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The Banks of Certain Rivers
In the lakeside resort town of Port Manitou, Michigan, dedicated teacher and running coach Neil Kazenzakis shoulders responsibilities that would break a lesser man: a tragic accident has left his wife seriously debilitated, he cares for his mother-in-law who suffers from dementia, and he’s raising his teenage son, Chris, on his own. On top of all that, he’s also secretly been seeing Lauren, his mother-in-law’s caregiver.
When Neil breaks up a fight one day after school, he doesn’t give the altercation much thought. He’s got bigger issues on his mind, like the fact that Lauren is ready for a commitment and he has to figure out a way to tell Chris that he’s in a serious relationship with someone other than the boy’s mother. But when an anonymous person uploads a video of the fight to YouTube, the stunning footage suggests Neil assaulted a student. With his job, his family, and his reputation suddenly in jeopardy, Neil must prove his innocence and win back the trust of the entire community—including his son’s.
Jon Harrison’s The Banks of Certain Rivers is a powerful tale of family, loss, and the meaning of love.
When Neil breaks up a fight one day after school, he doesn’t give the altercation much thought. He’s got bigger issues on his mind, like the fact that Lauren is ready for a commitment and he has to figure out a way to tell Chris that he’s in a serious relationship with someone other than the boy’s mother. But when an anonymous person uploads a video of the fight to YouTube, the stunning footage suggests Neil assaulted a student. With his job, his family, and his reputation suddenly in jeopardy, Neil must prove his innocence and win back the trust of the entire community—including his son’s.
Jon Harrison’s The Banks of Certain Rivers is a powerful tale of family, loss, and the meaning of love.
366 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2013
77 people are currently reading
3171 people want to read
About the author
Jon Harrison
13 books64 followersA native of the midwest, Jon Harrison currently lives and writes in the Northern Rockies.
You can learn more about him at www.thebanksofcertainrivers.com.
You can learn more about him at www.thebanksofcertainrivers.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
November 21, 2014
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine mentioned that he had seen a "perfect" movie. I asked him what he meant, and he said that, for him, a perfect movie was one that couldn't have been any better than it was. This didn't mean it was the best movie he had ever seen, but that as he watched it and thought about it afterwards, he couldn't think of anything he wanted to change.
That's how I feel about The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison.
The book is the story of one man's struggle to rebuild his life after tragedy. Several years earlier, a freak accident left Neil Kazenzakis' wife, Wendy, permanently comatose. Since then, Neil, a popular high school teacher, has been struggling to keep himself together and raise his teenaged son, Christopher. More recently, he's started dating Lauren, a sweet and patient woman who understands Neil's desire to keep their relationship secret so that his son's delicately balanced life doesn't tumble back into chaos.
Then Neil breaks up a fight after school between some kids on the football team. Next thing he knows, footage of the incident has been posted to YouTube, but it's been manipulated so that it looks like Neil is abusing a student, not saving him. As the views of the YouTube video spiral out of control, Neil's placed on suspension from work while the school investigates. And when Lauren reveals some shocking news of her own, Neil slowly starts to unravel, leaving him no choice but to confront things he's long tried to avoid.
So why do I call this book 'perfect'? First of all, there's the use of language. Harrison has a way with words and imagery that catches your attention. Take this passage from the prologue:
"A moment after that the room filled with a loud thumping noise, and every head in the place turned to see a blue Medivac helicopter ease from the sky down to a spot on the grass as gently as a butterfly lights on a twig."
Or this opening sentence from the first chapter:
"One humid night at the beginning of the summer, while jetliners rumbled overhead and fireflies winked green along the far-off row of brambles, my best friend and I sat by the fire pit in the field behind my house."
In both instances, Harrison has perfectly set the scene with one sentence. You can hear that thumping Medivac, smell the campfire smoke. Most writers (myself included) struggle to do what seems effortless to Harrison.
Another element is the deep layering of the story. There are no under-developed, walk-on characters. From Neil's best-friend, Alan, who is one of the funnier characters I've encountered in fiction in a while, to his aging mother-in-law, to the head of the school board who cares more about appearances than the truth, every character has a role to play and a clear personality, again, often sketched with a few, simple, penetrating sentences.
And finally there's the themes, not only of loss and renewal, grief and joy, but the idea of memory. How it shifts and twists to fit our own view of ourselves, our own view of life, and how this can ultimately be our undoing. Harrison writes:
"What is a memory, anyway? Is it an indelible record, unimpeachable, frozen in some synaptic arrangement and stored away for some moment it might be needed in the future? Or is it subject to editing and revision, something plastic that our brains can shape into another form we can handle, something less toxic than the original, something less able to poison us?"
It is the answer to that question that lies at the heart of this story, and kept me thinking about it for a long time after I finished reading.
The best books also make you consider things outside the book, and for me, here, it's the title, which comes from a Czeslaw Milosz poem called "I Sleep A Lot" that is partially quoted in the epigraph:
When I couldn't do without alcohol, I drove myself on alcohol,
When I couldn't do without cigarettes and coffee, I drove myself
On cigarettes and coffee.
I was courageous. Industrious. Nearly a model of virtue.
But that is good for nothing. (...)
I have read many books but I don't believe them.
When it hurts we return to the banks of certain river.
I know I'll be returning to the banks of this book to seek solace, to learn how to be a better writer, and, most of all, to be entertained.
As a final thought, Harrison's book is also proof of something that's becoming more and more evident: that quality books can succeed solely through reader -- rather than traditional publisher -- support, these days. I can't say why Harrison ended up self-publishing this novel, but I think it's lucky for all of us he did. Because you should read it, and hey, at $3.99 there's no excuse not to.
That's how I feel about The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison.
The book is the story of one man's struggle to rebuild his life after tragedy. Several years earlier, a freak accident left Neil Kazenzakis' wife, Wendy, permanently comatose. Since then, Neil, a popular high school teacher, has been struggling to keep himself together and raise his teenaged son, Christopher. More recently, he's started dating Lauren, a sweet and patient woman who understands Neil's desire to keep their relationship secret so that his son's delicately balanced life doesn't tumble back into chaos.
Then Neil breaks up a fight after school between some kids on the football team. Next thing he knows, footage of the incident has been posted to YouTube, but it's been manipulated so that it looks like Neil is abusing a student, not saving him. As the views of the YouTube video spiral out of control, Neil's placed on suspension from work while the school investigates. And when Lauren reveals some shocking news of her own, Neil slowly starts to unravel, leaving him no choice but to confront things he's long tried to avoid.
So why do I call this book 'perfect'? First of all, there's the use of language. Harrison has a way with words and imagery that catches your attention. Take this passage from the prologue:
"A moment after that the room filled with a loud thumping noise, and every head in the place turned to see a blue Medivac helicopter ease from the sky down to a spot on the grass as gently as a butterfly lights on a twig."
Or this opening sentence from the first chapter:
"One humid night at the beginning of the summer, while jetliners rumbled overhead and fireflies winked green along the far-off row of brambles, my best friend and I sat by the fire pit in the field behind my house."
