Review: The River, By Moonlight by Camille Marchetta
The River, By Moonlight, by New Yorker Camille Marchetta, is my latest novel to review for Blog Stop Book Tours. It’s superficially the story of Lily Canning, a privileged young woman from the state of New York, who drowns in the Hudson River one evening in 1917. But in fact, it’s really Lily’s story according to her family and friends, and it’s the story of the effect her death has on them.
I’d personally describe this novel as a domestic mystery, and I’ll admit that it isn’t something I’d generally read. (It’s more my mum’s sort of thing, and I’ll probably pass my copy on to her.) But there were an awful lot of things about it that I really liked, which is why it’s got an 8 out of 10 from me.
Chief among its appealing elements is the sense of time and place – to me, it feels like it’s very definitely set in 1917 New York and couldn’t be set anywhere else without the story being affected. The era is one of both great advancement – in the freedoms of women, for example – and great events such as the entry of the US into World War I, which provides a backdrop to everything that happens even though it’s not strictly relevant to Lily’s tale.
Although the mystery of Lily’s death was more about the why than the how, I enjoyed the little bit of mystery that ran through the book, with the wonderings of her friends and family. There are plenty of hints as to what might have happened, but it’s not until a sort of flashback at the end, which tells things from Lily’s point of view, that it’s really explained.
I also really liked the spread of characters, each with their own motivations, opinions, and feelings for Lily and about her death. Each section of the novel is entitled with a character’s name, and that whole section is written from their point of view, with none really repeated – something I found to be an excellent narrative device for the plot of this novel.
This is an easy read, with no great highs or lows, but it’s a very satisfying one nonetheless. And I’m not passing it on till I’ve read it again!
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on September 24th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I love historical novels that aren’t romance, and 1917 is a wonderful era that novelists don’t visit enough.
Thanks–I think I’ll look for this!
Susan´s last post: A Woman of Letters, Me
on September 25th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Thank you so much for your review. Your reaction to the book was really interesting to read and I’m so pleased I pulled out an 8! I hope your mum enjoys it. All the best,
Camille Marchetta
on September 25th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I’m always on the hunt for a good book that my beloved wife would like – this sounds right up that street.
And, look, the author came and left a comment – that’s just *so* cool. Is it part of the Blog Stop set up or is it just *so* cool?
Ken Armstrong´s last post: Some Notes on JJ
on September 26th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
The authors stop by only if they are so inclined, so yes, it’s way cool!
Mary Lewis´s last post: Two Blog Stops today!
on September 26th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
[...] Sharp Words [...]
on September 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
It is pretty special when an author pays a visit to a review you’ve written – but it’s also pretty nerve-wracking! I’m glad Camille liked my review as much as I liked her novel.