The Haiku Review

by Wally Lamb

River’s murmur calls
Wounds washed in quiet redemption
New paths find their cours

A forgotten river holds secret reflections—and in The River Is Waiting, Wally Lamb draws readers into a sweeping tale of memory, identity, and redemption flowing across generations.

At the heart of this novel lies its exploration of heritage and the healing power of reconnecting with one’s roots. The story follows three central figures: Frankie McBride, a middle-aged woman caring for her ailing father; Blair, a recovering addict seeking second chances; and Flynn, a young boy learning to find his voice. Their lives converge in a quaint New England town beside a once-beloved river—now tainted by a tragic accident from decades past. As they undertake a community project to restore the river’s health, their own wounds begin to surface. Frankie grapples with truths she’s long suppressed, Blair wrestles with shame and the possibility of forgiveness, and Flynn starts to understand that the past doesn’t have to define the future. The river serves as a metaphor for time’s passage, renewal, and the currents of familial ties, and Lamb delves into the notion that healing begins when we confront what we’ve tried hardest to forget.

Wally Lamb’s vision combines intimate character studies with a broader canvas of communal restoration. He writes with deep empathy, capturing each character’s internal struggle in rich, emotive prose. Frankie’s quiet desperation, Blair’s fragile hope, and Flynn’s youthful curiosity are all portrayed with nuance and grace. Lamb layers their narratives so that their individual arcs weave together in a tapestry showing how personal recovery and environmental regeneration can mirror each other. The pacing is deliberate yet never sluggish: tender moments—like late-night conversations or solitary walks by the river—flow into more tension-filled scenes without jarring transitions. Lamb also examines how small-town dynamics—rumors, loyalties, buried resentments—shape and sometimes stifle individual growth. While some plot twists may feel familiar to longtime readers of family dramas, Lamb’s strength lies in rendering universal truths with emotional authenticity, ensuring the journey feels fresh and resonant.

This novel is best suited for readers who cherish character-driven, emotionally immersive fiction grounded in place and community. Fans of authors who delve into family legacy, such as Ann Patchett or Kent Haruf, will appreciate the way Lamb intertwines personal stories with the natural world. It’s especially fitting for moments when you want to slow down and reflect—perhaps on a rainy afternoon by a fireside, or during a quiet weekend retreat in the countryside, where you can allow the river’s ebb and flow to wash over you. The River Is Waiting is not a whirlwind escape but a thoughtful, heartfelt journey that lingers, making it ideal for readers seeking reassurance that it’s never too late to heal old wounds and rediscover hope.