The River Wife

Agee's fascinating story bridges the lives of two women over a century apart, Annie Lark Ducharme and Hedie Rails Ducharme. Annie is trapped in the earthquake of 1811, her family's cabin near the mighty Mississippi collapsing in the earth's sudden violence. Immobilized by a roof beam, Annie is left to die by her family, clinging to life day by day while in agonizing pain. When French trapper and river pirate, Jacques Ducharme, rescues the helpless girl, it is inevitable that she fall in love with this rough but tender man who wants only to protect her and build a home that will stand as a testament to them, Jacques Landing, a place of refuge for weary river travelers and traders. Annie becomes his "river wife", living rough until they return to the banks of the river and begin building Jacques' dream, Annie pregnant with their child. The building progresses against all odds, although Jacques and his cohorts revert to their piracy to find the means. Despite her older husband's flaws, Annie is happy, reluctant to defy this man of such great ambition. Then a truly monstrous event destroys any forgiveness that exists between them, neither able to recapture their prior hopefulness. Though other Ducharme women people Jacques' life, including his second wife, Laura Burke Shut Ducharme, who gives an ageing man a new lease on life, none can replace his passion for Annie. In 1930, Hedie Rails Ducharme arrives, the naïve young bride of the older Clement Ducharme, returning with him to Jacques Landing where they act out the fate of a family blighted by tragedy and ill-starred relationships. Like Annie, Hedie is hopelessly in love; like Jacques, Clement lives outside the law, leaving his pregnant wife alone at night with the unfamiliar groaning of the house while he pursues whatever criminal enterprise draws him away night after night. Hedie's only solace is in Annie's diaries, which she pours over through the long, dark hours waiting for Clement to return, aware only that she is connected to Annie and the other river wives who have been a part of the Ducharme legacy. Detailing the private hopes and sorrows of these women, from Annie, Laura, the enigmatic Omah, who learns the ways of piracy from Jacques himself, to Hedie, who will add her story to Annie's, this novel is rich in regional history. Agee's images rise from the past, the waiting, patient river, the aggressive, dangerous men, the Landing that draws all manner of traveler and the women who bring heart to a tale of tragedy and violence begun with Jacques and ending with Clement. The river runs in the blood of these men and the women seduced by their natural charm, even when that love is defeated by greed, ambition and disillusion. A powerful tale, here is the essence of the river, the country and the women blinded by their passions. Luan Gaines/ 2008.

I found this to be a wonderfully deep and enjoyable book. The characters were fascinating and well developed. The plots and themes twisted around seamlessly and I never felt lost between generations. I found the descriptions of the places and events to be accurate and of a place and time (early 19th century, Bootheel Missouri)that we don't often read about. I would recommend it highly to friends and to my book club. I would read it again and that doesn't happen very often.

I wont tell you what the book's about because both the editorial and private reviews have done that very well. I needed to write this review because this is the most powerful book I've read in over 15 years. I am listening to the audio version and am about halfway through it. This book touched me and for a while had me bawling my eyes out. For quite a while...and I don't cry easily. I can only guess that the bad reviews are by people who haven't experienced some of these things. I will definitely read the other books by this treasured author.

Received from Random House as part of the early readers program. Agee deftly interweaves the stories of four women in this historical novel. The book is centered around the four most important women in the life of French fur-trapper Jacques Ducharme. Ducharme's legacy stretches from the grave across four generations to impact the lives of all who call Jacques' Landing their home. Set in Mississippi during the nineteenth century, The River Wife, mixes history, life style, a bit of mysticism and some great story telling to bring to life the saga of the those who settle in Jacques Landing. I read one other novel of Agee's, many years ago. After completing this book I will be hunting down some of her prior titles. Agee tells a great tale, she is able to thread the past and the present together in a seemless manner. I was a book seller in a small independant bookstore that has been forced to close it's doors. I know how important recommendations are to those who are looking for something new to read. The River Wife would be one of those titles I would be highly recommending to customers. The book would make a great "book club" read.

"The River Wife" by Jonis Agee is a multigenerational, epic novel covering the lives of five women related either by marriage, partnership, or birth to the 19th-century French fur-trapper and river pirate, Jacques Ducharme. These are the stories of Ducharme women--Annie Lark, Laura, Omah, Maddie, and Heide. Their stories cover the period from the great New Madrid earthquake of 1812, through the Civil War, and into the bootlegging era of the 1930s. These women inhabit a wild, harsh land in the boot heel of Tennessee, a difficult unforgiving place. Each Ducharme woman is unique, but they share the same traits of intelligence, beauty and headstrong passion for a better life. Some radiate warmth, gentleness, forgiveness, and loyalty. Others hide cunning and manipulation. In the end, each woman falls prey to, and must find some way to deal with, the charm and all-consuming possessive love of Jacques Ducharme--a man who is as charismatic as he is ruthless. This is not a romance novel. The ecstasy of being in love, the slow process of learning to love, and the utter devastation of being the focus of narcissistic love are central to the text. But the major theme of this novel is more subtle. The five women at the heart of this novel feel chained, and each seeks her own unique path to freedom and self-fulfillment. Some succeed well, others succeed with significant compromise, and some fail. This is a redemptive tale about the life-changing choices that move us toward self-fulfillment. Don't expect these five Ducharme women to be bigger than life; this book is not epic in that definition of the word. These are everyday, fully realistic heroines--women who must survive whatever way they can. Agee's prose is cinematic. The overall experience is like watching an addictive miniseries. There is a lot happening, with many parallels between the different women. There is danger, violence, suspense, ghostly apparitions, treachery, pirate's treasure, intrigue, and murder--enough to keep almost anyone's interest piqued. Even the famous naturalist John James Audubon makes a brief, stunning appearance and has an important impact on the plot. But don't expect a fast-paced novel; this is a subtle, slow, lyrical, sensual, and heart-felt novel about what it means to make life-changing choices. Typically, I shy away from multigenerational novels. But, I had plenty of time, and a desire to find out what all the fuss was about this notable, prize-winning author. So, I let this book take possession of me and I was mesmerized. What I enjoyed best about this book are its many take-your-breath-away, astonishing, wide-screen images--like hidden treasure--so lyrical and lovely that they will probably stick with me for a lifetime. No wonder so many have made so much about this talented author.