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River Woman: A Novel
As she washes her laundry in the river, Kelithe is startled from her daydreams by the sound of women screaming. It is not until she sees a small body in the shallow water that she realizes what has happened. Her young son, Timothy, has drowned in the Rio Minho.
The women of Standfast, Jamaica, whisper that she stood and watched Timothy die so that she could seize her chance to join her mother in America. Numb with grief, Kelithe lacks the strength to confront them. She can only wait for the funeral. And for her mother to come stand by her at last.
It is into this cauldron of guilt, grief, and suspicion that Sonya returns to bury the grandson she has never seen. Fifteen years ago, promising to send for her five-year-old daughter soon, soon, Sonya set of for America. Year after year, she struggled to get settled enough to do right by Kelithe. But even as Sonya married and had a second daughter, Kelithe grew to womanhood under her grandmother's care, found fleeting love in a stranger's arms, and had a shame-filled pregnancy of her own. And when Sonya was finally ready, there was room only for Kelithe. Timothy would have to stay behind. Kelithe would have to abandon him as she herself had been abandoned. But Sonya would send for him soon, soon.
The women of Standfast, Jamaica, whisper that she stood and watched Timothy die so that she could seize her chance to join her mother in America. Numb with grief, Kelithe lacks the strength to confront them. She can only wait for the funeral. And for her mother to come stand by her at last.
It is into this cauldron of guilt, grief, and suspicion that Sonya returns to bury the grandson she has never seen. Fifteen years ago, promising to send for her five-year-old daughter soon, soon, Sonya set of for America. Year after year, she struggled to get settled enough to do right by Kelithe. But even as Sonya married and had a second daughter, Kelithe grew to womanhood under her grandmother's care, found fleeting love in a stranger's arms, and had a shame-filled pregnancy of her own. And when Sonya was finally ready, there was room only for Kelithe. Timothy would have to stay behind. Kelithe would have to abandon him as she herself had been abandoned. But Sonya would send for him soon, soon.
- GenresFiction
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2002
2 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Donna Hemans
5 books75 followersDonna Hemans is the author of two novels: River Woman and Tea by the Sea (forthcoming Spring 2020 from Red Hen Press. Her short fiction has appeared in Caribbean Writer, Crab Orchard Review, Witness, Stories from Blue Latitudes: Caribbean Women Writers at Home and Abroad, among others. She is an editor at Pree, a Caribbean online magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2023
Un-put-down-able! What captivating writing!
The book River Mother opens at Rio Minho with Kelithe deep in her daydream as she washes laundry. She’s so deep in her daydreams that she did not see her son Timothy leave his cot under the tree to walk into the river. She gets shaken from her daydreaming by women trying to save her son Timothy who ended up drowning in the river. Kelithe is unable to process what happened, this is not the first time she’s left him sleeping, how did she not see him leave his cot, how is her son dead?
Rio Minho runs through the community of Steadfast, word gets around about the downing and the fact that Kelithe mother Sonja who left her over fifteen years ago is finally ready to send for her. The women of steadfast community believes Kelithe stood there and watched her son drowned because she wanted to go to the US with her mother. With everyone in the community screaming “murder” along with cries for justice, Kelithe is unable to process or even tell her side of the story. Her month ends up flying home for the funeral, after years of being away and begins to wonder if her daughter really did that to her grandson.
I found River Mother on my mother’s book shelf, how she has a book I have never read is beyond me. I read this book in less than a day because I HAD to know what happened. This is Donna Hemans debut novel and having read her second book Tea By The Sea I can definitely see how great a writer she is. Donna brings to life a community that feels left behind, women in the community who feel cheated of out their dreams and a death that leads to the breaking point of everyone.
If you love a book that explores mother-daughter relationships, then this one is perfect. It is deeply moving, angering, tender while not being one-dimensional. You actually feel for all the characters involved. It is also a book that doesn’t leave you alone after you’ve finished reading it.
What an amazing book, please add to your reading list!
The book River Mother opens at Rio Minho with Kelithe deep in her daydream as she washes laundry. She’s so deep in her daydreams that she did not see her son Timothy leave his cot under the tree to walk into the river. She gets shaken from her daydreaming by women trying to save her son Timothy who ended up drowning in the river. Kelithe is unable to process what happened, this is not the first time she’s left him sleeping, how did she not see him leave his cot, how is her son dead?
Rio Minho runs through the community of Steadfast, word gets around about the downing and the fact that Kelithe mother Sonja who left her over fifteen years ago is finally ready to send for her. The women of steadfast community believes Kelithe stood there and watched her son drowned because she wanted to go to the US with her mother. With everyone in the community screaming “murder” along with cries for justice, Kelithe is unable to process or even tell her side of the story. Her month ends up flying home for the funeral, after years of being away and begins to wonder if her daughter really did that to her grandson.
