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The River Within
It is the summer of 1955. Alexander, Tom and his sister Lennie, discover the body of their childhood friend Danny Masters in the river that runs through Starome, a village on the Richmond estate in North Yorkshire. His death is a mystery. Did he jump, or was it just an accident?
Lady Venetia Richmond has no time to dwell on the death. Newly widowed, she is busy trying to keep the estate together, while struggling with death duties and crippling taxation.
Alexander, her son and sole heir to Richmond Hall, is of little help. Just when she most needs him, he grows elusive, his behavior becoming increasingly erratic.
Lennie Fairweather, ‘child of nature’ and daughter of the late Sir Angus’s private secretary, has other things on her mind too. In love with Alexander, she longs to escape life with her over-protective father and domineering brother. Alexander is unpredictable though, hard to pin down. Can she be sure of his true feelings towards her?
In the weeks that follow the tragic drowning, the river begins to give up its secrets. As the truth about Danny’s death emerges, other stories come to the surface that threaten to destroy everyone’s plans for future and, ultimately, their very way of life.
The River Within will surely take its place as a classic in a tradition of English fiction that takes in Thomas Hardy, Graham Swift and Helen Dunmore.
Lady Venetia Richmond has no time to dwell on the death. Newly widowed, she is busy trying to keep the estate together, while struggling with death duties and crippling taxation.
Alexander, her son and sole heir to Richmond Hall, is of little help. Just when she most needs him, he grows elusive, his behavior becoming increasingly erratic.
Lennie Fairweather, ‘child of nature’ and daughter of the late Sir Angus’s private secretary, has other things on her mind too. In love with Alexander, she longs to escape life with her over-protective father and domineering brother. Alexander is unpredictable though, hard to pin down. Can she be sure of his true feelings towards her?
In the weeks that follow the tragic drowning, the river begins to give up its secrets. As the truth about Danny’s death emerges, other stories come to the surface that threaten to destroy everyone’s plans for future and, ultimately, their very way of life.
The River Within will surely take its place as a classic in a tradition of English fiction that takes in Thomas Hardy, Graham Swift and Helen Dunmore.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2020
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About the author
Karen Powell
3 books45 followersKaren Powell grew up in Rochester, Kent. She studied English Literature at Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, and now lives in York with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
October 20, 2021
Karen Powell evokes an atmospheric and melancholic portrait of the England of the 1930s, the WW2 years, up to the 1950s, and opens in 1955 in North Yorkshire, in the village of Stramone, and the River Stride where the drowned body of Danny Masters is discovered by Helena Fairweather, aka Lennie, her brother, Thomas and Alexander Richmond, son of Lady Venetia whose father, Angus, has died recently. These are turbulent times with the cold winds of change blowing through the rigid class structures, with many privileged families facing financial difficulties. There are the limitations placed on women, seen through a narrative that shifts back and forth in time with Venetia, a farm girl, having to adjust to her new position, role and limitations when she marries Angus and comes to live at Richmond Hall, built from the profits of the slave trade.
Lennie, a more fragile figure, seeks freedom from the imprisoning life of catering to the needs of her father, the personal secretary to Angus, and Thomas, with her hopes of marrying Alexander, a man outside her social strata, whom she views through a golden haze. We come to learn of Danny's life and the circumstances in which he ended up in the ruthless clutches of the river, and his love of Lennie whom he perceives as Tennyson's Lady of Shalott, whom he imagines he can rescue, but he is merely an apprentice carpenter. Death and grief shape the lives and mental states of the characters and their interactions with each other. Alexander can be a cruel, volatile and contrary individual, a product of his wealthy and indulged background, with no connection to the farming aspect of the estate, living in his head, prey to his insecurities, jealousy and the threats to the continuity and traditions of a class system that confirms his superiority over the locals.
Alexander is concerned about his mother's relationship with his Uncle James, has worrying attitudes towards women, seeing them as whores, and is plagued by his demons and nightmares. He obsesses over Lennie sporadically, she is the 'good girl', his girl, but he is a man certain of nothing. Lennie is being suffocated by the pressures of pleasing her father, the limitations she faces, she has a wild nature, a strong connection to the trees and woods, and straying beyond her expected boundaries have her distraught, reduced to despair and desperation. We can compare and contrast her life with that of a previous generation of women, specifically Venetia, who is a survivor despite the challenges she faced, such as the numerous deaths, her post-natal depression, being pushed to the limits caring for the dying Angus, and protecting her son in the present.
