Where the River Splits

by Jeffrey Penn May

When Susan agrees to a canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness with her estranged husband, she doesn't expect to paddle through moonlit white water while escaping a raging forest fire. Nor could she foresee the canoe capsizing, stranding her on the opposite side of the river. How will she survive? Her husband, David Brooks, thinks his wife has drowned but when he sees her alive he turns and runs in the opposite direction... why? Susan and David will struggle with nature and at times with each other and their memories. Two distinct viewpoints converging to a surprising climax.

Genres: Drama, Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

Landmark Prize Finalist MARGERY

“As I hiked further into the woods, deeper than I’d ever gone before, I noticed darkness not only surrounding me from the thick canopy of hardwood trees, their leaves abnormally large, but also felt a heaviness in my heart, a tightness in my chest that was counter to all my previous experiences hiking into the wilderness.”

And so begins Jeremy’s unusual and gripping personal journey, a backpacker wandering off the main trail, exploring where more reasonable people usually turn away. Hiking through dense undergrowth and crossing a stream, he’s surprised to find a young couple camping far from the trail. He is keenly aware of their vitality compared to his age and experience. He follows the couple to a strange, otherworldly town nestled in a mountain basin where the people are intriguing and outgoing, and a little odd, especially Margery.

Befuddled yet captivated, Jeremy comes to love his new friends who, unlike him, seem content in what remains of their lives – the young couple, a reticent doctor and his unusual wife, hikers of various ages trekking along the surrounding slopes. He observes a psilocybin trip-treatment for the young woman, and he falls for Margery. But he is confused by Margery’s contradictory behavior and the hint of an inner struggle.

Margery is courageous, embracing what life has given her as displayed not only by her daring interaction with nature, but also by her enigmatic purpose.

What can Jeremy learn from her? His effort to make sense of the craziness is occasionally misguided and humorous, but also full of affection, admiration, and hope.
--
Jeffrey Penn May has won several fiction awards, including one from Writer’s Digest. He has received a Pushcart nomination and was a Landmark Prize finalist. Jeff wrote and performed a short story for radio and was a board member and consultant to a St. Louis theatre company.

Among other occupations, Jeff has been a hotel security officer, credit manager, deckhand, technical data engineer, and creative writing instructor. Jeff adventures include, floating a home-built raft from St. Louis to Memphis, navigating a John boat to New Orleans, digging for Pre-Columbian artifacts, and climbing mountains from Alaska to South America. For more information about Jeff’s world and works, visit www.askwritefish.com.

Reviews

[Jeffrey May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently authors are allowed to rate and review their own books, so why not? I'm doing this to counteract the following one-star "review" which I believe has little to no merit:"I admit I didn't read much of this book. I didn't like the writer's style so gave up on it."

Can we or should we rate books on that basis? At any rate, “Where the River Splits” got a great review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and from many others. Obviously, I hope you enjoy it.

Jeffrey Penn May, author of Where the River Splits, Cynthia and the Blue Cat's Last Meow, Eight Billion Steps: My Impossible Quest for Cancer Comedy

[Dana Caldarone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be, overall, a good work of fiction. But I had two major issues with this book. The first was that the author never adequately convinced me that it was likely (or even probable) that a man, failing marriage or not, would choose to abandon his injured wife to a guy he was too afraid of to confront, would conclude that his best option was to fake his death, and would then strike out on a "new life" for a very long time, only to end up back with his wife. Without the stage properly set for this initial event, I found it difficult to believe all that followed, or to have much empathy for the character, David. At the opposite end of this balance, I found that the author did a great job with developing the character Susan. It was easy to find her actions and reactions believable and to feel empathy for her. The second issue I had was with the connection the author tried to make with David & Susan and the Aztec warrior & high priestess. The author came short of making me see that connection and saying, "Oh, yes. I get it!" Failing to adequately establish that connection, much of the Aztec detail seemed superfluous. As a writer, I sometimes find that when I am immersed in the writing, these kinds of connections seem perfectly clear to me, when to a reader, they would not be. It's nice to have a critical friend or two who can read drafts and say, "Nope. It's just not happening. At least not yet."

[Susan Cronk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story intriguing and well written. It takes a great many twists and turns and readers have the sense of being on a white-water journey with the couple. There are two characters that add a certain creepiness factor to the overall story, and other minor characters that enter and leave the story without adding much. All in all, for readers of secular mainstream fiction it's a decent read. Christian readers may wish to know that there are a couple of places where intimate details of the two main characters lives are written in, but they are fleeting and the story is solid despite them.

The author handles the shifts in perspective quite well, and the suddenness of those changes adds to the overall pace of the story. The scenery, where the different aspects of these characters' lives unfold, are described in detail, which aids the reader greatly. There is some repetitive use of an iconic image from Aztec culture. Not being a student of that culture, I found myself wondering why this was repeated so many times and how, on a fundamental level, it was significant to the story.

There is suspense, doubt, worry, and anticipation woven into the story.The ending of the story is unexpected I'm still on the fence as to whether it meshes well.

You can read the entire review of this book on my blogs at http://www.idyllbooks.com and http://show-me-reviews.blogspot.com .

