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The River Is Waiting (Oprah's Book Club)

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The River Is Waiting (Oprah's Book Club)

By: Wally Lamb
Narrated by: Jeremy Sisto
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About this listen

 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? Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt

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."
All stars
Most relevant
This was a book club pick and not something I’d have chosen. Well written and narrated it kept me engaged and invested in the characters.

Engaging and harrowing at the same time

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This book left me reeling(and sobbing)! It was such a journey and I loved every moment of it.

This is such an amazing book

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This book was able to evoke all my feelings. Writing is pure brilliance and the story felt so raw, gut wrenching but made me challenge my own thought process. If I could give this 10 stars I would

Could not stop listening

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Loved all the book.💕The story was very sad and very moving. Cannot remember the last time a book made me cry.

The river runs deep

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If I could double the stars, I would. Can’t sugarcoat it, this book is heart-wrenching AND worth every single one of the many tears I shed while reading it. Beautifully written and captivating read with characters even the most cynical will become attached to. I couldn’t stop listening - I finished the entire book in under 24 hours. I only leave written reviews for the very best and the very worst books - this obviously falls into the very best. I can’t begin to explain the plot, the interesting characters and the many complex and thought-provoking stories & events that are interwoven into a…MASTERPIECE. Even if I could explain it, no words I could say would be adequate. I will read this many times over & recommend it to everyone I know.

Best of the 110 Books I’ve read this year!

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Will stay with me a long time. One of the best in long time of listening

Beautiful sad story

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This is an example of the long term damage verbal and emotional abuse during childhood can have on adult children. This story was heart wrenching on so many levels.

Tragic and compelling

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This book was a surprise and something I don't tend to normally go for

It's excellent

Story
Narrator
It moved me

Wow

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All Wally Lamb’s books are amazing - beautifully written, thought provoking, passionate. They span the years and so it’s a while since I’ve read a Wally Lamb book. But I don’t recall the feeling of anguish that I have had when reading The River is Waiting. I devoured it, I think I loved it but what I felt at the start and the end and places in between was pure anguish. If you want to feel a book with every fibre of your being, read this one. And weep. I know I did.

The River is Waiting- is this Wally Lamb’s best book?

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It took me a fair while to get into this book and I almost gave up on it about half way. I thought it was well read. It is a story line that I have come across twice in my life as a nurse, so unfortunately very believable. Thought the ending was well done.

Almost excellent

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