There are loose echoes of Shakespeare's Hamlet which foretells and prepares the reader for the direction the novel is heading towards, infused with its impending sense of doom, death, grief and tragedy that underlies the narrative. Venetia proves to be far more resilient than Lennie when it comes to confronting the harsh realities that life brings, and more resilient that her son, Alexander, who has been sheltered and protected, relying on social position and wealth, unprepared for how the world can change. This is such a beautifully written book, so poetic and lyrical, it engaged me from beginning to end, with the secrets and lies that come to be revealed, and its timeless exploration of human frailties, mental health, dysfunctional families, loss, the position of women, relationships and class. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Lennie, a more fragile figure, seeks freedom from the imprisoning life of catering to the needs of her father, the personal secretary to Angus, and Thomas, with her hopes of marrying Alexander, a man outside her social strata, whom she views through a golden haze. We come to learn of Danny's life and the circumstances in which he ended up in the ruthless clutches of the river, and his love of Lennie whom he perceives as Tennyson's Lady of Shalott, whom he imagines he can rescue, but he is merely an apprentice carpenter. Death and grief shape the lives and mental states of the characters and their interactions with each other. Alexander can be a cruel, volatile and contrary individual, a product of his wealthy and indulged background, with no connection to the farming aspect of the estate, living in his head, prey to his insecurities, jealousy and the threats to the continuity and traditions of a class system that confirms his superiority over the locals.
Alexander is concerned about his mother's relationship with his Uncle James, has worrying attitudes towards women, seeing them as whores, and is plagued by his demons and nightmares. He obsesses over Lennie sporadically, she is the 'good girl', his girl, but he is a man certain of nothing. Lennie is being suffocated by the pressures of pleasing her father, the limitations she faces, she has a wild nature, a strong connection to the trees and woods, and straying beyond her expected boundaries have her distraught, reduced to despair and desperation. We can compare and contrast her life with that of a previous generation of women, specifically Venetia, who is a survivor despite the challenges she faced, such as the numerous deaths, her post-natal depression, being pushed to the limits caring for the dying Angus, and protecting her son in the present.
There are loose echoes of Shakespeare's Hamlet which foretells and prepares the reader for the direction the novel is heading towards, infused with its impending sense of doom, death, grief and tragedy that underlies the narrative. Venetia proves to be far more resilient than Lennie when it comes to confronting the harsh realities that life brings, and more resilient that her son, Alexander, who has been sheltered and protected, relying on social position and wealth, unprepared for how the world can change. This is such a beautifully written book, so poetic and lyrical, it engaged me from beginning to end, with the secrets and lies that come to be revealed, and its timeless exploration of human frailties, mental health, dysfunctional families, loss, the position of women, relationships and class. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
October 12, 2021
A book that has a mystery death in the background and character dynamics in the foreground. The main characters are narrators and the story timeline moves backwards even decades and then back to the present day which is mid 1950s.
I found this book interesting as it draws on one of the Shakeapeare's tragedy, which made the future developments and the finale predictable, however, I wasn not fully convinced by some of the character development, especially in case of Alexander Richmond.
Overall, well-written and interesting but not mind-blowing piece of fiction.
*Many thanks to Karen Powell, Eudropa Editions, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I found this book interesting as it draws on one of the Shakeapeare's tragedy, which made the future developments and the finale predictable, however, I wasn not fully convinced by some of the character development, especially in case of Alexander Richmond.
Overall, well-written and interesting but not mind-blowing piece of fiction.
*Many thanks to Karen Powell, Eudropa Editions, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
November 1, 2021
Rivers have currents that swirl and spiral, sometimes becoming a vortex. They can bury secrets or bring them to the surface. The opening of “ The River Within “ begins by telling us that…” Danny Masters came home one afternoon at the beginning of August. Something stirred beneath the surface of the water…then he bobbed up as jaunty as a buoy, his one remaining eye widened at the shock of release….as though relishing the summer warmth after the silt and gloom….where he’d been lodged these past days.”
This startling beginning immerses us into currents of love, class and unrevealed secrets.The novel unwinds in intermittent, non linear time shifts between 1955 and 1932. Gradually the convergence of passion and circumstance resulting in Danny’s death begins to unfold.
Four protagonists drive the narrative forward in the small Yorkshire village of Starome. Helene “Lennie” Fairweather is a seventeen year old girl whose father is the private secretary at Richmond Hall, home of the dominating landed gentry for whom the Hall is named.Alexander, a Cambridge student is heir to Richmond Hall and is romantically involved with Lennie.Venetia is Alexander’s mother who has risen through marriage from farm girl to Lady of the manor.She is coping with the recent death of her husband.Danny is a village lad and artisan who has a silent and unrequited love for Lennie.
The relationships between the four protagonists and their families present a picture of a post World War Two society that is struggling to redefine itself and cope with shifting social hierarchies and changing economic realities. Couched in evocative prose, the novel explores themes of friendship, mental health and class divides. The plot is loosely structured around Shakespeare’s “ Hamlet”, most notably in the ways that misunderstood motives can lead to unexpected consequences.
This well crafted work combines the tragic overtones of the Shakespearean play with the shimmering imagery of the River that winds through the Yorkshire village.The river is an omnipresent physical presence in the villagers’ lives and a metaphorical representation of the passions and conflicting currents that swirl within their emotional lives. At times, the protagonists seem to be struggling against the currents of social change and personal turmoil. Their journey to reconcile these forces will resonate with many readers.4.5 stars
This startling beginning immerses us into currents of love, class and unrevealed secrets.The novel unwinds in intermittent, non linear time shifts between 1955 and 1932. Gradually the convergence of passion and circumstance resulting in Danny’s death begins to unfold.
Four protagonists drive the narrative forward in the small Yorkshire village of Starome. Helene “Lennie” Fairweather is a seventeen year old girl whose father is the private secretary at Richmond Hall, home of the dominating landed gentry for whom the Hall is named.Alexander, a Cambridge student is heir to Richmond Hall and is romantically involved with Lennie.Venetia is Alexander’s mother who has risen through marriage from farm girl to Lady of the manor.She is coping with the recent death of her husband.Danny is a village lad and artisan who has a silent and unrequited love for Lennie.
The relationships between the four protagonists and their families present a picture of a post World War Two society that is struggling to redefine itself and cope with shifting social hierarchies and changing economic realities. Couched in evocative prose, the novel explores themes of friendship, mental health and class divides. The plot is loosely structured around Shakespeare’s “ Hamlet”, most notably in the ways that misunderstood motives can lead to unexpected consequences.
This well crafted work combines the tragic overtones of the Shakespearean play with the shimmering imagery of the River that winds through the Yorkshire village.The river is an omnipresent physical presence in the villagers’ lives and a metaphorical representation of the passions and conflicting currents that swirl within their emotional lives. At times, the protagonists seem to be struggling against the currents of social change and personal turmoil. Their journey to reconcile these forces will resonate with many readers.4.5 stars
January 30, 2026
…always the old story, of love and loss and joy and grief. These are the last words in a powerful novel which is also about class, gender, loneliness, mental health, and resilience.
Each chapter is short, sometimes very short. We follow the story through the voices of Danny, Lennie (Helena), and Venetia (Lady Richmond). We know all the other characters through them. On the opening page, Danny’s body is found in the river but there is no explanation as to how it got there and no enquiry either. Danny has been in love with Lennie for as long as he can remember but Lennie is in love with Alexander, Venetia’s son and heir to the estate. Venetia has been recently widowed and we learn her story through looking back to 1935 and the present day, 1955. Lennie’s father works for the estate and the family lives in the Gatekeeper’s Cottage where Lennie keeps house in the absence of her mother.
For much of the novel, the only likeable character was Danny. The others are consumed by their own lives, none more so than Alexander who is selfish and treats others with disdain most of the time. Venetia grew on me but only once I’d learned a great deal of her back story. 1955 was a time of great change. The war years were over but their effect on the country were still present. Young men had to do National Service which, along with their older siblings and parents who had experienced WWII first hand, introduced them to a life outwith their own locality and class position. Landed gentry, such as the Richmonds, struggled to keep up their properties and their positions. Nothing would be the same as it was before.
This is a rich novel and much of the writing is quite beautiful, particularly when describing nature. It was a random find in a charity bookshop which is where I’ve found so many unexpected pleasures.