In both instances, Harrison has perfectly set the scene with one sentence. You can hear that thumping Medivac, smell the campfire smoke. Most writers (myself included) struggle to do what seems effortless to Harrison.
Another element is the deep layering of the story. There are no under-developed, walk-on characters. From Neil's best-friend, Alan, who is one of the funnier characters I've encountered in fiction in a while, to his aging mother-in-law, to the head of the school board who cares more about appearances than the truth, every character has a role to play and a clear personality, again, often sketched with a few, simple, penetrating sentences.
And finally there's the themes, not only of loss and renewal, grief and joy, but the idea of memory. How it shifts and twists to fit our own view of ourselves, our own view of life, and how this can ultimately be our undoing. Harrison writes:
"What is a memory, anyway? Is it an indelible record, unimpeachable, frozen in some synaptic arrangement and stored away for some moment it might be needed in the future? Or is it subject to editing and revision, something plastic that our brains can shape into another form we can handle, something less toxic than the original, something less able to poison us?"
It is the answer to that question that lies at the heart of this story, and kept me thinking about it for a long time after I finished reading.
The best books also make you consider things outside the book, and for me, here, it's the title, which comes from a Czeslaw Milosz poem called "I Sleep A Lot" that is partially quoted in the epigraph:
When I couldn't do without alcohol, I drove myself on alcohol,
When I couldn't do without cigarettes and coffee, I drove myself
On cigarettes and coffee.
I was courageous. Industrious. Nearly a model of virtue.
But that is good for nothing. (...)
I have read many books but I don't believe them.
When it hurts we return to the banks of certain river.
I know I'll be returning to the banks of this book to seek solace, to learn how to be a better writer, and, most of all, to be entertained.
As a final thought, Harrison's book is also proof of something that's becoming more and more evident: that quality books can succeed solely through reader -- rather than traditional publisher -- support, these days. I can't say why Harrison ended up self-publishing this novel, but I think it's lucky for all of us he did. Because you should read it, and hey, at $3.99 there's no excuse not to.
September 27, 2014
Jon Harrison in his debut novel does not drag things out. In the beginning he delves right into the tragedy that struck this family and then right into the event that causes unimaginable problems for high school teacher and coach, Neil Katzenzakis. I really couldn't put this down and read it in one day .
The crux story of the story for me is the tragedy that befalls this family and how Neil and his son Chris are trying to cope with the loss of a wife and mother who lays in a bed at a long term care facility and is totally incapacitated both physically and mentally . It’s about the love that this father has for his son , and about the kind of man that he is . It would be easy to fault Neil for falling in love with Lauren , but he is a good man living with his own demons . He is not perfect and life happens .
The series of e- mails that Neil writes to Wendy, as sort of a diary are moving . This is a way for him to get his feelings out and it is through these e-mails that we get to know who Wendy who is and we learn how much Neil loved her. A really touching moment in the novel is when Chris brings not only flowers to Mom but the vegetables and herbs that he has bought at the market so he can tell her about them , let her smell them .
Then there is the all too timely thing that happens to Neil as he is sabotaged by students who know their way around the technology of altering videos and social media. This is such a scary , but all too real thing - the dangers that people may be subjected to in this day and age .
While this made for some tense moments and the potential destruction of Neil's career and reputation, the story for me was about resilience in the face of family tragedy and this father's love for his son.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.
The crux story of the story for me is the tragedy that befalls this family and how Neil and his son Chris are trying to cope with the loss of a wife and mother who lays in a bed at a long term care facility and is totally incapacitated both physically and mentally . It’s about the love that this father has for his son , and about the kind of man that he is . It would be easy to fault Neil for falling in love with Lauren , but he is a good man living with his own demons . He is not perfect and life happens .
The series of e- mails that Neil writes to Wendy, as sort of a diary are moving . This is a way for him to get his feelings out and it is through these e-mails that we get to know who Wendy who is and we learn how much Neil loved her. A really touching moment in the novel is when Chris brings not only flowers to Mom but the vegetables and herbs that he has bought at the market so he can tell her about them , let her smell them .
Then there is the all too timely thing that happens to Neil as he is sabotaged by students who know their way around the technology of altering videos and social media. This is such a scary , but all too real thing - the dangers that people may be subjected to in this day and age .
While this made for some tense moments and the potential destruction of Neil's career and reputation, the story for me was about resilience in the face of family tragedy and this father's love for his son.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.
May 31, 2013
Opening line: "One humid night at the beginning of summer, while jetliners rambled overhead and fireflies winked green along the far off row of brambles, my best friend and I sat by the fire pit along the far-off row of brambles behind my house.”
~4.5~ Wow what a fantastic find Jon Harrison’s debut novel turned out to be. Just an all-round great read that I was sorry to finish as by the end I’d grown so attached to all the characters, I felt like I knew them, like they were friends of mine and I wasn’t ready to let them go.
The Banks Of Certain Rivers is one of those books that I kept picturing as a movie while I was reading, it’s just such a great story. Slow burning, full of surprises, encompassing humor, drama, suspense, tragedy, love and life. Yup this has it all, along with some very good writing.
I’ll admit that initially this was slow going (after the nail biting prologue) as the author just sort of drops you into it and you’re left trying to figure out who all these characters are and why their detailed back stories are so important. But as it all comes together, wow, I couldn’t read fast enough. So many twists and turns, and a very clever plot as even the smallest; most mundane of details becomes very important by the end. I personally never did figure out “who done it” and was left surprised many times.
I don’t want to give away any plot details here, as this is SO worth discovering on your own, but I need to mention the e-mails. What a freakin genius idea. I am left wondering what happened to them though?
High school teacher Neil Kazenzakis is hanging on by a thread. Of course he thinks everything is fine but with his wife permanently disabled, a girlfriend who wants a commitment and a teenage son he’s been keeping at arm’s length (so he doesn’t find out about the girlfriend) it’s not going to take much to topple his house of cards. And that’s exactly what happens.
When dubious and career ending video footage of Neil surfaces online, and is picked up by the media, it looks like Neil will lose everything. Now he’s questioning his own memories of the event which in turn is making it difficult to prove his innocence let alone repair the damage. It’s also forced Neil to re-examine a few other issues he thought he’d dealt with. And then there’s his son Chris, probably not the best time for him to come clean about Lauren but there’s even more to come there as well.
This was an excellent read that I highly recommend. I’ll be on the lookout for Jon Harrison’s next book. Cheers
355jb45
~4.5~ Wow what a fantastic find Jon Harrison’s debut novel turned out to be. Just an all-round great read that I was sorry to finish as by the end I’d grown so attached to all the characters, I felt like I knew them, like they were friends of mine and I wasn’t ready to let them go.
The Banks Of Certain Rivers is one of those books that I kept picturing as a movie while I was reading, it’s just such a great story. Slow burning, full of surprises, encompassing humor, drama, suspense, tragedy, love and life. Yup this has it all, along with some very good writing.
I’ll admit that initially this was slow going (after the nail biting prologue) as the author just sort of drops you into it and you’re left trying to figure out who all these characters are and why their detailed back stories are so important. But as it all comes together, wow, I couldn’t read fast enough. So many twists and turns, and a very clever plot as even the smallest; most mundane of details becomes very important by the end. I personally never did figure out “who done it” and was left surprised many times.
