Slow burning and intense, this book is a proper survivalist story. Still, his knowledgeability is a net positive for the book. To be honest, I thought these parts borderlined on being a tad overindulgent at times (we get it, Peter, you’re outdoorsy). There’s a few lengthy asides detailing things like their different fly-fishing techniques or a few pages dedicated to their lists of supplies and how exactly they packed it - I’m going to confess and say that I skimmed over all of this. I got a little lost during some of his many descriptions of survivalist equipment and whatnot. The (minor) downside is that occasionally, Heller lets his love of the outdoors overtake the story. The fact that Jack and Wynn’s decision-making is limited by the rules of nature and driven by specialized survivalist expertise legitimizes and raises the stakes of the story. There are a multitude of technical details (the way the smoke blows or how the currents flow or what food supplies are available, etc.) ingrained in the plot, which adds a distinctive, realistic dimension to his storytelling. The authenticity of The River sets this story apart and heightens its immersive qualities. Heller is clearly knowledgeable about the outdoors. However, soon they come across a man whose wife is missing, and the small fire they initially saw has quickly grown into a blaze.Īs the fire approaches and the situation gets more complicated, the two friends will find themselves and their friendship tested against nature and forces out of their control. When a forest fire breaks out during a canoeing trip, they’re initially only mildly concerned. Jack and Wynn are best friends from college, bonded by their mutual love for the outdoors. Plot Summaryįor the Detailed Plot Summary, click here or scroll all the way down. I know it shouldn’t matter, but it totally does.

I love its simplicity, the bright contrasting colors, and how it illustrates the chaotic movement of the river.

Sidenote: I also really like the cover of this book. Plus, the premise of The River (released March 5) - two guys on a whitewater canoeing trip caught in a forest fire - sounded promising to me, so I was eager to revisit his work. ( I’m also rather proud of my instagram photo of it.) It was an unassuming, thoughtful and interesting little novel. I read Heller’s debut novel, The Dog Stars, many years back, and it’s one that I remember fondly. The River, by Peter Heller, caught my eye pretty much as soon as it came out. By Jennifer Marie Lin on Apr 11th, 2019 (Last Updated Jun 9th, 2020)

The river peter heller summary