The River Gods

I loved this book on many levels. Having grown up in Northampton, Massachusetts at the same time as Mr. Kiteley, I treasure how accurately he captures the feel of the community during those years. In many ways I felt that I was reading the story of my own youth. But one need not be from Northampton, or even know of Northampton, to be swept away with the panorama that Mr. Kiteley evokes. He has created a masterpiece with his intricate weaving together of many lives through many periods of time but within one location. A compelling story that is a pleasure to read and savor again and again.

Dude can write. A beautiful creation of first person narrations offering glimpses into the history of a New England town. Each glimpse is like a scent triggering a long-dormant memory. Together, those memories offer a fragmented picture of a majestic life. Once the voices begin to reoccur and the glimpses begin to weave into one another, you can't put it down.

If the U.S. designated authors as National Treasures, Brian Kiteley would be a national treasure. Every page of The River Gods is such pure happiness: beautiful, still, compelling, deep. When you read this novel -- with its short, immaculate, illuminating chapters -- you acquire the sense of perspective on human life that a particularly wry and insightful god might have. The tracing of webs between characters very satisfyingly replaces a more ordinary narrative with something that's not quite like what any other writer in the world does. Can you tell I'm recommending this book? I am, most definitely.