I don’t want to give away any plot details here, as this is SO worth discovering on your own, but I need to mention the e-mails. What a freakin genius idea. I am left wondering what happened to them though?
High school teacher Neil Kazenzakis is hanging on by a thread. Of course he thinks everything is fine but with his wife permanently disabled, a girlfriend who wants a commitment and a teenage son he’s been keeping at arm’s length (so he doesn’t find out about the girlfriend) it’s not going to take much to topple his house of cards. And that’s exactly what happens.
When dubious and career ending video footage of Neil surfaces online, and is picked up by the media, it looks like Neil will lose everything. Now he’s questioning his own memories of the event which in turn is making it difficult to prove his innocence let alone repair the damage. It’s also forced Neil to re-examine a few other issues he thought he’d dealt with. And then there’s his son Chris, probably not the best time for him to come clean about Lauren but there’s even more to come there as well.
This was an excellent read that I highly recommend. I’ll be on the lookout for Jon Harrison’s next book. Cheers
355jb45
December 10, 2014
A strong debut, reminiscent of Garth Stein and John Irving. Neil Kazenzakis, a physics teacher and cross-country coach in Michigan’s Lakes region, has a rather complicated family life. An accident on vacation left his wife, Wendy, in a vegetative state, and his mother-in-law, Carol, receives dementia care in her home. Meanwhile, Neil has been carrying on a secret relationship with one of Carol’s nurses, Lauren. Now that Lauren is pregnant, he has to find a way of telling his teenage son Chris – a sailing and basketball freak bound for culinary school – about her.
I liked the Michigan locales: lakeside, orchards and rivers – a fairly uncommon choice of setting. Harrison gives convincing depictions of the various teenage characters, especially Chris, and I also enjoyed Neil’s best friend, Alan, a former pilot grounded due to epilepsy. He spends his time building a golf course just to piss off their development-mad neighbor.
The best thing about the novel is that Neil is a sympathetic and confiding narrator; though at a few points you think he might be unreliable, you end up believing him wholeheartedly. Especially after some students pull a prank on him, releasing a doctored video that makes it look like he’s beating up a kid unprovoked, it’s a relief to realize he’s basically a good guy. The epistolary element is also successful: Neil is writing ‘e-mails’ to Wendy via an inaccessible account. Although he cannot share his life with her in a meaningful way, he still loves her.
To what extent, though, is she still alive? It’s a deep question, and the novel does a good job of exploring it sensitively, without resorting to polemic. “It became obvious over time that Wendy was not leaving us, but she wasn’t coming back either.” Pondering Descartes’ maxim, Neil asks himself if thought is the precursor of human identity; “the best running for me is when I’m not thinking. Does this mean that being alive the most means thinking the least?” An exchange he has with Irina, one of Wendy’s nurses, is particularly striking: “‘I’d appreciate it too if you’d clean it off her. She never wore makeup when she was alive.’ ‘She is alive now, Mr. Kazenzakis.’”
All in all I’d call this a very promising first novel. I’ll be interested to watch for what Harrison comes out with next.
Related reading:
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein covers plenty of heavy issues, including assisted suicide, but is essentially another family story. Give Me Everything You Have is James Lasdun’s memoir of the years he spent battling an online stalker.
I liked the Michigan locales: lakeside, orchards and rivers – a fairly uncommon choice of setting. Harrison gives convincing depictions of the various teenage characters, especially Chris, and I also enjoyed Neil’s best friend, Alan, a former pilot grounded due to epilepsy. He spends his time building a golf course just to piss off their development-mad neighbor.
The best thing about the novel is that Neil is a sympathetic and confiding narrator; though at a few points you think he might be unreliable, you end up believing him wholeheartedly. Especially after some students pull a prank on him, releasing a doctored video that makes it look like he’s beating up a kid unprovoked, it’s a relief to realize he’s basically a good guy. The epistolary element is also successful: Neil is writing ‘e-mails’ to Wendy via an inaccessible account. Although he cannot share his life with her in a meaningful way, he still loves her.
To what extent, though, is she still alive? It’s a deep question, and the novel does a good job of exploring it sensitively, without resorting to polemic. “It became obvious over time that Wendy was not leaving us, but she wasn’t coming back either.” Pondering Descartes’ maxim, Neil asks himself if thought is the precursor of human identity; “the best running for me is when I’m not thinking. Does this mean that being alive the most means thinking the least?” An exchange he has with Irina, one of Wendy’s nurses, is particularly striking: “‘I’d appreciate it too if you’d clean it off her. She never wore makeup when she was alive.’ ‘She is alive now, Mr. Kazenzakis.’”
All in all I’d call this a very promising first novel. I’ll be interested to watch for what Harrison comes out with next.
Related reading:
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein covers plenty of heavy issues, including assisted suicide, but is essentially another family story. Give Me Everything You Have is James Lasdun’s memoir of the years he spent battling an online stalker.
April 15, 2016
I’m not quite sure what to make of this story. What was it about? Well, I think that is debatable and perhaps that I why I am having a hard time coming to a decision in my head on whether this was great or just okay.
On the surface, it seems like a book about a family dealing with loss and grief... a family broken and trying to move on. What made it difficult for me was the fact that there were several “plots” happening among this main story line. I found myself so agitated with all of the “interruptions” to the present story with flashbacks that provided insight into how Neil and his son Chris came to be where they were. Normally, I love this in a story. It’s what makes me bond with the characters and really feel immersed in their lives. But because there were so many other plots happening in this story, the flashbacks just annoyed me because I wanted to know how things were going to pan out in the present. Again, not quite sure why it didn’t work for me, but in the end, my enjoyment over the book decreased as a result.
That being said, The Banks of Certain Rivers was very well written and the story was very engaging. Because of this, I can forgive some of the character flaws that drove me a little crazy.
Overall, an okay read, technically a 3.5, but bumping up to a 4 because I didn’t think it really warranted a 3 rating. I more than just “liked it” but didn’t love it.
On the surface, it seems like a book about a family dealing with loss and grief... a family broken and trying to move on. What made it difficult for me was the fact that there were several “plots” happening among this main story line. I found myself so agitated with all of the “interruptions” to the present story with flashbacks that provided insight into how Neil and his son Chris came to be where they were. Normally, I love this in a story. It’s what makes me bond with the characters and really feel immersed in their lives. But because there were so many other plots happening in this story, the flashbacks just annoyed me because I wanted to know how things were going to pan out in the present. Again, not quite sure why it didn’t work for me, but in the end, my enjoyment over the book decreased as a result.
That being said, The Banks of Certain Rivers was very well written and the story was very engaging. Because of this, I can forgive some of the character flaws that drove me a little crazy.
Overall, an okay read, technically a 3.5, but bumping up to a 4 because I didn’t think it really warranted a 3 rating. I more than just “liked it” but didn’t love it.
May 3, 2013
This was not my usual type of book and I don't know that I would have picked it up, had it not come recommended by others with similar tastes. In any case, I thought it was very interesting and compelling. The characters popped right off the pages and I could easily visualize them, as well as the settings around them. The story went in places I did not expect it to go. I wanted to hide my eyes when all the craziness started because it was all so much and so heavy. I also wanted to read on to see that everything would be resolved. I even thought about it when I wasn't reading it.
The only thing weighing this book down was all the flashback scenes. Some felt necessary but others could have been skipped altogether. I understand that the author was trying to get us to see Neil's wife as she was prior to the accident. However, I think more focus should have been on the current dilemma over whether or not she was "alive" and all his feelings about her at the present time.
Overall, this novel had a Wally Lamb feel to it and I would recommend it to others looking for something different from their usual fare.
The only thing weighing this book down was all the flashback scenes. Some felt necessary but others could have been skipped altogether. I understand that the author was trying to get us to see Neil's wife as she was prior to the accident. However, I think more focus should have been on the current dilemma over whether or not she was "alive" and all his feelings about her at the present time.
Overall, this novel had a Wally Lamb feel to it and I would recommend it to others looking for something different from their usual fare.
October 30, 2014
I have recently joined a great book club, One Book One Facebook, and this was our first piece.
Where do I begin, I loved every moment of this book from beginning to end.
The story takes place in the Town of Port Manitou, centering around the life of Neil Kazenzakis. He has been through a lot - a major accident with his wife, raising a teenage son on his own, taking care of his mother in law whom has dementia along with many other events in his current day life.
He is amazing coach and teacher and the students appear to have nothing but good things to say about him.
He also happens to be seeing his mother in law's caregiver Lauren. He is doing this in secret from most of his family and worst of all his son.
Then one day he breaks up a fight which most teachers would probably do and his life begins to unravel downward from there.
Issues arise with Lauren wanting a commitment and he doesn't know how to tell his son that he has fallen in love with someone other than his mother.
Then one day an anonymous person uploads a video on YouTube and Neil's world turns upside down.
The details of this book are amazing, the characters have a lot of depth and each chapter brings you wanting more and more.
Where do I begin, I loved every moment of this book from beginning to end.
The story takes place in the Town of Port Manitou, centering around the life of Neil Kazenzakis. He has been through a lot - a major accident with his wife, raising a teenage son on his own, taking care of his mother in law whom has dementia along with many other events in his current day life.
He is amazing coach and teacher and the students appear to have nothing but good things to say about him.
He also happens to be seeing his mother in law's caregiver Lauren. He is doing this in secret from most of his family and worst of all his son.
Then one day he breaks up a fight which most teachers would probably do and his life begins to unravel downward from there.
Issues arise with Lauren wanting a commitment and he doesn't know how to tell his son that he has fallen in love with someone other than his mother.
Then one day an anonymous person uploads a video on YouTube and Neil's world turns upside down.
The details of this book are amazing, the characters have a lot of depth and each chapter brings you wanting more and more.
January 21, 2016
A-Z and PopSugar Challenge with Karly and Jess
A mystery or thriller - The Banks of Certain Rivers
H = Harrison, Jon
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this one enough. Wasn't bad, wasn't great. It had its sad and touching moments but the ending seemed lacking. Everything wrapped up with a nice little bow but you never really get the why of a certain part of the "mystery" and the MC doesn't even really seem to care. Overall it was a quick and not an unenjoyable read.
Received 10/17/14...Murph approves
I received an arc copy of this book from Goodreads as well as Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2016
3.5 stars
This book is about a man who lost the love of his life - without ever actually losing her. His entire identity is linked to this woman - his most precious memories call her to mind, his home is full of reminders of her absence, and his son is becoming a man without her guiding touch to lead him.
While I believe that it was poorly edited and, at times, lacking in direction, The Banks of Certain Rivers challenged my beliefs about loyalty, fidelity, truth and courage. Through loss, we can find redemption, and how we achieve that isn't really anyone else's business. What matters is that we learn to breathe again, to find joy among the pain, to move forward with peace of mind, and to plan for a future that, admittedly, will be very different from the past, but no less meaningful if we open our eyes to the beauty of our new normal. We can die a thousand deaths, but still find the strength to carry on. So there is great hope in this book, although it depicts a situation of immense tragedy.
This book is about a man who lost the love of his life - without ever actually losing her. His entire identity is linked to this woman - his most precious memories call her to mind, his home is full of reminders of her absence, and his son is becoming a man without her guiding touch to lead him.
While I believe that it was poorly edited and, at times, lacking in direction, The Banks of Certain Rivers challenged my beliefs about loyalty, fidelity, truth and courage. Through loss, we can find redemption, and how we achieve that isn't really anyone else's business. What matters is that we learn to breathe again, to find joy among the pain, to move forward with peace of mind, and to plan for a future that, admittedly, will be very different from the past, but no less meaningful if we open our eyes to the beauty of our new normal. We can die a thousand deaths, but still find the strength to carry on. So there is great hope in this book, although it depicts a situation of immense tragedy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2014
I read this book with the One Group One Facebook online book club at Facebook. It was a 4 star book for me; I reserve 5 stars for books which I think are really outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was very well-written and a good story. It is written by a man and is from a man’s point of view, which is interesting to me, for this type of book. There are a number of issues that this book deals with: loss, love, being a single father, defending oneself against an accusations by high school students, trying to find happiness, and being loyal to a beloved wife who is in a nursing home after a devastating accident. Neil, the main character has a lot to deal with in the years after his wife’s accident. I cared about everyone in this book. Even though there were a lot of things happening in this book plot-wise (there were a lot of twists and turns), I think it is more of a character-driven book. I usually race through a book reading fast, but this one I savored and read more slowly. I don’t know if I would have discovered this book on my own, but it is on my favorites list now, and I will definitely look for other books by this author, Jon Harrison.
February 10, 2017
I loved this book. I was hooked within the first page... and as I continued to read I started to care about each and every character: not just the protagonist, but also the secondary characters as well. This is a story about love, loss, adjustments, shocks, personal growth and challenges ... it's about life. It's about relationships. Father - son. Best friends. Lovers. Young love. Family. It covers it all ... without being forced or seem out of place. It's honest and tender. If you loved "One Day", "Little Bee",and "Gold" then I honestly believe you'll love this too. If you haven't read any of these books ... pick them up. You'll meet characters and stories that will inspire you. A solid, enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
April 11, 2013
This book was just AMAZING! I read it in one day, which having a newborn was quite a feat. But I literally could not put it down so luckily she slept quite a bit. ;)
I can't believe that this was only published as an ebook. And that this book is not an international bestseller. It is absolutely the entirely gripping type of story that I just LOVE. Amazing descriptions and the characters were well developed.
Everyone should read this book - seriously!
I can't believe that this was only published as an ebook. And that this book is not an international bestseller. It is absolutely the entirely gripping type of story that I just LOVE. Amazing descriptions and the characters were well developed.
Everyone should read this book - seriously!
April 6, 2013
This book was recommended to me by another reader on Goodreads. If you are an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can check it out of the Kindle Owners Library for free.
This isn't the kind of book I usually read. It's emotional, evocative and poignant and it moves like an old river. In spite of that, I really liked the book. It's very well written and meets all my criteria for an excellent book.