Each chapter is short, sometimes very short. We follow the story through the voices of Danny, Lennie (Helena), and Venetia (Lady Richmond). We know all the other characters through them. On the opening page, Danny’s body is found in the river but there is no explanation as to how it got there and no enquiry either. Danny has been in love with Lennie for as long as he can remember but Lennie is in love with Alexander, Venetia’s son and heir to the estate. Venetia has been recently widowed and we learn her story through looking back to 1935 and the present day, 1955. Lennie’s father works for the estate and the family lives in the Gatekeeper’s Cottage where Lennie keeps house in the absence of her mother.
For much of the novel, the only likeable character was Danny. The others are consumed by their own lives, none more so than Alexander who is selfish and treats others with disdain most of the time. Venetia grew on me but only once I’d learned a great deal of her back story. 1955 was a time of great change. The war years were over but their effect on the country were still present. Young men had to do National Service which, along with their older siblings and parents who had experienced WWII first hand, introduced them to a life outwith their own locality and class position. Landed gentry, such as the Richmonds, struggled to keep up their properties and their positions. Nothing would be the same as it was before.
This is a rich novel and much of the writing is quite beautiful, particularly when describing nature. It was a random find in a charity bookshop which is where I’ve found so many unexpected pleasures.
November 8, 2021
My thanks to Europa Editions and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
In The River Within, Karen Powell brings Hamlet to Yorkshire in the 1950s, or rather, within the broader mould of the Hamlet plot, weaves her own engrossing and intense tale. The book opens with the finding of a body—Danny Masters, a young man from the village of Starome, apprenticed at the sawmill in the village, but called up for military service, is found floating in the river by his childhood friends—Alexander Richmond, heir to Richmond Hall, the village manor house; Lennie (Helena) Fairweather, who is in love with and is loved by Alexander, and whose father was first valet and then secretary to Alexander’s father Sir Angus; and Lennie’s brother, the brooding Thomas Fairweather. While Alexander seems to view the body with a certain glee, the sensitive Lennie is upset while Thomas attends to more practical matters like summoning the doctor. It is in this background that our story unfolds as our chapters take us back and forth in time between the 1930s and the present (the 1950s), and between the perspectives of three characters, Lennie Fairweather; Venetia, Alexander’s mother; and that of Danny himself—as we eventually learn how Danny’s death came about.
We learn of how Venetia, who belonged to a farming family, met and was wooed by the charming Angus (though it was his brother James who met and fell in love with her first), her married life and experiences of motherhood (far from ideal and something she struggles with), and also her insecurities in her marriage. On the other side there is Lennie, who lives with her widower father (her brother is away for his studies much of the time) and takes care of her home. She is in love with Alexander as he seems to be with her but Alexander’s attitude to her and towards women in general cause her much distress, and uncertainty regarding what she had thought was a clear future (there is, however, no opposition from Alexander’s family, and Venetia approves the match). Her only solace lies in the garden amidst the plants, and in the woods. And then of course there is Danny, who has been in love with Lennie for long, though has little hope of his affections being returned. The poem she recites once at school, the Lady of Shalott gets him to buy and read Tennyson, and the life of his dreams is focused on her alone (he sees her as the Lady of Shalott). He gets a good chance with an apprenticeship at the sawmill, where he begins to learn his trade, but then the letter calling him up arrives. In these three narratives we also follow other storylines, Sir Angus has recently died after a difficult illness and Venetia is struggling to cope with his last days, and the estate with which her brother-in-law James arrives to help; there is also the story of Lennie’s family—her mother in particular, who Venetia had befriended; and then more briefly Alexander himself who, Hamlet-like, is impacted by his father’s death and what he thinks he sees happening in his home.
This was a beautifully written and very absorbing book which kept me reading all through. We are drawn into the stories and backstories of each of the characters, each of which is fraught with its own troubles, and which intertwine with each other in complex ways. Each of the characters is very well drawn out, and the issues and problems they struggle with are ones one can relate to such that one can sympathise with most of them, even when their actions seem far from ideal. For me, Alexander—the Hamlet character—was the one I felt I understood the least; though towards the end some explanation for his actions and attitudes emerges but at the same time, perhaps because we don’t ‘follow’ him specifically, he seems distant compared to the others.
