Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Time Is a River
    Time Is a River
    Time Is a River
    Audiobook11 hours

    Time Is a River

    Written by Mary Alice Monroe

    Narrated by Mary Alice Monroe

    4/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    With a strong, warm voice that brings the South to life, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe writes richly textured stories that intimately portray the complex and emotional relationships we share with families, friends, and the natural world. "Every book that Mary Alice Monroe has written has felt like a homecoming to me," writes Pat Conroy, bestselling author of The Prince of Tides.

    Time Is a River is an insightful novel that will sweep readers away to the seductive southern landscape, joining books by authors such as Anne Rivers Siddons and Sue Monk Kidd.

    Recovering from breast cancer and reeling from her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home to heal in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. She seeks refuge in a neglected fishing cabin belonging to her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson.

    Belle recently inherited the cabin, which once belonged to a grandmother she never knew—the legendary fly fisher and journalist of the 1920s, Kate Watkins, whose life fell into ruins after she was accused of murdering her lover. Her fortune lost in the stock market crash and her reputation destroyed, Kate slipped into seclusion in the remote cabin. After her death the fishing cabin remained locked and abandoned for decades. Little does Belle know that by opening the cabin doors to Mia for a summer's sanctuary, she will open again the scandal that plagued Belle's family for generations.

    From her first step inside the dusty cabin, Mia is fascinated by the traces of Kate's mysterious story left behind in the eccentric furnishings of the cabin. And though Belle, ashamed of the tabloid scandal that tortured her mother, warns Mia not to stir the mud, Mia is compelled to find out more about Kate...especially when she discovers Kate's journal.

    The inspiring words of the remarkable woman echo across the years. Mia has been learning to fly-fish, and Kate's wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. She begins a quest to uncover the truth behind the lies. As she searches newspaper archives and listens to the colorful memories of the local small-town residents, the story of a proud, fiercely independent woman emerges. Mia feels a strange kinship with the woman who, like her, suffered fears, betrayal, the death of loved ones, and a fall from grace—yet found strength, compassion and, ultimately, forgiveness in her isolation. A story timeless in its appeal emerges, with a power that reopens old wounds, but also brings a transforming healing for Mia, for Kate's descendants, and for all those in Mia's new community.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateJul 8, 2008
    ISBN9781423331186
    Author

    Mary Alice Monroe

    Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 books including her newest novel The Summer of Lost and Found (May 2021, Gallery Books), and her first Middle Grade book The Islanders (June 2021, Aladdin Books). Monroe’s books have been published worldwide. She’s earned numerous accolades and awards, including: Induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; Southwest Florida Author of Distinction Award; South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction, and the prestigious Southern Book Prize for Fiction. Her bestselling novel The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Mary Alice Monroe is also the co-creator and co-host of the weekly webshow and podcast Friends and Fiction. Monroe found her true calling in environmental fiction when she moved to the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Captivated by the beauty and fragility of her new home in the lowcountry, Monroe’s experiences gave her a strong and important focus for her novels. Monroe and Dorothea Benton Frank were lowcountry neighbors. Dottie--as she was called among friends-- lived across the inlet from Isle of Palms on the neighboring Sullivan’s Island. Together they became part of a small tribe of Lowcountry writers who gathered together over the years for meals and conversation supporting each other’s careers and personal lives. Dottie’s energy and spirit will be forever missed.  

    More audiobooks from Mary Alice Monroe

    Related to Time Is a River

    Related audiobooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Speed of Mercy

      Jul 30, 2021

      Speed of Mercy
      10 min read

    • Article

      Family Legacy

      Jun 25, 2020

      The brilliant blue skies and misty violet High Peaks framed the backdrop of North Elba cemetery in Lake Placid last summer—a lovely and fitting scene for a special memorial. A group had already assembled at the grave site and, for the first time ever

      3 min read

    • Article

      Ghosts of Pine Island

      Jun 18, 2019

      Ghosts of Pine Island
      12 min read

    • Article

      Montana Delivery

      Jul 18, 2022

      Montana Delivery
      5 min read

    • Article

      Not Everything Turns to Gold

      Oct 2, 2018

      Theodore Roosevelt once said, “When I am in California, I am not in the West, I am west of the West.” The Rough Rider’s koan has been widely viewed as a celebration of the limitless California adventure, but it’s also a reminder of the dizzying, vert

      4 min read

    • Article

      Spruces

      Mar 25, 2023

      Spruces
      9 min read

    • Article

      Once More To The Park

      Mar 18, 2024

      Once More To The Park
      3 min read

    • Article

      Books For An Adirondack Summer

      Jun 30, 2021

      Most of us didn’t spend 2020 browsing in bookstores, so here’s a shoutout for some of the new Adirondack books that came off the press while we were at home washing our masks. These four novels and three books of nonfiction range from a murder myster

      7 min read

    • Article

      Etchings On The Landscape

      Mar 1, 2023

      Etchings On The Landscape
      3 min read

    • Article

      Saying Goodbye to Sara

      Nov 10, 2021

      — We never really know when it will be the last time we talk to someone, the last time we see them, the last hug. The time was 2:23pm. Or there about. It’s hard to pinpoint the precise time when you’re in that deep sleep state where time seems not to

