57 pages • 1 hour read
Go as a River: A Novel
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
320
Novel • Fiction
Iowa • 1940s
2023
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Set in 1960s Iola during the construction of the Blue Mesa Dam, Shelley Read's debut novel, Go As a River, follows Victoria Nash, a peach farmer, grappling with town displacement and personal loss. The narrative delves into her relationship with Wilson Moon, an Indigenous American, against the backdrop of systemic racism and the inevitable flooding of Iola. The novel features racism, racist violence, hate crimes, the legacy of colonialism, and threats of sexual assault.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
107,920 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Shelley Read's Go as a River has been praised for its lyrical prose, vivid descriptions of nature, and emotional depth, providing a poignant exploration of resilience and self-discovery. Critics note some pacing issues and occasional predictability in the plot, but overall, the novel’s strong characterization and evocative storytelling resonate deeply with readers.
Who Should Read Go as a River?
A reader who would enjoy Go as a River by Shelley Read likely appreciates evocative, character-driven narratives set in richly depicted, natural landscapes. Fans of Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing or Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone would find this heart-wrenching, atmospheric novel compelling and immersive.
107,920 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
320
Novel • Fiction
Iowa • 1940s
2023
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.