The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

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The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

Contemporary fiction

The River Is Waiting

by Wally Lamb

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Quick Take

This gut-punch of a novel follows a man to prison after his careless mistake causes an unimaginable tragedy.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Emotional

    Emotional

  • Illustrated icon, Heavy_Read

    Heavy read

  • Illustrated icon, 400

    400+ pages

  • Illustrated icon, Family_Drama

    Family drama

Synopsis

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 apart his family. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he witnesses frightful acts of brutality. But he also experiences small acts of kindness and kinship. Buoyed by those 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 those he loves ever forgive his crimes?

Content warning

This book contains scenes depicting sexual assault and the death of a child and mentions of suicide.
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View all
Finding Grace
A Family Matter
The River Is Waiting
Home of the American Circus
Six Days in Bombay
Wild Dark Shore
A Killing Cold
A Season of Light
The House of My Mother
What Happened to the McCrays?
Isaac’s Song
Definitely Better Now
Dinner for Vampires
The Last One at the Wedding
The Night We Lost Him
Madwoman
House of Bone and Rain
Hum
The Lion Women of Tehran
A Summer Affair
Did I Ever Tell You?
Just for the Summer
Family Family
Northwoods
Mercury
The Second Chance Year
Astor
What We Kept to Ourselves
The Leftover Woman
While You Were Out
Evil Eye
Just Another Missing Person
Family Lore
Little Monsters
The Connellys of County Down
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
Paper Names
Divine Rivals
Hang the Moon
Maame
White Horse
The Fortunes of Jaded Women
When We Were Bright and Beautiful
Part of Your World
Don't Cry for Me
Olga Dies Dreaming
The Book of Magic
Everything We Didn't Say
Apples Never Fall
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
We Are the Brennans
Firekeeper's Daughter
Good Company
What's Mine and Yours
The Kindest Lie
The Removed
The Half Sister
In a Holidaze
White Ivy
The Girl in the Mirror
Winter Counts
Star Daughter
Head Over Heels
The Guest List
The Glittering Hour
Nothing to See Here
If Only I Could Tell You
Saving Zoë
Things You Save in a Fire
The Rest of the Story
Summer of '69
There's Something About Sweetie
You'd Be Mine
The Other Woman
Enchantée
Kingdom of Copper
A Woman Is No Man
The Winter Sister
Maid
Unsheltered
Winter in Paradise
Sweet Little Lies
How to Walk Away
The Rules of Magic
The Glass Castle
Pachinko