I found River Mother on my mother’s book shelf, how she has a book I have never read is beyond me. I read this book in less than a day because I HAD to know what happened. This is Donna Hemans debut novel and having read her second book Tea By The Sea I can definitely see how great a writer she is. Donna brings to life a community that feels left behind, women in the community who feel cheated of out their dreams and a death that leads to the breaking point of everyone.
If you love a book that explores mother-daughter relationships, then this one is perfect. It is deeply moving, angering, tender while not being one-dimensional. You actually feel for all the characters involved. It is also a book that doesn’t leave you alone after you’ve finished reading it.
What an amazing book, please add to your reading list!
January 28, 2025
first book of the year! Such beautiful prose while untangling the complex relationships between Kelithe and her estranged mother, Sonya. Mother-daughter dynamics always get me especially when they are so well written! I love how the women in the story tell the story of the town, its troubles, and its dreams deferred by way of their own individual (but honestly communal) dreams.
March 10, 2012
This was a great read. From the beginning of the book the plot line was kept fresh and interesting. The mystery itself was not revealed until the very last page of the book. For me I had my speculations along the way, I never found out till the last chapter. This was a great read. and I would recommend it o everyone
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2026
3.5 stars
I want my mother to ask me what she asked those women last night- Kelithe
A sentence that encapsulates this novel from start to finish. After a tragedy strikes Kelithe and the viprous tongues in her community begin twisting tales, her mother returns from her 15 year sojourn in america where she had gone to make life for herself and her daughter.
But Sonya doesn't know her daughter and doesn't know how to talk to her. Kelithe wants her mother, has yearned for affection, touch, love from her mother, and even now cannot receive it.
River Woman is a good debut, it is plagued by thematic repetition and is in some places overwritten, neither of these things will affect how very heartwrenching this story is. A tale that looks at loss, blame, small communities and small minds. Hemans recreates what most of us will recognize who come from tiny communities where everybody knows everybody and judgement is never far from tongues if one is seen to stray from the straight and narrow. She tackles envy, religious sanctimony, and government disinterest and how they have shaped the community.
A book that will leave you mad and sad, wanting answers, truth, and compassion.
I want my mother to ask me what she asked those women last night- Kelithe
A sentence that encapsulates this novel from start to finish. After a tragedy strikes Kelithe and the viprous tongues in her community begin twisting tales, her mother returns from her 15 year sojourn in america where she had gone to make life for herself and her daughter.
But Sonya doesn't know her daughter and doesn't know how to talk to her. Kelithe wants her mother, has yearned for affection, touch, love from her mother, and even now cannot receive it.
River Woman is a good debut, it is plagued by thematic repetition and is in some places overwritten, neither of these things will affect how very heartwrenching this story is. A tale that looks at loss, blame, small communities and small minds. Hemans recreates what most of us will recognize who come from tiny communities where everybody knows everybody and judgement is never far from tongues if one is seen to stray from the straight and narrow. She tackles envy, religious sanctimony, and government disinterest and how they have shaped the community.
A book that will leave you mad and sad, wanting answers, truth, and compassion.
October 20, 2020
This tragic story illustrates how people can be easily swayed to believe the worst of someone and use them as a scapegoat for all their troubles. I could feel the energy in this Jamaican community. Just too despairing.
September 29, 2023
This book made me sad, but well written and and a quick read. I despise the main characters mom. I also sorrowed for the loss of her child. Grandmothers are the glue that holds families together.
As a Jamaican, the imagery from this book will be near and dear to me.
As a Jamaican, the imagery from this book will be near and dear to me.
July 17, 2023
River Women is a heartbreaking story . The symbolism of how people can control one's narrative without ever having true information based on personal indignation of what they want to be true.
February 19, 2015
This is an overwhelming book of sadness and missed potential. Painful to read yet beautiful none the less. Takes place in Jamacia in an empoverished forgotten back woods town where chances are slim.
Much now information about live and culture in rural ,poor Jamacia. I do recommend it but not if you are down.
Much now information about live and culture in rural ,poor Jamacia. I do recommend it but not if you are down.
October 26, 2008
This is a very poetic book.
March 6, 2009
This book was depressing for no reason. There was not much to be learned but it was nice to get some insite into the idiosyncrasies of a little unknown Caribbean town.
March 7, 2012
This book takes you on a very real and vivid life journey of the island of Jamaica. It was good but way too sad.
May 30, 2012
We came up to the ending of the ending. Read the book and we'll discuss what happens next!
increadible!
increadible!
August 30, 2024
Incredibly powerful story of grief, community, societal roles, gentrification, family dynamics, and beyond. So heavy that I’m not sure if I could read it again, but it was so good that I want to.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews