Silver River

by Daisy Goodwin

'Other children had imaginary friends; I had a fictional mother, a siren from the southern hemisphere.'

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2007

About the author

DAISY GOODWIN, a Harkness scholar who attended Columbia University’s film school after earning a degree in history at Cambridge University, is a leading television producer in the U.K. Her poetry anthologies, including 101 Poems That Could Save Your Life, have introduced many new readers to the pleasures of poetry, and she was Chair of the judging panel of the 2010 Orange Prize for Fiction. That was the year she published her first novel the American Heiress ( My Last Duchess in UK) , followed by The Fortune Hunter and now Victoria. She has also created VICTORIA the PBS/ITV series which starts in January. She has three dogs, two dogs, and one husband.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books like these - books that combine history with travel and fire up your own imagination for *that* trip you need to make some day. My own 'some-day trip' is to follow in the footsteps of distant rellies who went out to Patagonia (and back. Twice.) in the late 1800s and this book was perfect inspiration. It is an engaging read and evokes both landscape and familial ties beautifully.

[Mandy Setterfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book and probably not one I would have chosen myself. Some wonderful character portraits- the stepfather and the Reverend Skull among them. Quite understandable how the isolation of the pampas destroyed people. Ultimately what a destructive way to live.

[Dark Slayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as expected -_-'

[Ian McNair · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this a few weeks ago and I've got to say it was an ordeal to struggle through. It failed to hold my attention and I now hate these kind of diary type tales. It put me off visiting Argentina and the description of a polo match bored me. Not for me.

[Kitty Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting - I liked the weaving of the modern with the partially hypothetical past, and Goodwin has great empathy with everyone and self-awareness that paints her family with fair, nuanced strokes. A little too ‘grand destiny’ for me, but I suppose that’s the point.

[Pippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was moving and sometimes funny. Worth reading.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first 1/2 of book which had some human inteest. Then became bored with history lesson and just little snippets of information loosely connected with Argentina. Just not my style of book

[Lyn Barton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not good!!
I was really disappointed in this as I love Daisy's fiction. I couldn't bring myself to event finish it (entirely out of character for me when I've read half a book). Sorry Daisy!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

gave up as couldn't get into it.

[Carolknitnat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this better than i expected. I had not realised it was a memoir rather than fiction.