Alongside the characters and their personal struggles, we also get an insight into some of the issues of the time period. We are at a point where it is rarely that women are educated or trained for a career (a secretarial course is proposed for Lennie but she doesn’t end up attending for health reasons), as a result of which Venetia for instance feels ill-equipped to deal with things—when Angus is alive, he can’t discuss matters with her and she feels left out, and when he passes away, she must rely on James to cope. There are also the shadows of the war and the changes it has brought about—to the world, to class structure and relationships.
This is of course in essence a tragedy—beginning with a death and dealing with death in various forms and due to various reasons, all through. Dark and intense it may be, but it is very compelling read which has one invested from cover to cover.
4.5 stars!
In The River Within, Karen Powell brings Hamlet to Yorkshire in the 1950s, or rather, within the broader mould of the Hamlet plot, weaves her own engrossing and intense tale. The book opens with the finding of a body—Danny Masters, a young man from the village of Starome, apprenticed at the sawmill in the village, but called up for military service, is found floating in the river by his childhood friends—Alexander Richmond, heir to Richmond Hall, the village manor house; Lennie (Helena) Fairweather, who is in love with and is loved by Alexander, and whose father was first valet and then secretary to Alexander’s father Sir Angus; and Lennie’s brother, the brooding Thomas Fairweather. While Alexander seems to view the body with a certain glee, the sensitive Lennie is upset while Thomas attends to more practical matters like summoning the doctor. It is in this background that our story unfolds as our chapters take us back and forth in time between the 1930s and the present (the 1950s), and between the perspectives of three characters, Lennie Fairweather; Venetia, Alexander’s mother; and that of Danny himself—as we eventually learn how Danny’s death came about.
We learn of how Venetia, who belonged to a farming family, met and was wooed by the charming Angus (though it was his brother James who met and fell in love with her first), her married life and experiences of motherhood (far from ideal and something she struggles with), and also her insecurities in her marriage. On the other side there is Lennie, who lives with her widower father (her brother is away for his studies much of the time) and takes care of her home. She is in love with Alexander as he seems to be with her but Alexander’s attitude to her and towards women in general cause her much distress, and uncertainty regarding what she had thought was a clear future (there is, however, no opposition from Alexander’s family, and Venetia approves the match). Her only solace lies in the garden amidst the plants, and in the woods. And then of course there is Danny, who has been in love with Lennie for long, though has little hope of his affections being returned. The poem she recites once at school, the Lady of Shalott gets him to buy and read Tennyson, and the life of his dreams is focused on her alone (he sees her as the Lady of Shalott). He gets a good chance with an apprenticeship at the sawmill, where he begins to learn his trade, but then the letter calling him up arrives. In these three narratives we also follow other storylines, Sir Angus has recently died after a difficult illness and Venetia is struggling to cope with his last days, and the estate with which her brother-in-law James arrives to help; there is also the story of Lennie’s family—her mother in particular, who Venetia had befriended; and then more briefly Alexander himself who, Hamlet-like, is impacted by his father’s death and what he thinks he sees happening in his home.
This was a beautifully written and very absorbing book which kept me reading all through. We are drawn into the stories and backstories of each of the characters, each of which is fraught with its own troubles, and which intertwine with each other in complex ways. Each of the characters is very well drawn out, and the issues and problems they struggle with are ones one can relate to such that one can sympathise with most of them, even when their actions seem far from ideal. For me, Alexander—the Hamlet character—was the one I felt I understood the least; though towards the end some explanation for his actions and attitudes emerges but at the same time, perhaps because we don’t ‘follow’ him specifically, he seems distant compared to the others.
Alongside the characters and their personal struggles, we also get an insight into some of the issues of the time period. We are at a point where it is rarely that women are educated or trained for a career (a secretarial course is proposed for Lennie but she doesn’t end up attending for health reasons), as a result of which Venetia for instance feels ill-equipped to deal with things—when Angus is alive, he can’t discuss matters with her and she feels left out, and when he passes away, she must rely on James to cope. There are also the shadows of the war and the changes it has brought about—to the world, to class structure and relationships.
This is of course in essence a tragedy—beginning with a death and dealing with death in various forms and due to various reasons, all through. Dark and intense it may be, but it is very compelling read which has one invested from cover to cover.
4.5 stars!
