Thomas Dunne Books, 2015
Four Stars
Three Rivers is the name of the Mahaffey family homestead, located in the Mississippi Delta. The title also seems to denote the three streams of consciousness in which this story is told, with three narrators – Melody, Geneva, and Obi – rushing towards the same destination. There are several tributaries along the way, but the story and the river culminate in a massive storm that both brings people together and rips them apart.
As the novel opens, Melody is called home from her lackluster career as a back-up singer in a Christian band to tend to her sick father and brain-damaged brother; meanwhile, her mother, Geneva, consults her spiritual advisor and attempts to end a misguided affair. Nearby, Obi, a single father, is trying to raise his young son on the river banks without interference from the modern world. As the storm waters rise and tragic events come into play, these three characters are pushed together in unexpected ways.
Each character was relatable in some way, with many realistic flaws. Their humour was self-deprecating, and rarely moved into the realm of caricature. And each time the plot threatened to become predictable, someone – usually Geneva – would drop a major bombshell that upended my expectations. Geneva makes shocking decisions out of self-preservation that her daughter Melody cannot understand; however, we as readers are privy to Geneva’s motivations, making us co-conspirators in her actions. Even her most awful decisions start to make sense.
While Geneva is making drastic, split-second decisions, Melody is more contemplative and sensible. She even uses logic in the face of the rising flood waters, ambivalent to their power until it is almost too late. Eventually, she becomes more like her mother than she thought possible, while still preserving her own ethics. People make connections rapidly in an emergency situation, and Melody and Obi are no exception. There is very little emphasis on romantic love in Three Rivers, but love comes in many forms.
As all of the current residents of Three Rivers discover, there is a fine line between magic and God. Both are called upon during the storm, as the house takes on a surreal feel – although earthly concerns are emphasized equally. The characters face all kinds of human suffering, but there is always a sense of something more powerful.
The novel started out very chick-lit, but quickly developed into a deeper story. The more predictable romance path was avoided and instead the author focuses on other human connections. The importance of family and other platonic relationships during times of struggle is especially emphasized. While Melody and Geneva have been pushing each other away, Obi and his son have been fighting to remain together – these dynamics are tragically reversed during the storm.
I think it is important that loose ends aren’t completely resolved at the end of the novel: “There was no telling what would happen next. She had so many choices to make.” (Loc. 3527) These words leave an opening for a possible sequel – but they could just as well connote that this story is a brief snapshot into a life with much more yet to come, just like all of us.
I received this book for free from Thomas Dunne Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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