[Terry Palardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeffrey Penn May has written an award winning book which he has shared with all of us. It is filled with beautiful descriptions of the wilderness in Canada, the Midwest, the West, and in Mexico. The reader can see the surrounding vegetation, feel the spray of the river rapids, and sense the scent of the foliage and trees. But more than that, Jeffrey has given us a view of two lives, their inner conflicts, their shared struggles, and their solitary quests. The balance of power between Susan and David shifts throughout the story, as it does in life. Fans of pre-Columbian history in MesoAmerica will be satisfied with the accuracy of his settings and cultural observance. This book gives an equally satisfying amount of plot and character development that enhances the story's action. And it leaves the door open for a sequel~

[Dori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey Penn May's novel is a compelling and well-written work of fiction. The story begins as Susan and David, a long-married couple, set out on a canoe vacation in the Canadian wilderness. It isn't long before one begins to see the cracks in their marriage, and when a forest fire and rough waters actually separate them, David decides to "disappear".
What happens after that becomes a fascinating look into the psyches of the main characters as an internal adventure begins. No psychological treatise, however, the novel continues to rush along suspensefully as other characters enter Susan's and David's lives.
What impressed me most, however, was not only the originality of the plot, but also the emotional truth of the main characters' struggles. Along with the fast-moving story, May has crafted a portrait of the complexity and ambivalence of marriage.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to the agreement with Goodreads I am to notify you that the author/publisher and through cooperation and with Goodreads gave me this book to read and review. With that said I don't review books I do not like.

I like this novel. It kept me reading from first page to last. I didn't skip skim or jump to the end. And you won't want to either as you'll miss the good stuff and the twists. I wanted to slap Susan, won't tell you why, spoiler. I wanted to take a baseball bat to David. AND that is the angst of the book. It is what keeps you wanting to find out if either of them wise the heck up. I won't tell you the end but, it is NOT what you'd expect.

Jeffrey Penn May is talented and look forward to reading more of his work. GREAT JOB.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have won this book through first reads on Goodreads.

This book is filled with beautiful descriptions of the wilderness in Canada, the Midwest, the West, and in Mexico. I love to travel and hike, and this book has many passages describing the beauty of nature. It is much more than that though. As I was reading, I found myself wondering where the book was going. Just when I thought I knew, I learned that I did not... really. I was not too pleased with the ending, but I guess, I was surprised by it. And there is something to be said about that! This is my first Jeffrey Penn May book, and I do believe I will look up his others.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

MISSOURI AUTHOR May's first book is a page-turner, one of those novels I look for, but rarely find. You don't just read it, you inhabit it--the characters, the locales, the marriage that is both complex and fragile. It's a mystery, compelling you to press on, suspense building all the while thanks to May's fluid writing and rich, generous descriptions. Go there.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well crafted debut novel Where the River Splits from Jeffrey Penn May, the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride as May skilfully describes the paths of the principal players in the story. You can cut the tension with a knife. Just one question: when is Where the River Splits going to win a justly deserved award? It can only be a matter of time.

[Hannah Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I loved how the characters stories were separate but intertwined. Definitely did not deserve that one star.

[Heather Bridson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway..quite a while ago now, but I just got around to it yesterday. Sorry for the late review. I was not paid for my review, and the opinions here are my own.

This book surprised me, it is not really what I thought it would be. The theme you can feel from the start of the book. David has always pushed himself in life, and tries to do that with his wife Susan. Susan never got over the loss of her father, and has become emotionally distant.
These two both want to talk it out, but neither can stop and just calmly talk with the other. The book goes on to show how things can blow out of control. How small problems can become huge if they are not dealt with. David makes really bad choices, pulling both him and his wife through horrible times. David''s lies catch up with him.
David tries to start a new life, but he starts it with lies, deceit, and fear. these of course snowball into a huge problem until he finially comes clean and tells his wife.
Susan isn't willing to believe the deceit that he has managed. She feels betrayed and does not want anything to do with him, but as he becomes humbled, she forgives. Very well written store. Thank you for the chance to read it.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little slow at the start but once you got into the tempo of the story it was captivating! I found myself continuously wondering what was going to happen next and wanting to read more and more. There were definitely some oddities in the story, but overall I found the general message of running from (or into, depending on your perspective) our fears and the consequences of those actions to be extremely compelling. I really engaged with each of the characters and felt their struggles and thoughts. While reading this I couldn't help thinking what an intense, suspenseful movie this would make! It definitely had you on the edge of your seat at parts. Also, I personally didn't like the updated ending that the author added, I'd rather it stay the way he originally wrote it.

*Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. That has not had any impact on my opinion of the novel or this review.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had an interesting premise that drew me to read the book. A married couple experiences a traumatizing escape from a forest fire, forced to jump into their canoe and run rapids in the dark. They are injured and separated when the canoe capsizes and each is forced in a different direction. The husband, after finding the wife and making sure she is safe, decides to disappear. The plot was involved and kept me reading. However, I found the entire read depressing. It was difficult to look past the darkness of the story and most of the characters. However, there was depth to the characters, and I felt I came to understand a full psychological profile of the 4 main characters. I kept reading more out of curiosity, as the story felt very dark. Slow at times, as there was often quite a lot of detail about ... well, everything. Well written, and well edited!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did a great job in describing the details of this story. I could easily visualize all that was happening. A woman and her husband are separated while on a hiking trip. He comes up missing and is believed to be dead - but she is not so sure. I could have happily kept on reading if the story would have continued. I did, however, feel that the author should have kept us better apprised of how much time was passing between the different events during the entire story - I still don't know how much time passed from the time her husband went missing to the time where they are reunited. Definitely would recommend to others.

[LLona Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this story really intrigued me -- a failing marriage, a husband who fakes his death when an accident presents a perfect opportunity, the struggle his wife endures as the survivor, interference from outsiders including an insurance investigator and the mentally off-balance good Samaritan who rescued her, and finally the inevitable meeting that puts husband and wife within eyesight of each other after a few years apart.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine recommended this book to me, and I'm glad he did. If you like novels with twists and turns, surprises, and even a little nervous heart-racing, you'll be glad you picked up May's book.

[Sylvia Ney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tale, but it lags in a few places. The author provided some great tension between the characters, but some of the description and emotional turmoil could have been trimmed down to provide a better flow. Overall, a unique concept and an ending I did not expect.

[Laronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drama filled pages, thrills around every corner. This aurthor makes the reader fill like your in the twist and turns.I would give this book 5 stars.Read this book if you like books that make you think about your life situations.

[John Zavgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down. Amazing book.

[Julieann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line with beautiful imagery. Worth the read!

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a couple who get separated from each other during an accident, and how their lives develop thereafter

[Marielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good loved it

[Donna Riegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about the relationship between Susan and David. The book ended the way I thought it would.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story! Wonderful descriptions of outdoor activities (rafting, climbing). I had to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the tale instead of speed reading to find out how it ends.

[Pauline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

I did enjoy reading this story. It was believable and kept my interest. New author for me, and will read his other books.

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this thriller. There is lots of action and drama. The husband/wife relationship will certainy keep a reader interested.

[Cindy Hulsopple · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not even sure where to begin with this novel. First of all, the writing itself was decent, as was the editing, which is the main reason for my two stars. It's hard to find an ebook author today that even cares about grammar or editing, so I applaud the author for either paying attention in school, or for paying a decent editor. There were a few flaws, though - run on sentences that went nowhere, too-long paragraphs with several different thoughts or even an entirely new location/situation happening in the same paragraph in at least one instance.

Now, onto the story itself - David was an unlikable character with no redeemable qualities - not a single one! Susan was a little better, and at least showed some growth throughout the book, but, honestly, I can't figure out why these two people ever got together in the first place. Neither really seemed to love the other, at least not in the way a husband and wife should. They seemed to only care about each other as you would care about another human being. Again, Susan showed more of that than David, who was completely despicable throughout the book. I honestly don't think he was capable of loving anyone but himself.

I did not understand, nor did I really care about, the Aztec dreams, or the supposed connection to these two characters. Perhaps if I did, then the story would have been more enjoyable. The dreams and the symbolism really did nothing for me, which is probably because I have so little interest in those things, to begin with. Also, I found it hard to believe that not getting over her father's death would be a reason for Susan to find it hard to commit herself to marriage, or to love. That really made no sense to me.

I wish I could give a better review, because I know writing a book is not easy. It takes time and patience, and I'm sure the author loves what he wrote, and maybe you will too, but this book was just not for me.

[Laura Moreno · Rating 2 out of 5]

"What would you do given the chance to disappear? The chance to start a new life. Probably not what David did. Trying to save their marriage, David and Susan Brooks canoe into the wilderness, but it was already over before the trip began. The canoe capsizes leaving them stranded on opposite sides of the river – each believing the other dead. David discovers that his wife survived. But he decides not to reveal himself to her. Susan must remake herself into a new person. While she copes, David starts anew. But can anyone ever really start over? While Susan grows, he craves redemption. Who do you blame for this failed journey?"
As I began to read this book, the premise was quite interesting. A quarter of the way through, I lost the reasoning for each character's journey. There was not much insight into their thought processes or reason for being unable to deal with their feelings. Maybe that was the point? Regardless, the book had some captivating supporting characters and some supporting characters that I think could have been left out. I realize this book was written years ago so maybe the author's writing has developed into something I might find more compelling.

[Brian Kalfus · Rating 4 out of 5]

One reason I enjoyed this book was because the scenes occurred in so many different places. The characters had exciting hobbies which made for several exciting adventures throughout. The male character was an avid mountain climber and his wife studied Aztec history in Mexico. Because both of them were unhappy about their lives it was interesting to read about how each used their personal interests to inspire themselves to improve. And they both had vivid dreams which they used as guides to understand how they felt about each other. The climax takes place somewhere unexpected, adding to the novel's originality.

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to like this book. It started out promising, but the characters were unlikable. Making terrible decisions and treating each other abominably. The victim, the wife, acted just as bad as the husband who left her. I could not even feel sorry for her. The stalker and the insurance sales person were unrealistic also. I was glad when it was over.