June 27, 2020
We have here a moving story of the interwoven lives of a small cast of characters in a Yorkshire village, alternating between the decades before and after WWII. The drama hinges on grief, regret, unrequited love and infatuation centred on the two main female characters. Misunderstandings and oblique communication are to blame for much of the tragedy that ensues. We know from the outset that Danny has drowned and, as the book progresses, we come to understand how this happened and how it affects the people he knew. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking here but some lovely writing and strong characters, particularly the women, kept me wanting to know more.
With thanks to Europa Editions via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
With thanks to Europa Editions via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.
September 30, 2020
Beautiful, poetic, written in a sublime prose. I absolutely adore this book - full of love & grief & lives misunderstood. One of my books of the year. Perfect.
June 11, 2021
"Il fiume però avrebbe continuato a scorrere, anche molto tempo dopo che la terra si era richiusa attorno alle ossa del passato, e la terra stessa sarebbe diventata ciò che era sempre stata: un palinsesto in attesa di una nuova storia da raccontare, che era sempre la stessa, vecchia storia, di amore, di perdita, di gioia e dolore."
Il fiume dentro di noi è un romanzo molto particolare. Infatti, pur trattandosi di narrativa contemporanea, tratta dei temi e ha delle ambientazioni che traggono spunto dai grandi classici della letteratura inglese. Le atmosfere bucoliche vi ricorderanno Hardy, l'ambientazione un po' cupa vi rimanderà alle sorelle Brontë e infine alcuni dei personaggi sono ispirati a Ofelia e Gertrude dell'Amleto di Shakespeare.
La storia inizia nel 1955 a Starome, un paesino di campagna dello Yorkshire. Durante una passeggiata nei boschi Alexander, rampollo della ricca famiglia dei Richmond, e i fratelli Tom e Lennie trovano sulle sponde del fiume il cadavere di Danny Masters. I tre conoscevano Danny fin da bambino, fino a quando le loro strade si erano separate ed allontanate. Il ritrovamento del corpo viene bollato come un tragico incidente, tutti sanno che il fiume nel tratto conosciuto come "il passo" non lascia scampo. Contemporaneamente seguiamo le vicende legate a Lady Venetia Richmond, madre di Alexander e da poco vedova. Lady Venetia sta cercando a tutti i costi di mantenere viva la tenuta di famiglia e l'eredità di suo marito. Ma non tutto è come sembra nel piccolo paesino di Starome, e presto il fiume, protagonista indiscusso tanto quanto gli altri, porterà a galla i segreti del passato.
Devo ammettere che avevo puntato questo romanzo già in lingua originale. Fortunatamente sembra che la Edizioni E/O mi legga nel pensiero, infatti dopo qualche settimana ho saputo dell'uscita del romanzo. Non sto qui a dilungarmi inutilmente, l'ho amato. L'ho iniziato e terminato in una serata, catturata dalla storia e praticamente impossibilitata a metterlo giù.
Due degli elementi che ho trovato davvero interessanti in questo racconto sono lo stile e l'ambientazione. Karen Powell ha uno stile che sembra venire direttamente dal passato; il romanzo è scorrevole, è caratterizzato da uno stile elegante ed evocativo ed ha un'ambientazione che io ho trovato particolarmente affascinante. La storia infatti riprende un po' le tipiche atmosfere bucoliche dei grandi classici di Thomas Hardy. Ci troviamo in un paesino di campagna dove gli elementi naturali la fanno da padrone. Allo stesso tempo però le atmosfere, un po' scure e un po' gotiche, mi hanno riportato ai grandi romanzi delle sorelle Brontë, alle brughiere perseguitate dal vento in cui i personaggi si muovono come ombre.
L'ambientazione è sicuramente uno degli aspetti che vi colpirà di più in questo romanzo, perchè è intensa, è affascinante, ma non in un modo classico. Vi affascinerà e vi darà i brividi allo stesso tempo. Perchè questa non è una storia a lieto fine, è uno spaccato di vita reale che, prendendo spunto anche dai cambiamenti che in quegli anni si stavano avvicinando e dagli anni del dopoguerra, parla di classi sociali, di morte, di amore e di perdita.