The storytelling, told from the first-person point of view of Neil Kazenzakis, pulls the reader in. The first-person perspective was a really good choice for this story because the story is about Neil, a life spun out of control in many respects, and his relationships with the people in his life. In my opinion, the depth of emotion the story communicates could only be achieved from Neil's point of view. I especially liked the insertion of e-mails Neil sends to his wife, knowing she'll never receive them.
The characters are all well developed and believable, even relatively minor and peripheral ones, and they all play a necessary role in Neil's life. Especially poignant is Neil's relationship with Chris, his son, as they get tossed through the turmoil of this story and struggle to maintain balance within themselves and each other. It reinforces the difficulty of being a parent while dealing with one's own demons and emotions.
The setting of Neil's wife's family farm plays an important role. It's here Neil meets Wendy and her family, and falls in love with her. At every turn, there are things that remind Neil of his youth, falling in love, and his wife. It's also where his life is falling apart, and he struggles to cope. It's beautifully incorporated into the story.
This is an excellent book that's well worth the read.
This isn't the kind of book I usually read. It's emotional, evocative and poignant and it moves like an old river. In spite of that, I really liked the book. It's very well written and meets all my criteria for an excellent book.
The storytelling, told from the first-person point of view of Neil Kazenzakis, pulls the reader in. The first-person perspective was a really good choice for this story because the story is about Neil, a life spun out of control in many respects, and his relationships with the people in his life. In my opinion, the depth of emotion the story communicates could only be achieved from Neil's point of view. I especially liked the insertion of e-mails Neil sends to his wife, knowing she'll never receive them.
The characters are all well developed and believable, even relatively minor and peripheral ones, and they all play a necessary role in Neil's life. Especially poignant is Neil's relationship with Chris, his son, as they get tossed through the turmoil of this story and struggle to maintain balance within themselves and each other. It reinforces the difficulty of being a parent while dealing with one's own demons and emotions.
The setting of Neil's wife's family farm plays an important role. It's here Neil meets Wendy and her family, and falls in love with her. At every turn, there are things that remind Neil of his youth, falling in love, and his wife. It's also where his life is falling apart, and he struggles to cope. It's beautifully incorporated into the story.
This is an excellent book that's well worth the read.
April 7, 2013
The Banks Of Certain Rivers is by far the best book I have read this year! It was recommended to me by another Goodread friend. Harrison's storytelling of one man's struggles is outstanding! This book truly does make me want to finish that book I have started!! I highly recommend you read this one!!
September 9, 2013
Look, it's not offensively bad or anything, but I am frankly surprised that the average rating for this book is so high. I got a review copy through a group book review blog and was stymied on whether I should review it (honestly) negatively or keep quiet. So I sat on it for a while. Now that I see that it's getting a generally positive reception, I don't feel bad about throwing my opinion out there.
The big climax is just not credible. I'll try to critique without spoiling, but basically this is my impression of it:
A: I'm sorry I've been keeping this from you, but .... Revelation 1!
B: That's great! I'm happy for you!
A: Whew! And also, Revelation 2!
B: HOW COULD YOU!!!
A: Aaaaagh I'm sorry!!
*** huge fight, A & B do not talk for a long time until .... ***
A: Talk to me! I'm sorry about Revelation 2!
B: I don't care about Revelation 2! Why would you think I care about Revelation 2??? I'm happy about Revelation 1 AND Revelation 2! I'm mad about Character Flaw! It's only ever been about Character Flaw!
Um ... maybe he thought you were mad about Revelation 2 because ... that's EXACTLY when you got mad? And up until then you seemed pretty cheery?
Also, and this is a style thing, but ... lots of super-overwrought soapy dramatic things happen in the book, and the characters, especially the protagonist, have super-overwrought soapy dramatic reactions to them. Hearts pound, jaws drop, characters' throats tighten and they can't breathe. And that happens! But in this book, it happens all the time. The reader can tell that what happened is shocking (or exciting, or tragic). We don't have to survey the hero's vital signs every time.
Finally, the book is in sore need of an editor. The author recaps basically every event in the protagonist's life. If there's a scene at school, and then later there's a scene at home, we'll see:
1) The school scene
2) The hero gets into the car
3) The hero drives home
4) The hero gets out of his car
5) The hero walks from his car into his home
6) The hero tootles around his house for a while
6a) Maybe the hero will go for a quick run before dinner!
6b) And take a shower after, of course
7) The home scene
Occasionally -- occasionally -- there's some relevant or interesting content in 2-6, but much of the time there is not. It's like the parts of Oliver Twist where you think "Ah, yes, Dickens was paid by the word. That scamp. Time to skim!" You'll see that even some of the positive reviews say it's hard to get into, and I think that's what's going on. You have to slog through SO much chaff to get to the actual story.
Anyway. It's not terrible (really -- it's because it's got good stuff that I'm picking at its flaws). I bet Jon Harrison has a good novel in him. This was not it.
The big climax is just not credible. I'll try to critique without spoiling, but basically this is my impression of it:
A: I'm sorry I've been keeping this from you, but .... Revelation 1!
B: That's great! I'm happy for you!
A: Whew! And also, Revelation 2!
B: HOW COULD YOU!!!
A: Aaaaagh I'm sorry!!
*** huge fight, A & B do not talk for a long time until .... ***
A: Talk to me! I'm sorry about Revelation 2!
B: I don't care about Revelation 2! Why would you think I care about Revelation 2??? I'm happy about Revelation 1 AND Revelation 2! I'm mad about Character Flaw! It's only ever been about Character Flaw!
Um ... maybe he thought you were mad about Revelation 2 because ... that's EXACTLY when you got mad? And up until then you seemed pretty cheery?
Also, and this is a style thing, but ... lots of super-overwrought soapy dramatic things happen in the book, and the characters, especially the protagonist, have super-overwrought soapy dramatic reactions to them. Hearts pound, jaws drop, characters' throats tighten and they can't breathe. And that happens! But in this book, it happens all the time. The reader can tell that what happened is shocking (or exciting, or tragic). We don't have to survey the hero's vital signs every time.
Finally, the book is in sore need of an editor. The author recaps basically every event in the protagonist's life. If there's a scene at school, and then later there's a scene at home, we'll see:
1) The school scene
2) The hero gets into the car
3) The hero drives home
4) The hero gets out of his car
5) The hero walks from his car into his home
6) The hero tootles around his house for a while
6a) Maybe the hero will go for a quick run before dinner!
6b) And take a shower after, of course
7) The home scene
Occasionally -- occasionally -- there's some relevant or interesting content in 2-6, but much of the time there is not. It's like the parts of Oliver Twist where you think "Ah, yes, Dickens was paid by the word. That scamp. Time to skim!" You'll see that even some of the positive reviews say it's hard to get into, and I think that's what's going on. You have to slog through SO much chaff to get to the actual story.
Anyway. It's not terrible (really -- it's because it's got good stuff that I'm picking at its flaws). I bet Jon Harrison has a good novel in him. This was not it.
