shaggy beard with disheveled dirty-blond hair poured out from under his army-green knit cap. If I had to guess his age, I would say that he was probably in his midfifties. Dressed in a worn-thin plaid flannel shirt with rolled-up sleeves and khaki shorts, he wore large hiking boots with thick thermal socks bunched around his ankles. His skin was weathered and tan, his eyes were crystal blue, and his worn face was lined with wrinkles. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a Discovery Channel documentary.

The older man looked at me and said something. I couldn’t understand him because of the cranked-up music playing in my ears, so I pulled out my earphones. Sorry, man, I couldn’t hear you. What was that?

Heading home or away?

Not a very deep question. I’m heading home, I said, hoping my three-word reply would send a hint that I didn’t want to be bothered.

He would not be deterred. Me too. I’ve been gone for over three months. I’m ready for my own bed. He slouched in his chair and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. I thought maybe our conversation was over, meaning I could get back to my book and music in peace.

Instead, he looked over again. How long until your flight leaves?

I knew now that I should just give in, so I closed my book and set it on my lap.

I have until ten thirty, I said, and I told him what happened with the canceled flight to Nashville. He told me he was early for his red-eye to the East Coast.

From there, we exchanged the typical small talk:

Where are you from?

Where are you going?

Weather has been unpredictable, huh?

All the usual stuff. But with guys, an introductory conversation wouldn’t be complete unless you ask, What do you do?

I always hate talking about what I do, but it’s part of the man language. We feel we can tell a lot about a person by what they do for a living.

So I plunged in. What do you do for a living? I asked curiously.

He hedged a little bit. Well, I like the outdoors a lot, you know. He smiled and looked at me, comfortable with the awkward pause.

Well, what about this three-month trip you were on? Was it work related, or just R & R?

Oh no, he said through a chuckle. "Not much R & R on this trip. I just finished running National Geographic’s Top Ten Most Dangerous and Beautiful Rivers in the World. Five continents, nineteen thousand miles, a couple of near-death experiences, some serious wildlife, tons of new friends, and the time of my life. He looked over at me out of the corner of his eye. It was outrageous," he said with a bit of a crazed grin.

The conversation became riveting. I found out his name was Gabriel Clarke, a third-generation whitewater guide. For the next several hours, Gabriel regaled me with his life story—the legendary story of where he came from, the defining tragedy of his childhood, the triumph of where he was in life now, and what got him through. The way he energetically explained things, it was as if this was the first time he’d ever told anyone.

His passion was contagious, and by the time he was finished, I was thankful for the interruption that night in the Denver airport. What I’m about to tell you is his story as he told it to me. If you’re anything like me, or others who’ve heard Gabriel’s story, then you’ll never forget it. You’ll never be the same.

I know I’ll never be the same—ever.

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____________________ ONE

The Big Hike

1956

ON A COOL SEPTEMBER SUNDAY, JOHN CLARKE WOKE up at daybreak wanting to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. Being a single father, and not having arranged care for his son, Gabriel, that day, he’d decided to take the little guy on a hike into the Firewater gorge at The River.

Dad! Slow down! shouted the five-year-old boy in a husky yet high-pitched voice.

Not too much farther, buddy, and then we’ll take a break, replied his father. You’re gonna love the view when we get there! Papaw took me here when I was your age, and I never forgot it.

Running out of breath in this flatter section of the trail, but still determined, John kept moving. Their final destination was a rarely visited scenic overlook of Splash Canyon from high above Whitefire River. His backpack—filled with trail mix, homemade beef jerky, water, first-aid gear, and raincoats—must have weighed twenty pounds.

Dad! Put me up high! John stopped to wait for Gabriel to catch up, and then with one strong motion he hoisted the boy onto his shoulders for the rest of the hike. They continued on to the top, father and son united in their love for the raw outdoors.

That’s where he felt at home. John knew his way around nature better than he knew his own house. If I could, I’d live outdoors constantly, he’d tell friends from time to time. At five feet, eleven inches and 189 pounds, John was a rugged thirty-two-year-old, built solid and muscular. He was strong as an ox from his years of rock climbing and running The River. Crow’s-feet were starting to appear outside his blue-gray eyes. With sandy blond hair in a shag cut and a swagger to boot, he was a man of few words with wisdom beyond his years.

The Clarke family was a cornerstone of Corley Falls, Colorado. John’s grandfather and father had all but built the entire town on the back of their inn and whitewater adventure camp. John, carrying on the tradition, had assumed the day-to-day operations, which included training the whitewater guides. For nearly thirty-six springs and summers, Big Water Adventure Camp had given rafters and expeditionists an experience they would never forget on the Whitefire River. John Clarke repeated his father’s words often: We Clarkes, we were made for The River.

The summer rafting season was over. Only a few seasoned kayakers would run The River during this time, so John had a few days off between guided hiking tours and teaching at the Whitewater Guide School his father had started. They’d had an unusual amount of rain that week, so The River was running particularly high.

The canyon and surrounding forest were breathtaking, especially in the early morning hours. The misty fog lifted slowly, leading to a sensation like they were walking in the clouds. Birds chirped in a polyrhythmic symphony, and one could smell the spruce, fir, and pine trees with arresting potency. Chipmunks scampered about as if playing hide-and-seek while making their final sweep of the forest floor for nuts before winter. All manner of wildlife could make an appearance at any given time, including bears, wolves, and deer, creating a truly wild and magical place.

How far are we going, Dad?

About a couple more football fields, his father replied. John tried to talk about distances in terms his son could picture.

Like a miniature version of his father, Gabriel was a stocky kid with a round face. His straight blond hair swung back and forth when he walked, but he usually ran everywhere he went. He had eyelashes for days, and his sky-blue eyes arrested the ladies wherever his father took him. Of course, his dad liked that.

Gabriel was smart, full of questions, and not averse to mischief. His questions would come out of nowhere and often send his father to the floor laughing or make him scratch his head in wonder.

On this morning hike, however, Gabriel’s questions were more poignant.

"When am I gonna see Mommy again? Sammy Overton said maybe she’s mad.

Jackson Wilbur said mommies are important because you need to have a mommy to be borned. Can we go see Mommy today?

John was taken aback by the randomness of the questions, which broke his heart. He knew it would be at least Thanksgiving before Gabriel got to see his mother.

Without slowing down, John continued up the rugged path. Well, buddy, you’re gonna get to see your momma real soon. She’s not mad at you, Gabe. Don’t ever think that. She just lives quite a ways away, so it’s hard for her to get here. Hey, look at those chipmunks!

John knew he was trying to change the subject, and his heart was heavy. The sadness would come over him in waves sometimes. How he wished they were still together! The feelings of despondency would get overwhelming. Usually he’d just distract himself with more work.

John unloaded Gabriel from his shoulders carefully. Shhhh. Don’t scare ’em off. Before John could get the backpack off, the boy was ransacking it for some peanuts. He took a few out of a bag and made his way slowly toward the pair of chipmunks. Without fear, Gabriel held out his hand with a few shelled peanuts resting on his fingertips. The chipmunks cautiously approached with quick twitches, looking from side to side. They seemed to be trying to get away with something.

Hold your hand steady, John counseled.

Taking their time, the two chipmunks each grabbed a couple of peanuts and scampered back to

Reviews for The River

[bunniehopp · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The River is a nice fiction. This is a gentle tale telling, with few surprises. The main character is simply presented as a young man with emotional problems brought on by having witnessed his father's death. The story moves a bit slowly. Gabriel encounters fairly trite grade school bullying. Individual episodes throughout the book seem a bit contrived. Gabriel's psychic experience at the river seems out of place and uncharacteristic. One annoying aspect in the writing is the constant use of clichés. If someone really wanted a boy story about rafting and canoeing, this would be a book to recommend.

[dougbq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A well-written book that held my attention. Gabriel tells his story to the author and we dive right in. His father is a renowned river guide. After witnessing a tragedy, young Gabriel is sent to live with his mother on a farm. He grows up there but never fits in. This is his journey back to the river. Rivers (or the River) plays a big part in his life throughout the entire book. An uplifting read. It encourages us.I would recommend this book to anyone.

[carfor12 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The River by Michael Neale

There are many characters in this book but only two who are the main focus of this story. Gabriel Clarke and The River. Gabriel spends most of his life, from the time he is three years old and tragedy strikes forcing him to go live with his mother, hating and being angry with the world and The River for taking his father from him.

In his anger Gabriel Clarke misses a great deal that life has to offer by locking himself into himself and not taking chances or forgiving The River for the tragedy that would change his life, at least for a short time, turning him into someone he is not supposed to be.

Gabriel tries to overcome his fear of life and taking chances but those times usually turn out badly. In this story Gabriel must learn to overcome his fears, to forgive, and to jump into the waters of life. As life would have it he gets the opportunity to experience all of this and so much more when some of his school friends invite him to go on a trip that will take Gabriel back to Colorado and The River. On this trip Gabriel will have his life changed and set on the path he was meant to take and become who was really meant to be.