Altro punto che dà valore a questo racconto è rappresentato sicuramente dai personaggi, in particolare dai due personaggi femminili che in un modo o nell'altro diventano entrambe protagoniste. Lady Venetia e Helena sono due donne che all'apparenza sono diametralmente agli opposti. Lady Venetia è diventata una Lady e una signora di campagna da giovanissima, è algida, quasi fredda, e impassibile. Helena al contrario è una giovane donna delicata, una semplice ragazza di campagna, innamorata di Alexander. Entrambe in realtà custodiscono numerosi segreti, e saranno spesso proprio questi segreti protagonisti del racconto. L'autrice ha tratto ispirazione dai personaggi di Ofelia e di Gertrude, le due donne dell'Amleto, per dar vita ad Helena e Venetia.
Il racconto ha un tono dark, quasi gotico, e si spinge a raccontare di temi abbastanza semplici che nella loro semplicità riescono però a creare un racconto dal quale sarà difficile staccarvi. Si parla di morte, tutto inizia e finisce con la morte in questo romanzo, e ovviamente si parla anche di perdita, di dolore, di accettazione. Il racconto, nonostante i temi forti, ha una particolare delicatezza che lo rende davvero bello da leggere e molto toccante. Io l'ho trovato meraviglioso nella sua semplicità, ricco di pathos e incisivo nel modo in cui parla di scelte e di nuovi inizi, di un passato che sta morendo e di un futuro che arriva veloce, che porta via con sè tutto quello che è stato, esattamente come il fiume che scorre senza mai fermarsi, bello e terribile come la vita che un po' rappresenta.
Il fiume dentro di noi è un romanzo molto particolare. Infatti, pur trattandosi di narrativa contemporanea, tratta dei temi e ha delle ambientazioni che traggono spunto dai grandi classici della letteratura inglese. Le atmosfere bucoliche vi ricorderanno Hardy, l'ambientazione un po' cupa vi rimanderà alle sorelle Brontë e infine alcuni dei personaggi sono ispirati a Ofelia e Gertrude dell'Amleto di Shakespeare.
La storia inizia nel 1955 a Starome, un paesino di campagna dello Yorkshire. Durante una passeggiata nei boschi Alexander, rampollo della ricca famiglia dei Richmond, e i fratelli Tom e Lennie trovano sulle sponde del fiume il cadavere di Danny Masters. I tre conoscevano Danny fin da bambino, fino a quando le loro strade si erano separate ed allontanate. Il ritrovamento del corpo viene bollato come un tragico incidente, tutti sanno che il fiume nel tratto conosciuto come "il passo" non lascia scampo. Contemporaneamente seguiamo le vicende legate a Lady Venetia Richmond, madre di Alexander e da poco vedova. Lady Venetia sta cercando a tutti i costi di mantenere viva la tenuta di famiglia e l'eredità di suo marito. Ma non tutto è come sembra nel piccolo paesino di Starome, e presto il fiume, protagonista indiscusso tanto quanto gli altri, porterà a galla i segreti del passato.
Devo ammettere che avevo puntato questo romanzo già in lingua originale. Fortunatamente sembra che la Edizioni E/O mi legga nel pensiero, infatti dopo qualche settimana ho saputo dell'uscita del romanzo. Non sto qui a dilungarmi inutilmente, l'ho amato. L'ho iniziato e terminato in una serata, catturata dalla storia e praticamente impossibilitata a metterlo giù.
Due degli elementi che ho trovato davvero interessanti in questo racconto sono lo stile e l'ambientazione. Karen Powell ha uno stile che sembra venire direttamente dal passato; il romanzo è scorrevole, è caratterizzato da uno stile elegante ed evocativo ed ha un'ambientazione che io ho trovato particolarmente affascinante. La storia infatti riprende un po' le tipiche atmosfere bucoliche dei grandi classici di Thomas Hardy. Ci troviamo in un paesino di campagna dove gli elementi naturali la fanno da padrone. Allo stesso tempo però le atmosfere, un po' scure e un po' gotiche, mi hanno riportato ai grandi romanzi delle sorelle Brontë, alle brughiere perseguitate dal vento in cui i personaggi si muovono come ombre.
L'ambientazione è sicuramente uno degli aspetti che vi colpirà di più in questo romanzo, perchè è intensa, è affascinante, ma non in un modo classico. Vi affascinerà e vi darà i brividi allo stesso tempo. Perchè questa non è una storia a lieto fine, è uno spaccato di vita reale che, prendendo spunto anche dai cambiamenti che in quegli anni si stavano avvicinando e dagli anni del dopoguerra, parla di classi sociali, di morte, di amore e di perdita.
