Deep River Burning

by Donelle Dreese

Denver Oakley’s home town of Adena, Pennsylvania has become a world on fire. The abandoned coal mines underneath the town are a blazing inferno, the escaping smoke and gases killing vegetation and making residents sick. Denver, who recently lost her parents, feels adrift and alone. She sells the family home, drops out of college and takes refuge in Isabel Beach, North Carolina. There, white, scalloped beaches and a coastal wildlife sanctuary provide Denver with a sense of belonging and a new focus. And then she receives a letter from Josh, a good friend who disappeared from Adena before Denver left. In the letter, Josh asks her to return to their hometown and meet with him at their old meeting place on the river. She thought she’d never go back, and is still not convinced she can re-open those old wounds. But if she ignores the letter, Denver will always wonder what might have been.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2014

Reviews

[Joe Vitucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It starts with three kids hanging out together in Adena, PA, thru their eventual separations as they grow a little, and ends with two getting back together. The third one has passed on. The male of the three does whatever is fun for him. He's not bad at all. The main woman leaves for someplace warmer and is discovered asleep on a beach by a priest. I never go into much derail in these reviews, as I don't want to set any expectations for future readers. The pace is rather slow and introspective, which is perfect for this story.
Read it and enjoy.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing to know about Deep River Burning is that it takes time to produce its poetic, majestic descriptions and is not a hasty plot packed with one-dimensional action; so if it's immediate gratification you're seeking in the way of a thriller/romance, look elsewhere. The real strength in a novel lies in its ability to build both emotional connection and a sense of place, and Dreese achieves this in a methodical manner that takes the necessary time to do both, aptly demonstrated in the opening act that is the very first paragraph.

These poetic descriptions continue throughout and are simply outstanding embellishments to the plot. Again: do they slow down the action by focusing on description? Only a bit. Do they provide ethereal observations of environment and self that enhances the overall story line? Absolutely. Will they prove too thoughtful for those interested in a steamy, action-packed romance? Likely … but then, 'steamy' isn't a word to be applied to Deep River Burning, which takes love and conflict and moves them onto the higher grounds of ecological disaster and philosophical reflection.

If one single word were to be applied to Deep River Burning's unifying perspective, it wouldn't be 'romance' so much as 'reflection'. Denver reflects on all aspects of life and her conversations with those around her are infused with purpose and a drive to comprehend her own life's meaning and that of the wider world around her.

It's a rare pleasure to find a novel so infused with such depth and an effective, poetic delivery that translates emotional and philosophical insights into strong protagonist concerns that invite real audience connection.

For a deeper, reflective story that goes beyond the usual realms of linear thinking and reactive emotional pieces, Deep River Burning is a true standout. It won't prove everyone's cup of tea, of course - Lipton drinkers might seek more steam and passion - but those who look for the (rarer) depth and flavor of a fine Earl Grey will want to partake, and drink deeply, of this satisfying, warm saga.

[Shel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasant and soulful read lush with natural metaphor. Steeped in nature, thematically it offers a spiritual exploration of moving on and letting go.

It tells the coming of age story of Denver Oakley in a striking setting. Denver’s hometown, Adena, Pennsylvania, lies on top of an abandoned coal mine. Accidentally set afire, it is now burning unstoppably below the town.

This odd environmental disaster makes for a fascinating setting. The book explores a town’s reaction to the unseen fires, which slowly poison them: their denial, anger and fear. It shows people’s reluctance to acknowledge danger, stir to action and leave behind what they know. It recalls the larger crisis and reaction to climate change.

Later, the book takes a turn when Denver leaves her home, traveling downriver to the sea, where she meets an environmentalist Catholic priest at a wildlife sanctuary.

There are a couple of jarring and unexplained, and as such, a little too like life, events.

Writers, read this for: Pacing and point of view. Immediately after reading this, I read Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winner The Goldfinch for my book club. It struck me how, The Goldfinch (784 pages to Deep River Burning's 270) was filled with a number of bizarre and unlikely events that read as though perfectly plausible, whereas, sometimes in Deep River Burning perfectly plausible events seemed abrupt or unlikely. There seemed to be a trick to timing. The Goldfinch slowed down during key moments and sped over others.

Pairs well with: Ann Pancake’s Strange As the Weather Has Been, a story about mountaintop strip mining in West Virginia; Rachel Carson’s The Sea Around Us

[Holly Scudero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generations ago, the small town of Adena was built by coal. And now, it is slowly being destroyed by it. The coal mines that snake under the streets of Adena are on fire; sections of road are collapsing, noxious gasses are making people sick, and temperatures underground are unbelievably hot. The fire is unstoppable, but many in Adena refuse to listen, and the arguments between those who want to relocate and those who are determined to stay burn just as hotly as the coal underground. Denver Oakley’s father is one of those who wants to relocate, and his passion to get people to understand ultimately leads to the murder of himself and his wife. Heartbroken and adrift, Denver ultimately leaves Adena, escaping to a sleepy coastal town in North Carolina, where she heals and builds a new life. Two years later, she receives a letter from Josh, her best friend in Adena, who disappeared shortly before she left. Denver isn’t sure she’s ready to face her past again, but if she doesn’t go, she’ll always wonder.

"Deep River Burning" is one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve read in a long time. Author Donelle Dreese is talented, and her words just flow off the page and into your heart, making this a book you’ll be thinking of long after you’ve finished it. Combine amazing writing with an intriguing story and readers will be hooked. The dying coal mining town of Adena will capture readers’ attention; it’s hard to not be morbidly fascinated by the idea of an unstoppable underground fire, and Denver’s struggles make this story impossible to resist. "Deep River Burning" is a fantastic book that most any reader is sure to enjoy.

Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep River Burning is a beautifully written novel that explores the intriguing life of a young woman named Denver and the devastation that is consuming the only world she's ever known.

Denver has lived in Adena her entire life, but when her father discovers a fire burning in the coal mines beneath her beloved town, Denver's life is forever changed. Tensions run high between the small town folks and Denver's dad becomes the scapegoat. One even Denver's best friend, Josh, gets word to her that her parents have been murdered. Denver knows her father's commitment to save the town from the deadly fire coupled with the townspeople's fear and denial are to blame. When Josh leaves Adena, Denver has no reason to stay and sets out on a life altering journey to discover herself and the world outside her hometown. Can she make a fresh start with so much sorrow weighing on her heart?

I found Deep River Burning to be such a compelling story, first with the struggles facing Adena and then with Denver's own struggles to come to terms with the past in order to find joy in the future. The author's vivid detail sets the tone and allows readers to easily visualize the places and people Denver encounters. The story reminds readers just how powerful the human spirit is even when faced with life's greatest challenges. I thought the plot was fascinating and the characters were well developed and interesting. Deep River Burning is definitely worth the read.