Michael Neale, in his story The River, focuses on two main characters: Gabriel and The River. Neale uses The River in this story symbolically to depict life with all its ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and white water times as well. For we all know just how rough life can really be at times.

I am thankful I got to read this story because it honestly holds a brilliant lesson in forgiveness for me and others who are suffering through life unable to release the anger that has been acquired over time. A great story with a great lesson we can all benefit from.

[glichman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The River is not a river. In this story perhaps it is, but one man's River is another man's Mountain, or Ocean, Flying, Biking, or Running. It is what makes a person who he is, a one word, oversimplified but equally complicated analogy that defines a life. In The River, the debut novel by Michael Neale, it is a river in a Colorado canyon that defines not just one man, but three generations of men. The story begins with a hike in the woods. Father John Clarke and his five year old son Gabriel take a long hike to a beautiful view over the canyon and the river below it and engage in an intense game of marbles. While playing, they hear two kayakers in trouble, headed for an un-navigable section of the river that would certainly result in their deaths. In the process of rescuing the men John Clarke loses his life before young Gabriel's eyes. Gabriel, his little life shattered, finds himself living with his mother on a Kansas farm. He grows up, still haunted by the loss of his father, and becoming a young man who is quiet, reserved, frustrated, unable to really live. When his best friend calls one day and invites him on a camping trip to Colorado, he reluctantly agrees, facing his demons hoping to find himself were he was lost so many years before. Instead of finding himself in Colorado, he finds The River. It seems to call to him, speak to him, and draw him near. He becomes friends with Tabitha, a girl he meets on the trip, and she invites him to Colorado for the summer to work at her father's white water rafting camp. He agrees, after being drawn both to Tabitha and The River, and the trip changes his life forever. Gabriel finds himself, but also finds his home. The River is a nice story about a boy fighting his demons, over powering them, and becoming a man. I enjoyed reading it; freshman author Michael Neale is a good storyteller. Although I liked the book, I feel Mr. Neale tried too hard to make his point about the role of The River in the story. For example, he capitalizes The River at every mention, uses the words The River more often than would be natural, and includes scenes where dreams and reality are confused. All of this was unnecessary, the spiritual and metaphorical significance of the river was well made without it, and it could be argued that overdoing it in that sense detracted from what someone else's metaphorical River could be. There are also several other relationships in the book that had great potential and could have been much further developed. Gabriel and the farmer with whom he and his mother lived; Gabriel and Tabitha; Gabriel and his mother. All had potential, but left me wanting more. Despite the criticisms above, The River is a great story of a boy becoming a man, overcoming his demons, growing strong and confident, facing his fears, and finding success despite the serious blows and set-backs. That story is always empowering for me.

[eimeriina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The River is an inspirational story about loss and redemption. With the fast pace, you should get ready to be drawn in quickly and to have a hard time putting it down. The story takes place in the Colorado Rockies and “The River.” Gabriel Clarke is mysteriously drawn to The River; he witnessed a terrible event, something no child should ever see, on The River when he was five years old, and his life changed forever. He withdrew into his own world and became mostly unreachable. You will read through his whole life, filled with pain and resentment, until something brings him back to The River.New York Times bestselling author, John C. Maxwell said The River will “…inspire readers to live a life they were destined for.” It is a story blended with metaphors, encouraging readers to imagine. Expect to find yourself evaluating your life about forgiveness, letting go of the past, and finding the courage to move on.It is obvious Michael Neale is an experienced preacher and a gifted storyteller. With vibrant and multilayered characters and settings, this is one of those stories to be told aloud. He must be aware of this, as he created a live performance, based on this book called “River Experience”; visuals and the soundtrack he recorded with Michael Whittaker for “The River” timed with his compelling narrative.It is a great story about coming of age, facing fears, and change. However, it sometimes feels as the writer tried too hard to make his point about The River’s role. Its spiritual significance was well made even without over using the words “The River”, capitalizing them at every mention, and confusing dreams with reality. But Neale is a freshman author after all.As Neale writes : “ You can’t fully experience The River from the banks… You have to get in… all the way in.”

[shetreadssoftly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The River by Michael Neale recounts the story of Gabriel Clarke, the son of a Colorado whitewater rapids guide, John. When Gabriel's father dies saving the life of a careless young man, Gabriel goes to live with his mother in Kansas and tries to avoid any thoughts of The River. But, after years pass, Gabriel hears the call of The River in his life again and eventually returns to The River in Colorado.