      6 min read

    • Article

      Snowbound

      Feb 26, 2019

      Snowbound
      6 min read

    • Article

      We Were Known for Our Rivers

      Jun 20, 2023

      We Were Known for Our Rivers
      10 min read

    • Article

      Siren Song

      Aug 27, 2021

      Siren Song
      10 min read

    • Article

      Parting the Waters

      Dec 29, 2022

      Parting the Waters
      12 min read

    • Article

      The Deadly Derecho

      Feb 25, 2021

      The Deadly Derecho
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Age of Convergence

      May 27, 2022

      The Age of Convergence
      1 min read

    • Article

      Language Matters

      Apr 23, 2023

      Language Matters
      2 min read

    • Article

      An Open Palm

      Apr 14, 2022

      An Open Palm
      10 min read

    • Article

      Father Dale’s Drive-Thru Exorcisms

      Feb 10, 2021

      The Evangelists set the tent up somewhere near a Christian theme park called Heritage USA in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The park had been open for nearly a year, and the crowds had ballooned grotesquely, which spelled probable success for the old pre

      19 min read

    • Article

      Ride Of Passage

      May 17, 2021

      Ride Of Passage
      5 min read

    • Article

      Part 1 WHEN FISH FLY: The Revolt on the Slave Ship Creole

      Jan 1, 2022

      Part 1 WHEN FISH FLY: The Revolt on the Slave Ship Creole
      6 min read

    • Article

      We All Live in Uncertain

      Jul 30, 2020

      “Think of Caddo as a maze of lakes within lakes,” says John Winn, proprietor of Caddo Outback Tours, as the two of us settle into a small Go-Devil boat roped to a dock in Uncertain, on the border of northern Louisiana. For two decades, Winn has given

      6 min read

    • Article

      Announcing the Winners Of Our 100-WORD CONTEST

      Jul 17, 2021

      Eager to try your hand at the 100-word genre? Submit your best work – fiction or nonfiction – in just 100 words in our second annual 100-Word Contest, returning this fall. Bookmark writermag.com/contests for more information. BY ALICIA LUNA Today, I

      5 min read

    • Article

      ‘Cantoras’: Featured Fiction from Carolina De Robertis

      Sep 3, 2019

      The first time—which would become legend among them—they entered in darkness. Night enfolded the sand dunes. Stars clamored around a meager slice of moon. The post ‘Cantoras’: Featured Fiction from Carolina De Robertis appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      My Dinner with Denis Johnson

      Jun 25, 2018

      My Dinner with Denis Johnson
      13 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Time Is a River

    4/5

    127 ratings15 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 2/5
      This is a fantastic strong feminine fly-fishing story, insightfully told against the backdrop of a small mountain town's historical controversy. Yet, the writing is sluggish and the dialog wooden.

      The recording has big skips and gaps, robbing the continuity of the author's work.

