A River Ran Out of Eden

I can best describe A River Ran Out of Eden as an epic. It's a tale of courage, morals, and combatting inner demons. I would also not hesitate to call it a fable. It clearly shows how a single person can disrupt a perfect little domain. It tells the story of a family that has lived alone on an Aleutian island for years, and are perfect, until a stranger comes to the island. The plot is well-paced, there aren't many characters, but they are very well written. This book also presents the plot from every character's point of view, making it great to read. Each character has distinct problems, and I think their mishaps could easily be applied to everyday life. The symbolism is also applicable, the stranger in the book could easily symbolize modern life, and the family could represent all that is traditional. How these two concepts clash is very real, and makes a wonderful story as well.