The River is a novel of timeless themes: love, loss, sacrifice, family, beauty, and, ultimately, forgiveness and redemption. In this inspirational narrative, The River is symbolic of God's call on a Christian's life to forgive and step forward with courage and conviction, as well as other metaphorical significance. This is a book you can read quickly and it will keep your interest.

Be sure to check out Neale's website for the book trailer and a short clip showcasing the live event. Neale is an award-winning musician and performer who composed the score for the HD film footage in the live show. After watching the clip, I have a feeling the live show would be a great multi-media experience.

I also have a feeling that the whole multi-media experience might be, in totality, more moving and riveting than the book. While the book was heartening and certainly affirmed enduring lessons, the constant references to "The River" always capitalized and named only in that way became a bit distracting. I think a case could still be made to compare God to an unnamed river without making it The River.

Highly Recommended

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Thomas Nelson, the publisher, and Netgalley for review purposes.

[jkj94 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was like many books about, loss, love, hope, and discovery. However, when I read about Gabriel's own struggles and discoveries in his life I felt my heart go out to him. I felt bad for the losses he lived through, how horrible it would be to witness the death of your own father. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs encouragement, including a reading group guide for those that may be in book clubs.

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gabriel Clarke looses his father when he was just five years old, when daddy tries to save a rafter’s life in a Colorado river. With his mother he relocates to Kansas, where she becomes a maid to earn money and Gabriel grows up. Gabriel never feels really at home and misses his father. He’s afraid of water. A new teacher, born Indian likes him and gives him a painting from The River for his birthday. When Gabriel gets the chance to join friends to a rafting camping / hiking weekend he first hesitates but values friendship more then his initial fears. There he meets Tabitha, a girl that not only notices him but talks as well. She brings back the love for The River. Back home in Kansas he whishes to return and join Tabitha and her parents which run the rafting service as soon as possible. In a journal which belonged to his father a conversation with and respect for The River is described. Tabitha’s family and household is happy when Gabriel comes to help and finally gets over his anger, unforgiveness and rediscovers his ancestors. The River is a fine novel about growing up, forgiveness, adventure, nature’s beauty, love, fear and sadness. I read it cover to cover in one session, quite unusual. And when you’re personally moved and inspired, a bunch of reading group questions wait to share your impressions with others.

[dmtcer-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A young boy witnesses his father's death to the wild river, after spending his first five years being taught to revere and wonder at it. Sadly, the lessons he learned at his father's hands are stored in the back of his mind. He goes to live with his mother in Kansas, and grows up troubled, yet sweet. Friendships are hard for him, and some days he retreats into his mind; a happier, quieter, more peaceful place. His life is on the track to nowhere; aimless, and lacking hope. One day a friend talks him into a camping trip, which is a turning point in his life. This is the story of personal loss and personal discovery.

I found the characters to be likeable, yet not fully developed. Knowing that past events make them tick, and getting to know them in more depth are two different things. I also know the author wanted to convey a sense of reverence toward the river itself, but I found this to be a little overblown. That said, I truly enjoyed the storyline and found myself wanting to be in the settings; those were descriptive and beautiful!

[kamrcr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am putting this out there right off: I am unsure how I feel about this book. I've been sitting on this review a little, hoping I would figure it out, but no dice, so here's what you get. First off, since I picked this book up I had A Change is Gonna Come pretty much stuck in my head. So you're welcome for that. But really, the like "It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die" probably sums up where this book is at pretty well. So here's the thing, I ditzed out when I first requested the book, and somehow I missed that this was a Christian novel. So I was being me, and updating my status on GoodReads to having it as 'read' and lo, I saw that it was a Christian > Inspirational book. So that kind of changed my framing of how I read the book because at the same time it makes more and less sense. So again, full disclaimer, I am not Christian, and didn't realize it WAS a Christian book. So basically my take away is this book can either be read as an adventure story, or an inspirational story. I read it as the former.This book was... emotional. For lack of a better term. There were a lot of highs and lows and even though it was a bit of a slow read, I don't mean that in any negative way. The River makes a lot of promises that it will change your worldview and it fell a bit short on that to me. It was a good book, that draws you in and you don't want to stop reading it - even when you are a bit frustrated with the writing. Basically, I think what I'm saying is I see why people loved the book, and I see why people were totally apathetic to it. This is probably a horrible review, but it's actually not because I've recommended this book a few times, and I would recommend it again.**I received a free copy of the e-book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[jorjaadavis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