      I thoroughly enjoyed the story that came through in spite of the labored lines and lame production.
    • 4/5
      This is a story of self healing, of honoring yourself with time. Mia spends time healing from breast cancer and is slowly awakened to her life as a whole. When given the opportunity to spend time alone Mia not only heals but she is able to reach out to benefit many others.I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
    • 4/5
      Very enjoyable book about healing with a little mystery thrown in. Even though not really interested in fishing, book was very enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      I thought that I had read all of Mary Alice Monroe's books but somehow I missed this one. I listened to it on a long drive and my involvement in this book made the miles fly by.Mia is a breast cancer survivor on the physical side of recovery but still dealing with it from a mental and emotional standpoint. Her sister sends her to a survivor retreat in the NC mountains called Casting for Recovery, where breast cancer survivors learn to fly fish and connect with nature and each other as a means of recovery. When Mia returns home, she finds her husband in bed with another woman and she flees back to the NC mountains. She rents a small cabin and decides to stay there for the summer to try to figure out her future life and gets involved in the mystery surrounding the original owner of the cabin.As with all of Mary Alice's books, her love of nature and the environment shines throughout this book. The river and the mountains are as much a part of the story as the characters. One additional note, Casting for Recovery is a real group that is involved with breast cancer survivors and I am very impressed with their work.This is a great book - not only do you get a wonderful story but you get to mentally spend time in the beautiful NC mountains.
    • 5/5
      "One of the best books I have read..Time does not always follow the path we plan - Very inspiring, a survivor who overcame many obstacles - cancer, divorce.... Generations past, mystery, romance, and adventure...love the cabin, setting in the woods, art, nature....my kind of book and one of my favorites...hard to put down! Hats off to Mary Alice for creating this amazing story! Look forward to reading her other books. "
    • 5/5
      Recovering from breast cancer and still reeling from the revelation of her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home for the healing serenity of the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. She seeks refuge in a neglected cabin belonging to her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson.Belle has recently inherited the cabin, which once belonged to a grandmother she never knew - a legendary fly fisher and journalist from the 1920s. Kate Watkins may have once been spoken of with great reverence and pride among her peers, but after she is accused of murdering her lover, her life falls into ruins. Her fortune lost in the stock market crash and her reputation utterly destroyed, Kate retreated into seclusion in the remote cabin. After her death, the fishing cabin remained locked and virtually abandoned for decades.Little does Belle realize that by opening the cabin doors to Mia for a summer's sanctuary, she will be reopening the scandal that has plagued her family for generations.From her first step inside the dusty cabin, Mia is captivated by the remnants of Kate's mysterious story left behind in the eccentric furnishings of her cabin. And though Belle, ashamed of the tabloid scandal that tortured her mother, warns Mia not to fan the flames, Mia feels compelled to find out more about Kate...especially when she discovers Kate's journal.The inspiring words of a remarkable woman echo across the years; and Mia - just learning to fly-fish - finds Kate's wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. She begins a quest to uncover the truth behind the lies. As she searches newspaper archives and listens to the colorful recollections of the local residents, the story of a proud, fiercely independent woman emerges.Mia feels a strange kinship with the woman who, like her, suffered fears, betrayal, the death of loved ones, and a fall from grace - yet found strength, compassion and, ultimately, forgiveness in her isolation. A truly inspiring story is revealed - timeless in its appeal, with the power to reopen old wounds, but a story which also is a miraculous balm - bringing peace and healing for Mia, for Kate's descendants, and for all those in Mia's new community.I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I found that the plot was relatively fast-paced - although there were some scenes that moved along at a more leisurely pace. Overall though, this was a very quick read that drew me in right from the beginning. I was also intrigued by the mysterious subplot and wanted to know what would happen next. I give this book an A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
    • 5/5
      I liked this book so much, especially the way Monroe writes. And there was so much depth to the fishing part--NOT that I'm going fishing anytime soon, but you could feel Mia's absorption into the river and the sport. The mystery story within the story provided a nice layering, especially in the midst of the additional complications of a divorce and a fishing companion. There were so many good descriptions---I could see the cabin in all it's detail.
    • 4/5
      Mia Landan’s sister arranges for her to attend a fly-fishing camp for breast cancer survivors, led by instructor Belle Carson. When Mia returns home to Charleston she finds her husband in her bed with another woman. Broken hearted, Mia returns to the mountains and turns to Belle for advice. Belle lets Mia take refuge in the cabin that was once owned by her grandmother, the legendary fly fisher and journalist, Kate Watkins. Belle never knew her grandmother and does not want any of the old rumors about Kate dug up. Residing in the cabin, Mia finds old journals regarding Kate and begins her healing as she feels a connection to the woman and the river nearby.
    • 3/5
      An easy read. A young woman spends a summer in a cabin overcoming her body issues resulting from a bout with breast cancer and her recently deteriorated marriage. While there, she unravels an old mystery in her friend's family.
    • 4/5
      I was really looking forward to reading this book, but I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I’d hoped. It was good – just not excellent, not destined for my “favorites” list or to be recommended to all my friends.What I really liked about this book:·A major plot point is a decades-old mystery. This started out pretty slow, but picked up as the book went along. I found myself more interested in the “old” characters and their issues than the “current” characters.·The descriptions of Appalachia are beautiful. It’s a great place for a story.·There are a number of strong female characters – the kind I would want to befriend in real life.Where I was disappointed:·The book didn’t go as deep into the breast-cancer survival emotions as I’d hoped.·The supernatural theme wasn’t as strong as I’d hoped. ·The fly-fishing theme was too strong for my taste. I am outdoorsy, but not a fisherman.
    • 5/5
      An accusation of a murder that happen some 80 years ago, turning a small town into shame and tabloid scandal. A breast cancer survivor rents a cabin and finds herself back into the history of fly fishing passion.
    • 3/5
      Mary Alice Monroe's `Time Is a River' explores the needs for self-knowledge and a connection to the world around us. It is the story of a breast-cancer survivor who uses fly-fishing in the hilly steams of North Carolina as a path to self-enlightenment. It is yet another story of women bonding - when Mia Landan, the protagonist, learns that her husband of ten years has been unfaithful, it is her fly-fishing guide Belle who provides a place for her to hide out and come to terms with her situation. While staying in Belle's family cabin, Mia is drawn into uncovering the story of Belle's maternal grandmother - a fly-fisher herself, a naturalist/artist, and a murder suspect. Throughout the novel, strong women unite with strong women to face adversity. Bonding and self-enlightment are dominant threads in contemporary women's literature and will have a great appeal to many readers. I simply found Monroe's depiction to be a bit heavy handed. That said, for me the book has too many stock figures, predictable situations, and easy answers. There are times when a reader looks for a well-worn path, a smooth read, an expected outcome. This is a book for those times. It's an easy read with no real surprises. And sometimes that's a comforting, if not thought-provoking, read.
    • 5/5
      Excellent!
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books that I have read in quite a while.I was thoroughly engrossed and couldn't seem to put it down.
    • 5/5
      An accusation of a murder that happen some 80 years ago, turning a small town into shame and tabloid scandal. A breast cancer survivor rents a cabin and finds herself back into the history of fly fishing passion.Very well written, a page turning book that will stay in your mind for a while.