“The River” by Peter Heller – The Cruel Laws of Survival
The story follows two best friends since college orientation who decide to go on a canoeing trip, only to find themselves in the throes of a giant forest fire. What's more, they come across a man who claims to have lost his wife in the forest, but something's not right...
Peter Heller Sends us into the Fire
With our environment becoming increasingly damaged from the ever-increasing industrialization efforts of our species, it seems natural disasters have begun striking with a more regular occurrence.
While most of us have the good fortune of being far away from those, Peter Heller's novel The River is an excellent reminder misfortune can find its way into anyone's backyard, as it does for Wynn and Jack, two best friends since college orientation.
Both of them being lovers of the outdoors, they decide to take a little vacation in order to canoe up the Maskwa river in Northern Canada. In their minds, carefree days of picking berries, reading novels, hiking and, of course, canoeing are all they have to look forward to.
However, the idyllic nature of their journey is cut short by a sobering reality: a giant forest fire is sweeping its way towards them, and all they can do is hurry the pace and hope to outrun it.
As if nature hadn't already thrown a big enough wrench into their plans, Wynn and Jack hear a man and a woman arguing one night on the riverbank. On the next day, they meet the man paddling alone, claiming to be her husband and having lost her in the forest.
The two friends join in on the search, but soon after they find the woman, it becomes apparent she was attacked, and some things in this forest are far from what they seem. Running from both the hands of Man and nature, the trio's journey is only bound for greater struggles as they inch closer and closer to the truth.
A Good Meandering Pace in The River
The first point I would like to address in my review of this novel is the pace, largely because it seems to me some people are coming into it with a misconception about the type of experience they are getting into.
While the premise of the plot might certainly have some elements from the thriller and mystery genres, it is first and foremost a detailed trek through the wilds with a sense of urgency. I definitely wouldn't call it fast-paced, and would go as far as saying it meanders a bit in some points.
With this being said, if you are prepared for the slow rhythm of this book, then it actually turns into a rather immersive and, at times, relaxing experience where we get to mentally experience some facets of nature we probably (and in some cases, hopefully) never will.
Heller is a true master at describing the great outdoors using all of our senses, and his depiction of the ravaging forest fire will stay with me for a long time.
He brings you so close to it you can practically feel its heat and taste the ashes, something relatively few authors are capable of doing, at least in my experience.
From a pure entertainment perspective, it is true there are more than a few moments where the plot takes a break for the author to chime in with some very fine details about various aspects of journeying through the wilds.
From little tips which come from experience to essentially shopping lists of their equipment and its purpose, Heller really takes pleasure in sharing with us his insider perspective on the topic, and if like me you're into this sort of approach it's a veritable pleasure to read through.
The Intrigue of Human Relations
Though the book does have a slower, meandering pace, it doesn't mean the plot is deprived of any intrigue and tension. To begin with, the whole affair revolving around the woman her supposed husband/potential attacker (there is a reason why it remains unclear for a while) would make for a great thriller in its own right.
Heller does an excellent job at capturing the simultaneous atmosphere of claustrophobia and paranoia our characters feel being chased by someone they cannot see.
It's a tense cloud which hangs above our characters for the entire story and adds a welcome layer of mystery to keep us entertained. We are constantly trying to decipher who the man might have been and what set of circumstances led them to this position.
As the plot moves on the author does a good job of feeding us bits of information here and there to keep the intrigue alive and keep the gears of our imagination rolling.
In addition to this, relation between the two best friends is also rather profoundly explored by Heller. It is put to the test many times and we get a compelling argument for our natural need for friendship in order to make ourselves complete.
The Final Verdict
The River by Peter Heller might not be a novel for everyone, but if you enjoy slower-paced and highly-detailed treks through nature and its many dangers, coupled with a dash of crime thriller, then I strongly believe you will find a lot of enjoyment from this book.
 | Peter HellerPersonal site Peter Heller is an American author known for his extensive work as a contributing editor to numerous magazines, including Outside Magazine, National Geographic, and Men’s Journal. He won the National Outdoor Book Award for Literatuer for his memoir titled Kook, in addition to which he also wrote some recognized novels including The Dog Stars, The Painter and The River. |
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