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    The River: A Novel
    The River: A Novel
    The River: A Novel
    Audiobook6 hours

    The River: A Novel

    Written by Michael Neale

    Narrated by Michael Neale

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    "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. It was 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOasis Audio
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9781621881131

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    Reviews for The River

    4/5

    32 ratings12 reviews

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    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      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!
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      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.”
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      •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.
    • 3/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      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.