June 16, 2013
So this book came highly recommended by one of my favorite writers. And it turns out that there were just too many things about it that bugged me for me to really enjoy it. A lot of the main character's "issues" weren't based in reality and were therefore non-issues (How will he afford care for his wife in a coma if he loses his job? Well, he has offers on his property for a ton of money; he has wealthy family members. How will he afford a legal defense if he gets sued? Um, that's what your personal liability coverage on your Homeowners policy is for? And again, well off family members with whom he is on good terms. I have no patience for this sort of stuff in real life. I'm certainly not going to put up with it in a BOOK.) But really what it all boiled down to is that there was just too much going on, so I was all, "Wait, what is this book ABOUT?" Well, it turns out it's really about the main character's relationship with his son. But you don't really get that until the very end -- you get that the son is part of it, but there is all this distraction with the coma wife and his girlfriend and she's pregnant and he's never told his son he's even seeing her and OH! By the way! Main character drinks too much and passes out sometimes and the kid has to drag him to bed. And for a book this short, there is just way. too. much. happening.
Also, and this is just a personal thing -- I am super, duper offended by the notion of keeping someone who is in a vegetative state alive on life support in long term care. I think it's selfish and stupid and I can't even sympathize with the motivation of families who do this to their loved ones. NO ONE wants to live like that. So right off the bat, this is a thing in this book, and it's so offensive to me for personal reasons that I think the main character is a jackass. So that made it hard to like the book, and I guess I really should have led with this in my review.
Also, and this is just a personal thing -- I am super, duper offended by the notion of keeping someone who is in a vegetative state alive on life support in long term care. I think it's selfish and stupid and I can't even sympathize with the motivation of families who do this to their loved ones. NO ONE wants to live like that. So right off the bat, this is a thing in this book, and it's so offensive to me for personal reasons that I think the main character is a jackass. So that made it hard to like the book, and I guess I really should have led with this in my review.
October 8, 2014
I’m glad this book was recommended to me and I’m glad I bought it. I’m giving it three stars and not four and maybe I’m being unfair because I’m influenced in the rating by the fact that I had no empathy with the protagonist – he wasn’t, I suppose, ‘my kind of man’ and there were times when he really irritated me. He was far too passive in the face of unacceptable provocation and at crucial moments when he needed to defend the position of the woman he loved he failed to do so. Of course you could say that this was the character the author chose to present and of course you would be right; it’s not the reader’s place to mark a book down because he doesn’t like the manners and motivations the author has chosen to give the lead character. I’m doing it anyway. I did wonder at one point whether we were actually being invited to look at the negative impact that correctness and fear of litigation have had on American society, particularly in the academic world, and if the book had actually carried that through I would have given it an extra star. In the end, though, I didn’t believe that was the author’s intention. The book is extremely well written but there were times when I felt I was reading something written on a creative writing program.
Nevertheless, three stars means ‘I enjoyed it’ and I did. It’s a good read and I’m happy to endorse it. The person who recommended this has since recommended another and I shall download and read it simply because she was right about this one.
Nevertheless, three stars means ‘I enjoyed it’ and I did. It’s a good read and I’m happy to endorse it. The person who recommended this has since recommended another and I shall download and read it simply because she was right about this one.
May 7, 2013
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading The Banks of Certain Rivers but from the moment I started, I connected to Neil Kazenzakis and his world. Like many of us, Neil is trying to cope with the memories of his past, a present that finds him hiding from a real chance at happiness, and a future that is slowly coming apart and is very uncertain.
There are moments in this book that grabbed me and shook me. If you have a loved one who is living in an assisted living facility, or who benefits from home care, or if you have had trouble at work, you will see that Neil is a well written and very developed character. Harrison captures settings, feelings, and family dynamics perfectly. Neil's son Chris is incredibly well written and developed as well. The relationships he has with both his father and his mother are as tender as they are heartbreaking.
I'm searching for the same answers that Neil Kazenzakis is looking for. I couldn't put this book down even though I found myself weeping or laughing out loud on my morning commute. The Banks of Certain Rivers is a timely and important read if you have aging parents. It will also make you understand just how fragile our lives are. For a realistic and believable story about a man portrayed to be just like us, I highly recommend it.
There are moments in this book that grabbed me and shook me. If you have a loved one who is living in an assisted living facility, or who benefits from home care, or if you have had trouble at work, you will see that Neil is a well written and very developed character. Harrison captures settings, feelings, and family dynamics perfectly. Neil's son Chris is incredibly well written and developed as well. The relationships he has with both his father and his mother are as tender as they are heartbreaking.
I'm searching for the same answers that Neil Kazenzakis is looking for. I couldn't put this book down even though I found myself weeping or laughing out loud on my morning commute. The Banks of Certain Rivers is a timely and important read if you have aging parents. It will also make you understand just how fragile our lives are. For a realistic and believable story about a man portrayed to be just like us, I highly recommend it.
May 5, 2014
This book was my in-flight entertainment on a seven-hour plane trip. I put it down to watch The Book Thief (great movie adaptation!), then finished it. It's smartly-paced and as easy to consume as an open bag of chips. Neil, the main character, is an appealing hero, though I did half expect him to be darker than he appeared. His wife is in a persistent vegetative state and the loss of her, even years later, has left him on shaky ground despite a wealth of loving relationships, including that with his teenage son. As the story progresses, shaky ground becomes quicksand and Neil must find a way to embrace his future and get on with his life.
For those interested in genre labeling, if Neil were a women, this book would be marketed as women's fiction.
For those interested in genre labeling, if Neil were a women, this book would be marketed as women's fiction.
October 5, 2014
This book was recommended to me by a complete stranger on Facebook. My friend from Twitter directed me to the recommendation, but I had no reason to really go through with it. I mean, I have 5728 unread books on my bedside table.
Truthfully, I didn't even know what this book was about. I just bought it. Then, I read the first chapter and, to sound like a total cliche girl, I TOTALLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I could feel something monumental building from the beginning. At first I thought it was the nurse, but it quickly became much more than that. As a teacher, I could relate to his struggle that I will not go into here because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I loved the style, the pace (much like a good run), and look forward to more from this author!
Truthfully, I didn't even know what this book was about. I just bought it. Then, I read the first chapter and, to sound like a total cliche girl, I TOTALLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I could feel something monumental building from the beginning. At first I thought it was the nurse, but it quickly became much more than that. As a teacher, I could relate to his struggle that I will not go into here because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I loved the style, the pace (much like a good run), and look forward to more from this author!
April 25, 2014
High school teacher is accused of hitting a student with the support of a YouTube video. This book had far too much going on. The incident that was recorded on video happens right away. However, the You Tube video doesn't show up until 60% into the book. There is also a wife in a vegetative state, an elderly mother-in-law who needs care, a developer trying to buy his property, a dispute with his son over college, and girlfriend trouble. A blogger from the Huffington Post recommended this book. I will be careful with her recommendations in the future.
August 2, 2013
From the first page I was hooked, and by the end of the first chapter I knew that Jon Harrison had crafted a winner. “The Banks of Certain Rivers” is a moving, realistic portrait of an ordinary man in the midst of extraordinary circumstances. Themes of loss, love, loyalty, and conflicts of the heart are explored in a deftly written, multilayered story where broken people try to find happiness as they mend themselves and each other.
