The River Baptists

by Belinda Castles

Set in a small, riverside community, this is a story of a river and the people who rely on it—such as Rose, who lives in a house overlooking the river, grieving for her dead father while waiting for her baby to be born. It is also the story of Danny, another refugee from a life elsewhere, hiding from his violent father and dreaming of owning some riverfront property. There are also the locals, the "river old-timers"—and a newcomer who cares nothing for them or the secrets of their past. Set over the course of a long, hot, tense summer, when sparks constantly threaten to ignite bushfires, this novel depicts a tight-knit society that is set afire by betrayed confidences and a renewed age-old grudge. A novel that clearly defines a people's place by a river, this story is evocative, gentle, and captivating.

300 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Belinda Castles is the author of four novels: Bluebottle, Hannah and Emil, The River Baptists and Falling Woman, and the editor of the essay collection: Reading like an Australian Writer. She has won the Australian/Vogel's and Asher Literary Awards and been named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist. She teaches writing at the University of Sydney.

Reviews

[Debbie Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Belinda Castles speak at This Is Not Art in Newcastle last month and thought I would check out her novel with the interesting name – The River Baptists. I was immediately attracted to this book when I realised it was set on the Hawkesbury River and Dangar Island so I was already half won over. Castles has won me the rest of the way with her deft switching between characters and the individual voice of each character which I believe is the strength of this novel. The tension towards the end of the book and some of the fast paced scenes were handled extremely well too.
I only have a few small criticisms. The first is to do with time in the beginning of the novel which I thought was particularly crucial. I had no sense that morning had become afternoon in the first few pages which threw me a little when reading the first very important scene. Also I didn’t realise that one of the main characters – Rose, actually didn’t live on the island. I didn’t realise that till nearly three quarters of the way through. That’s probably my main criticism – that I really didn’t get a sort of geographical sense of the location of all the main characters on the river and I would have really liked this to have been a bit more clearly depicted but that’s a small gripe. An enjoyable read. I will be checking out her other novels, one of which is forthcoming.

[Trena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about people and the emotions that life brings .The reason this book appeals to me is that the characters are flawed, but they are real. This book explores the Life makes you what you are theory.

[Chris P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a little surprising that this book won the Vogel. It's not a bad book but feels full of undeveloped potential. The characters and their "secrets" do sustain interest - but many of the resolutions peter out with a whimper. The actual "river baptists"appear only once, and even as a metaphor this is a strangely unexplored part of the novel. It is still an interesting read but the underlying implication that (for the characters in this book at least) the only way to solve violence is with more violence left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Kramer Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was, for the most part, very readable, although there were a couple of moments when I wasn't certain precisely what was going on. The characters are interesting and realistic, with individual quirks and imperfections. The story is quite engaging and enjoyable to read, and the setting is pretty interesting. Overall an enjoyable read.

But I do wonder, Why was it called The River Baptists? The eponymous Baptists only appeared very briefly and were mentioned once or twice more. Did I miss something? How are these people so key to the story that the whole thing was named after them?

[Bronwyn Mcloughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a carefully well constructed story, although not startling. The beauty of the setting on a river in Australia is subtly evoked, and the characters are interesting without being extremes of type. There's not a lot of happiness here: although the characters find something to lift them in unexpected places. But there is hope - for peace, safety, a future free of complications. That's what they are looking for in this quiet little backwater. There are lots of misunderstandings, secrets and histories that add to the climax, set against the rampaging holocaust of a failed suicide attempt - which when unpacked is of course more than that. A good read, well written if not startliing.

[Robert Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's anger, grief, domestic violence, marriage breakdown, arsonists, affairs, vengeance, vendettas, love and renewal; through it all runs the river, a barrier from for some and a barrier too for others. From the town and the yuppies and the past, a barrier to understanding and coping.
Rose arrives to stay at her sister's partners house, trying to cope with the grief of loosing her father and with her pregnancy. Rose's arrival is like that unexpected snag in the river that catches the unwary and forces others to change course.
This closed off community will never be the same after this long hot summer.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story about people attempting to escape within a small country town - balancing their transient tragedies with those of the well-entrenched locals.

While this was an intriguing story, I am a little surprised it won the Vogels - because the winners tend to have something exceptional (in either the story or the prose itself) - so while this was good, it didn't exactly set itself apart from other "small Australian country town/young people with troubled souls/family secrets" stories.

[Donna Munro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an award-winning Australian book. It was difficult to get into but by about chapter 5 it moved along nicely. Just enough descriptive narrative and believable dialogue. A strange story that shows Aussie river life and the unusual characters of a small town. I liked the insight into what made the characters tick. It didn't quite have enough resolution for me but I guess I'm too much of a romantic.

[Roberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book about a comunity living by a river and dealing with some secrets from the past.

[Julie]

I picked this up from Miller Library's new books section and couldn't get into it. I maybe read 50 pages and returned it.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't have me riveted, but I did want to keep reading it. Quite good.

[Elisa Kay]

I loved this book. All about a group of people trying to escape the tragedies of their lives by moving to a secluded place by the river.

[Caroline Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread May 2025 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️