Rosie of the River

by Catherine Cookson

When Fred Carpenter suggests to his wife, Sally, that they should take a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads, she is filled with trepidation. Nevertheless she summons her courage and they and their bull-terrier Bill set off, with Fred at the helm of Dogfish Three.

Sally's misgivings are soon justified, as a series of disasters, human, nautical and canine, threaten to ruin their holiday. Then everything changes as they make friends with the boating fraternity and encounter the remarkable fifteen-year-old Rosie, whose family history stirs their curiosity and sympathy. As a result, Fred and Sally decide to support Rosie's efforts to better herself - and are rewarded when she finds love and happiness.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Womens Fiction, Novels

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.

Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.

For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been disappointed with a story by Catherine Cookson. Recommended.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie on the River is a beautiful story.

[Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mijn eReader is stuk gegaan gelukkig heb ik er nog één voor thuis zoals steeds een leuk boekje. Ik hou van de Cookson schrijf stijl.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[Cheryll · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never given a Catherine Cookson book only 2 stars! This book was definitely not up to her usual standard. It seemed disjointed and was more about Mr and Mrs Carpenter than Rosie. The story didn't really have a plot and the characters were quite weak. Disappointing really because Catherine Cookson is my favourite author and I'm running out of books that she has written!

[Jenn Housley · Rating 3 out of 5]

very proper 'english' book.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another brilliant Catherine Cookson book =]

[Abcdarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Posthumously published, I'd guess this was written before Cookson found her real voice as a writer; she obviously did not want it published during her lifetime.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

very sweet

[Sidna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this audio book at our library used book store and listened to it on a recent car trip. I am not familiar with Catherine Cookson's writing, but she must have been a romance author. I see from the back of the audio box that she died in 1998 so this book was written several years ago.

This book is really two love stories. The first love story is Fred Carpenter and his wife Sally, a long- married couple who have no children. He is a maths teacher at a grammar school in England and she owns a ladies' clothing store in their small town. During one summer holiday Fred suggests to Sally that they rent a house boat and go on a boating holiday. Since neither Fred nor Sally are sailors, Sally is not keen on the idea, but eventually goes along with it. One complication is that they have a rather large dog who has some problems and they have to take the dog with them on the boat. Much of what happens in the first part of the book is physical comedy that would play well in a movie or on tv.

I'm not sure why the boat trip, which takes up at least half of the book is necessary, except that it introduces the other characters in the book. On the trip, the Carpenters meet 15-year-old Rosie. Her parents are separating and she is going to live with her father and her grandmother in her grandmother's London home. Rosie becomes a surrogate daughter for the Carpenters and the rest of the book follows Rosie as she makes decisions and moves into young adulthood. Rosie falling in love is the second love story.

The audio book was made up of 6 CD's, but a few of the CD's were garbled in spots and I couldn't hear all of the story clearly. Interestingly, I was able to follow the story easily even though I didn't hear all of it. I found myself involved enough in the story, particularly after they got off the boat, that I listened to the entire book in one day on the trip. Susan Jameson did a good job reading the story and voicing the many different characters in the book.

It was a pleasant story, especially because almost every book my book club reads has to do with war, mostly WWII. This was a nice change. It would probably make a good beach read. Sadly, I cannot return this book to the used book store to be resold since some of the disks are damaged.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this simply because I had picked up a good quality first edition. Simple old fashioned story which however still touched on family violence, very moralistic about marriage. I did enjoy the part where Sally dresses for the Norfolk Broads in a plain 2 piece suit and a little flowered hat, old fashioned I suspect even then.

[Elizabeth Buckham]

I've read quite a few of Catherine Cookson's books simply because my dad was born and grew up in the same area of North-East England that Cookson writes about.

I enjoy the simple pleasure that reading one of her stories brings and it makes me miss my dad a little bit...but her stories always ensure a happy ending for those who deserve it.

[Dianne Vandenhurk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realise how accustomed to modern writing I have become. This was quaint, dull & simplistic. I think I've moved well past Catherine Cookson.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the 50’s it is all you would expect and then some.

[Susan Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was most disappointing.
It doesn’t have the depth of her previous novels, you can tell it has mostly been written by someone else.

[Kitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing darkness against an idyllic domestic backdrop

[Michelle Grayce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book about a couple going on the Norfolk broads and the people who they meet.

[yulin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely the most boring and bland book you’d ever put your hands on. This is also my first read of this author, so probably I will not read any more of her works again. A complete waste of time.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely whimsical tale set at the start of the 1950s telling the story of Sally and Fred, a married couple who after many arguments set out on a boating holiday with their dog Fred.
To their surprise they get more than they bargained for, apart from a lovely holiday they make many friends on their trip including the "snooty Mancunians" and their dog Sue, a trio of friendly young men and the eponymous Rosie of the river who change their lives for the better and becomes the daughter they never had.
Over the course of time they keep in touch with all their "holiday" friends from many different social circles and their lives become intertwined.
A charming story that shows how the vagaries of fate can lead to long lasting and productive friendships.
A must for all her fans.

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

When Fred Carpenter suggests to his wife, sally that they should take a boating holiday on the norfolk broads, she is filled with trepidation. Nevertheles, she summons her courage and they set off, with Fred at the helm. Sally's misgivings are soon justified, as a series of disasters threaten to ruin their holiday. Then everything changes as they encounter the remarkable fifteen year old Rosie.

didn't really capture my attention still quite a short story so fine for a fill in.

[Berna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book was not very exciting- I should admit I almost decided not to read the book. When the couple met Rosie, however, it became interesting. Afterwards, it never became a page turner but at least I was interested to know what became of her and the other passengers in the voyage.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very delightful story and one in which I enjoyed reading! The characters - especially Fred & Sally - were quite likable. I didn't like Rosie as much as I thought I would though. There were a couple parts of the story I thought were long and a bit draggy and sometimes the way the dialogue was written made me lose interest. This a very light hearted book.

[Sharon]

Funny, with a lovely ending, with a moral feeling - just give someone the chance to beliave in themselves and they will have the chance to change their path of life and reap rewards . A nice easy read.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read a Catherine Cookson in years, and picked quite a few up,from a charity shop,for 25p each,
I really enjoyed Rosie on the River, a nice easy read,that does have a nice moral,"Never judge a book by the cover", plus it had a lovely ending, x

[Coco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Snufkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first ever Catherine Cookson- they were a cheap option

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, light read that shows you can change the way you think, make life-long friends and save your marriage in just one short week if you are just thrust into an adventure of a lifetime!

[Maria Plugatyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great book with a true life story. I really enjoyed reading it.