April 23, 2013
Read this! My review:
http://librarycrystal.wordpress.com/2...
http://librarycrystal.wordpress.com/2...
October 24, 2013
Is it possible for your life to be simultaneously simple and complicated? Just ask affable high school teacher Neil Kazenzakis. After struggling for a number of years following the freak accident that left his wife in a vegetative state and made him sole caregiver of his son, Christopher, the two have a strong bond, and Neil is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for Christopher's future as he prepares to graduate from high school.
Neil is well-liked by his students and fellow teachers, and for the last two years he has been secretly dating Lauren Downey, a home healthcare nurse who takes care of Neil's mother-in-law. But Lauren wants their relationship to progress to the next level, and wants Neil to reveal the truth to Christopher. But when these pressures, along with an expected incident that leaves Neil's career in jeopardy (not to mention his freedom), the life he has carefully built for himself and his son starts to come down, and reveals there are far more fissures than he is willing to acknowledge.
"It's hard to love things, though. It's especially hard to admit it. In my experience, the minute you admit that you really love something? That's just about the time it decides to go away."
The Banks of Certain Rivers is a story about a man whose life was once rocked to its core, and when circumstances again force him to confront challenges he wasn't prepared for, he isn't sure how to react, or how to help those around him. It's a story about love, about being alive, and about the courage to admit when you're wrong, when you're scared, or when you're just not sure what your next step should be. And more than that, this is a beautifully moving story about relationships, and how moving on doesn't negate your memories.
Jon Harrison did a really great job with this novel. I enjoyed so much of this story, particularly the relationships between Neil and Christopher, and Neil and his best friend, Alan, and I also found Neil's strategies to cope with his wife's condition tremendously moving. I wish, however, that this had been the whole of the plot—I found the issue with Neil's job a distracting afterthought and its connection to the rest of the story was tangential at best. There was more than enough drama without it, and I felt that the more time the story focused on the case, the more it veered away from the elements that made the book so enjoyable.
Despite that issue, however, I thought this was a wonderful book and I read it in its entirety on a plane ride. It was moving, funny, and heartfelt, and definitely worth reading. I look forward to seeing how Jon Harrison's career progresses.
Neil is well-liked by his students and fellow teachers, and for the last two years he has been secretly dating Lauren Downey, a home healthcare nurse who takes care of Neil's mother-in-law. But Lauren wants their relationship to progress to the next level, and wants Neil to reveal the truth to Christopher. But when these pressures, along with an expected incident that leaves Neil's career in jeopardy (not to mention his freedom), the life he has carefully built for himself and his son starts to come down, and reveals there are far more fissures than he is willing to acknowledge.
"It's hard to love things, though. It's especially hard to admit it. In my experience, the minute you admit that you really love something? That's just about the time it decides to go away."
The Banks of Certain Rivers is a story about a man whose life was once rocked to its core, and when circumstances again force him to confront challenges he wasn't prepared for, he isn't sure how to react, or how to help those around him. It's a story about love, about being alive, and about the courage to admit when you're wrong, when you're scared, or when you're just not sure what your next step should be. And more than that, this is a beautifully moving story about relationships, and how moving on doesn't negate your memories.
Jon Harrison did a really great job with this novel. I enjoyed so much of this story, particularly the relationships between Neil and Christopher, and Neil and his best friend, Alan, and I also found Neil's strategies to cope with his wife's condition tremendously moving. I wish, however, that this had been the whole of the plot—I found the issue with Neil's job a distracting afterthought and its connection to the rest of the story was tangential at best. There was more than enough drama without it, and I felt that the more time the story focused on the case, the more it veered away from the elements that made the book so enjoyable.
Despite that issue, however, I thought this was a wonderful book and I read it in its entirety on a plane ride. It was moving, funny, and heartfelt, and definitely worth reading. I look forward to seeing how Jon Harrison's career progresses.
April 24, 2013
Neil, his wife, Wendy, and their son, Chris, were on vacation when tragedy strikes ... Wendy gets caught at the bottom of a pool. About five years later, Wendy is in long term care, not responsive. Carol, Wendy's mother, isn't well and lives next door to Neil and Chris ... Neil oversees her care with nurses. Neil has had a secret relationship with one of those nurses, Lauren, for the last two years. When Lauren discovers she is pregnant, Neil knows he has to tell his son what's going on but he is afraid Chris will feel betrayed because the relationship has been going on as long as it has.
In the meantime, a video of Neil breaking up a fight at the school where he is a teacher is loaded onto You Tube. It looks like Neil was beating up the kid, apparently because the kid had recently uploaded naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend. As Neil fights to keep his job, he is also dealing with his guilt to Wendy over his relationship with Lauren, Chris' feelings of betrayal and the pressure of perhaps having to sell his in-laws' land to cover the bills.
This is the first novel by this author and I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading others by this author.
The story is told in first person in Neil's voice. I found it a bit confusing in the beginning but it got better once I caught onto the rhythm ... while the story is happening in present day, there are also Neil's reminisces about the past and his present day emails to his Wendy (to an account he opened for her as a diary for his thoughts).
It posed an interesting scenario ... if your spouse was going to be in a vegetative state for the rest of their life, does that mean that your life also ends? It would be a hard decision but eventually, like Neil, you have to move on with your life. Neil not only ensured that Wendy was well taken care off, he also made sure that his mother-in-law had the best care and that the land that was in Wendy's family wasn't sold off for development.
I think the writing could have been tighter ... I found it rambled a bit a times.
As a head's up, the language and actions are mature at times.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/04...
In the meantime, a video of Neil breaking up a fight at the school where he is a teacher is loaded onto You Tube. It looks like Neil was beating up the kid, apparently because the kid had recently uploaded naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend. As Neil fights to keep his job, he is also dealing with his guilt to Wendy over his relationship with Lauren, Chris' feelings of betrayal and the pressure of perhaps having to sell his in-laws' land to cover the bills.
This is the first novel by this author and I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading others by this author.
The story is told in first person in Neil's voice. I found it a bit confusing in the beginning but it got better once I caught onto the rhythm ... while the story is happening in present day, there are also Neil's reminisces about the past and his present day emails to his Wendy (to an account he opened for her as a diary for his thoughts).
It posed an interesting scenario ... if your spouse was going to be in a vegetative state for the rest of their life, does that mean that your life also ends? It would be a hard decision but eventually, like Neil, you have to move on with your life. Neil not only ensured that Wendy was well taken care off, he also made sure that his mother-in-law had the best care and that the land that was in Wendy's family wasn't sold off for development.
I think the writing could have been tighter ... I found it rambled a bit a times.
As a head's up, the language and actions are mature at times.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/04...
May 22, 2013
Real life is really messy. If anyone knows that, Neil Kazenzakis does. Up until the day his wife is injured in a life altering event, Neil would have sworn he had the perfect life. A perfect wife, a perfect son, a job that wasn't his first choice but still enjoyable, good in laws and great neighbors made for a fairly enjoyable life. And then things got messy.
When Neil married Wendy, he had no idea that one day he'd be raising their son, Christopher, as a single parent. He also had no way of knowing that he would be watching out for his mother-in-law, who is showing early stages of Alzheimer's. He had no way of knowing that he'd fall in love with his mother-in-law's nurse. And he had no way of knowing he'd end up on YouTube. Before it's all over, Neil Kazenzakis will find himself fighting for his son, his job and his life.
I normally don't care for male protagonists. Most books I read have female leads. I can relate to them, it's easier to understand where they're coming from. I never expected to be drawn into Neil's world and to actually care about what happened to him. So many books present flawless characters, but Jon Harrison has given Neil flaws aplenty. In doing so, he's created a real human being and the problems he's dealing with are ones that any of us might run into in our daily lives. There is no nice, neat way to fix any of the situations Neil finds himself in. And that's what makes his character so likable. I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
When Neil married Wendy, he had no idea that one day he'd be raising their son, Christopher, as a single parent. He also had no way of knowing that he would be watching out for his mother-in-law, who is showing early stages of Alzheimer's. He had no way of knowing that he'd fall in love with his mother-in-law's nurse. And he had no way of knowing he'd end up on YouTube. Before it's all over, Neil Kazenzakis will find himself fighting for his son, his job and his life.
I normally don't care for male protagonists. Most books I read have female leads. I can relate to them, it's easier to understand where they're coming from. I never expected to be drawn into Neil's world and to actually care about what happened to him. So many books present flawless characters, but Jon Harrison has given Neil flaws aplenty. In doing so, he's created a real human being and the problems he's dealing with are ones that any of us might run into in our daily lives. There is no nice, neat way to fix any of the situations Neil finds himself in. And that's what makes his character so likable. I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
April 17, 2013
Every good book has a point of no return. It’s when the story becomes so engrossing, when the characters start living and breathing in your imagination, and when you can see their pain as well as your best friend’s longing. Last night I reached the point of no return for The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison. It was 1AM, but I kept reading. I could not stop until I was sure that my new friends, the novel’s characters, ached no more. Or ached less.
In The Banks of Certain Rivers, our narrator and protagonist Neil Kazenzakis is trying to return to his normal life after a tragic accident left his wife “profoundly disabled” (according to the book description-I don’t want to give any spoilers about the accident). He’s popular high school physics teacher as well as coach for the girls cross country track team. He’s also secretly seeing his elderly mother-in-law’s home care nurse. On the surface it looks like everything is under control, but slowly Neil’s life starts to unravel. A video of him assaulting a student appears on YouTube and threatens his job, his reputation, and worse yet, his ability to provide care for his wife.
As Harrison introduces each pivotal character in his novel, he offers readers little tidbits of Neil’s past so we can learn how he becomes the person the we currently see.
Read the rest of the review here: http://www.fromlefttowrite.com/book-r...
In The Banks of Certain Rivers, our narrator and protagonist Neil Kazenzakis is trying to return to his normal life after a tragic accident left his wife “profoundly disabled” (according to the book description-I don’t want to give any spoilers about the accident). He’s popular high school physics teacher as well as coach for the girls cross country track team. He’s also secretly seeing his elderly mother-in-law’s home care nurse. On the surface it looks like everything is under control, but slowly Neil’s life starts to unravel. A video of him assaulting a student appears on YouTube and threatens his job, his reputation, and worse yet, his ability to provide care for his wife.
As Harrison introduces each pivotal character in his novel, he offers readers little tidbits of Neil’s past so we can learn how he becomes the person the we currently see.
Read the rest of the review here: http://www.fromlefttowrite.com/book-r...
August 27, 2013
The unexpected happens and life changes in an instant. How do people cope with loss? How do they hold their lives together? When and how do they move on? What does it mean to love? What are the limits to love, if any? In “The Banks of Certain Rivers”, Jon Harrison grapples with these questions with big-hearted tenderness.
Neil Kazenzakis, a popular high school teacher, “lost” his wife (Wendy) in a freak accident. His life spun out of control and he was cruelly confronted with the anguish of missing a soul mate and the challenges of parenting a young son and caring for a mother-in-law with dementia. But life moved on. Then Neil was further catapulted into a whirlpool of events that threatened the stability he had fought so hard to re-establish: an incriminating video footage that questioned his integrity as a teacher; a secret love affair he feared would hurt his son but that could no longer be kept under wraps. There was sufficient drama that made for page-turning reading but there too was a sure touch of realism.
In many senses, The Banks of Certain Rivers” is a successful debut novel. There were no extraneous characters (each had a role that contributed meaningfully to the story); there was just the right wait time in elucidating what became of Wendy; there were beautifully written passages; there was the reader’s hope that things would work out for Neil and his son. For me, the last - whether one cares about the characters - is a litmus test of a good story.
Neil Kazenzakis, a popular high school teacher, “lost” his wife (Wendy) in a freak accident. His life spun out of control and he was cruelly confronted with the anguish of missing a soul mate and the challenges of parenting a young son and caring for a mother-in-law with dementia. But life moved on. Then Neil was further catapulted into a whirlpool of events that threatened the stability he had fought so hard to re-establish: an incriminating video footage that questioned his integrity as a teacher; a secret love affair he feared would hurt his son but that could no longer be kept under wraps. There was sufficient drama that made for page-turning reading but there too was a sure touch of realism.
In many senses, The Banks of Certain Rivers” is a successful debut novel. There were no extraneous characters (each had a role that contributed meaningfully to the story); there was just the right wait time in elucidating what became of Wendy; there were beautifully written passages; there was the reader’s hope that things would work out for Neil and his son. For me, the last - whether one cares about the characters - is a litmus test of a good story.
October 26, 2014
An extraordinary story brilliantly written and beautifully told. Sometimes it's the story, sometimes the characters, here it's all of the above and so very much more. 'The Banks of Certain Rivers' is a tale of human strengths, frailties, enormous personal challenges and uncommon decency. It's a story of unstinting, glorious giving by family and friends and how these relationships become the pillars of one's very existence. Neil, the protagonist, exhibits an inner strength that I suspect is unusual by any measure. Like most all of us he is a person of so many facets. Harrison's character development and staging is marvelous. He is a master storyteller. In an age of slapdash, write it, finish it, publish it, here is a novel meticulously drawn and warmly presented as a rare, carefully chosen gift for readers. The author's description of Neil's relationship with friends reminded me in a small way of Wallace Stegner's, 'Crossing to Safety.'
February 5, 2015
This is a remarkable debut novel, pitch perfect from beginning to end and the sort of book that lingers in the mind long after finishing it. I read it almost at one sitting as I found it so hard to put down. I just had to find out what happened. It tells of all-round good person Neil in Port Manitou, Michigan, a popular teacher, devoted husband and father, a well-meaning and responsible man, who has to face tragedy, injustice and difficulty and somehow rise above it all. Jon Harrison handles his subject with great expertise. The book is expertly paced and as nail-biting as any thriller, the more so as the reader’s sympathies lie so firmly with Neil, and in fact with all the other characters too. Love, loss and family are at the heart of it. The dialogue and characterisation are authentic, and the sense of time and place spot on. I can’t fault it and can only recommend it as one of the most moving and powerful novels I have read for quite a while.
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