The River Road

by Karen Osborn

David and Michael Sanderson are brothers, inseparable since childhood from each other and from their neighbor Kay Richards, a complicated young woman involved in a passionate and obsessive love affair with David. One spring night, while at home on a break from college, the threesome embarks on a night of adventure and experimentation, driving recklessly through the Connecticut Valley. Stopping at the French King Bridge, David -- full of hubris and hallucinogens -- dares to jump, mistakenly believing he'll be able to swim ashore. With this one act, he sets in motion an inexorable chain of events that indelibly alters the lives of everyone involved.

Told through the alternating voices of Kay, Michael, and David's father, Kevin, The River Road is a closely observed and psychologically penetrating narrative of the accusations, murder investigation, and courtroom battle that follow.

Genres: Fiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Karen Osborn is the author of five novels, Patchwork, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Between Earth and Sky, The River Road, Centerville, winner of the Independent Publishers Gold Award, and The Music Book, which is newly published. In reviews, she’s been compared to Ian McEwan, Jodi Picoult, and Russell Banks. The New York Times has called her work, “psychologically sophisticated,” and The Washington Post has said her writing is “an extraordinary effort to engage the American condition as we find it now.” She teaches fiction writing in Fairfield University’s M.F.A. program.

Reviews

[Sharon Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

A LSD pill taken by two older teens, changed the lives of their families forever.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother. Boring, repetitive, just not worth it.

[Soren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that my reasons for loving this book are very personal and that other people who read it might not feel the same way, but - it takes place in the towns where I grew up.
It's written like poetry. I could see all the places in it. It feels like my life. It made me cry. I still remember lines from it. It haunts me.
But that is from someone else who feels the same way about the river.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me somewhat of Jody Picoult's "The Pact" which was written a few years before this novel. It was well written and a fast read and my sympathies were with Kay the entire time. Drugs played a part in the tragedy and I'm guessing that the author was using the novel to push the problem of drugs, especially with teenagers.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when Karen Osborn was my professor years and years ago, and remember finishing and rereading it in one night. It's absolutely amazing and I can't believe I forgot about it/Osborn as an author. Marked as read but reminder to myself to revisit it.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of tragedy in a small town. Three childhood friends, brothers David and Michael Sanderson and best friend Kay Richards are on a bridge one night and one goes over. Two families life's are changed forever. A touching and emotional read.

[Anilou · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really loved this books

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing style I don't care for but an interesting story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good (though not as impressive as Centerville, her most recent novel) ... engaging, interesting, maybe the trial was too drawn out ... but the emotional atmosphere was very well done.

[Ces · Rating 3 out of 5]

January read: I badly wanted to give it a four because the story unfolded so smoothly by the latter chapters.. but, I got disappointed on how the story was wrapped up. Overkill.

[Nancy Fernandez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Starts to sag pretty quickly. Didn't finish it.