•Neale, Michael. The River. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 9/18/2012. ISBN-10: 1401688489 ISBN-13: 978-1401688486 List price for Softcover and Ebook $16.99•Neale, Michael. El río. Nashville: Grupo Nelson, 18/09/2012. ISBN-10: 1602559252 ISBN-13: 978160255925 Prescio de lista del libro de bolsillo y Libro Electrónico Fecha. $14.99•Neale, Michael. The River. Oasis Audio, 9/18/2012. Audio, CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged. ISBN-10: 1613752733 ISBN-13: 978-1613752739 List price $19.99•Neale Michael. The River. Waterville, Maine: Thorndike Press. ISBN-10: 1410452255 ISBN-13: 978-1410452252 Large Print Softcover (10/5/12) list price $14.99 Large Print Hardcover (11/6/12) list Price $32.99•Neale, Michael. The River Discussion Kit. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 11/6/12. ISBN-10: 1401677738 ISBN-13: 9781401677732 list price $19,99•Neale, Michael. The River Experience (Soundtrack) – Digital MP3 Download (320 kpbs) id475948881 $9.99 10/26/11Life through the bottom of a Coke bottleAlready a sermon series and a live musical multimedia experience, The River is about to crash into a waterfall of books. Stuck in the Denver airport, two men share delay time sitting next to one another. Gabriel Clarke is returning home to Corley Falls, Colorado. He has just run the world’s Top Ten Most Dangerous and Beautiful Rivers for National Geographic. Gabriel shares his story with his fellow traveler, and we experience The River.Five year old Gabriel watched his father, a second generation river guide; climb down the treacherous rocks to save the man who went over the falls in a yellow kayak. Over the falls into Firewater Gorge on the Whitefire River. He watched it all unfold. His hero disappeared into the white water of the river. All he had left was a bag of old Benington marbles and a hole in his heart.Gabriel’s mom rented the back room of Mr. Earl and Miss Vonda’s home outside Cairo, Kansas. As he grew up helping on the farm, quiet and sad at home and at school, Gabriel felt like he was “Looking at life through the bottom of a Coke bottle – blurry and ill-formed. He could see laughter and joy of the other side of the thick glass, but he couldn’t hear or experience it.”As he grows, rivers run through Gabriel’s life. A finger-sized river created by a mysterious marble man at the county farmer’s market to show his marbles at their best. A painting of the river in North Carolina where his second-grade teacher grew up. The Arkansas River on the border of Kansas and Oklahoma where Mr. Earl taught him to fish. Rio, Gabriel’s dog who saved his life. Eventually full-circle Gabriel comes to the banks of the Whitefire when his friend Jimmy invites him on a camping trip.This coming of age story is intensely emotional and masterfully written. Neale is an excellent storyteller. A Dove Award winning song writer, Neale’s songs are recorded by a who’s-who list of contemporary Christian artists. This is one book the reader will need to get at least two copies of, one to keep, and one to give to another reader. A great book for book clubs or Bible studies to read and share. Neale will make you hold your breath, laugh, cry, all the while healing the hole, not only in Gabriel’s heart, but in yours, as well.NetGalley provided a digital copy for my unbiased opinion.

[samantha100_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A cancelled flight and a traveler's encounter with a stranger in an airport can sometimes bring surprising results. The River, by Michael Neale, opens with such an encounter between two men who under different circumstances might never have met. Casual conversation leads to the telling of a story. Gabriel Clarke is one of the strangers and The River is his story. As a young child Gabriel lived with his father, a single parent, in Colorado where the family had established an inn and a whitewater adventure camp. The River was an essential part of their lives. It was also at The River where Gabriel witnessed a horrific event that was to shape his future. After the tragedy, he lived with his mother in a small Kansas town and he rarely experienced life outside this place. He was filled with sadness and haunted by his memories of his time at The River. When he was a young adult an unexpected invitation offers him the chance to return to The River. Filled with trepidation he makes the trip. The end result is life changing.Mr. Neal is a superb story teller. The characters are well developed and believable. This is a story of courage and it is inspiring, as well. The author's attention to detail and his use of imagery result in a wonderful reading experience. I recommend reading this book.I received this book free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I give this review of my own free will.

[vandmclark · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i just had an experience on the river in Idaho in June. I thought I was drowning and you caught the essence of what Ive been struggling with since then. The book laid my mind to rest and I thank u for that. Please write more books. This must be your destiny. ??