Altro punto che dà valore a questo racconto è rappresentato sicuramente dai personaggi, in particolare dai due personaggi femminili che in un modo o nell'altro diventano entrambe protagoniste. Lady Venetia e Helena sono due donne che all'apparenza sono diametralmente agli opposti. Lady Venetia è diventata una Lady e una signora di campagna da giovanissima, è algida, quasi fredda, e impassibile. Helena al contrario è una giovane donna delicata, una semplice ragazza di campagna, innamorata di Alexander. Entrambe in realtà custodiscono numerosi segreti, e saranno spesso proprio questi segreti protagonisti del racconto. L'autrice ha tratto ispirazione dai personaggi di Ofelia e di Gertrude, le due donne dell'Amleto, per dar vita ad Helena e Venetia.
Il racconto ha un tono dark, quasi gotico, e si spinge a raccontare di temi abbastanza semplici che nella loro semplicità riescono però a creare un racconto dal quale sarà difficile staccarvi. Si parla di morte, tutto inizia e finisce con la morte in questo romanzo, e ovviamente si parla anche di perdita, di dolore, di accettazione. Il racconto, nonostante i temi forti, ha una particolare delicatezza che lo rende davvero bello da leggere e molto toccante. Io l'ho trovato meraviglioso nella sua semplicità, ricco di pathos e incisivo nel modo in cui parla di scelte e di nuovi inizi, di un passato che sta morendo e di un futuro che arriva veloce, che porta via con sè tutto quello che è stato, esattamente come il fiume che scorre senza mai fermarsi, bello e terribile come la vita che un po' rappresenta.
October 2, 2020
In the summer of 1955, Alexander, Tom and his sister Lennie find the body in the river of their school friend Danny Masters.
You were friends? Alexander glanced up at her . Not since school. Hardly then really?
This story keeps you guessing did Danny jump or was it an accident how he died in the river? Or was someone else involved?
Lennie, Danny, Venetia, each have their own chapters, will anything be revealed?
You were friends? Alexander glanced up at her . Not since school. Hardly then really?
This story keeps you guessing did Danny jump or was it an accident how he died in the river? Or was someone else involved?
Lennie, Danny, Venetia, each have their own chapters, will anything be revealed?
June 11, 2021
Un'antica dimora ingelse, un omicidio, un'atmosfera alla Downton Abbey, tanti amori non corrisposti e moltissimi sospetti. Un romanzo che ha il sapore dei grandi classici di Thomas Hardy con un finale inaspettato. Stupendo!
June 14, 2021
Beautifully written and very atmospheric, The River Within is a look at the relationship between two families surrounding the second world war - one, that of Lord Angus Richmond, who owns an estate in Yorkshire, and the other, that of his private secretary, Peter Fairweather, whose son has gotten a good education but whose changeling-like daughter, Helena or Lennie, has remained at home with her father. The generations and families entangle with one another as several young men in the village (including the somewhat self-absorbed Richmond heir, Alexander) vie for Lennie' attentions. She is beautiful, mercurial, and at times almost possessed by her wilder side and the river that runs through the village, although she also seems to desire the kind of domestic life and escape from her brother and father that Alexander and the estate could provide, were they to marry. With its Gothic overtones and look at the rigid but changing strictures that governed class and gender roles in the England of this era, this debut novel is also an excellent examination of the lengths people are willing to go to for the people and places they hold dear, especially when they feel like those things are slipping out of their grasp. One of the better books I've read this year, I would compare it to the work of Sarah Perry, Elizabeth Kostova, and Sarah Waters; the book blurb that references the writing of Helen Dunmore is also apt, because the writing reminded me very much of her excellent novel The Lie.
September 14, 2025
DUE GIORNI, DUE RETELLING SHAKESPEARIANI
Ho letto, in nemmeno due giorni, due retelling di altrettante opere shakespeariane (su cui, a loro volta, sono incentrati i prossimi due esami che ho in programma a giugno). Si tratta della "Dodicesima notte", a cui è ispirato "Siamo gli ultimi poeti del mare" di Julia Drake, e di "Amleto", a cui si richiama il romanzo in questione.
Per quanto riguarda il primo, l'ho trovato di una noia mortale, sia per lo stile piatto che per l'assenza di eventi coinvolgenti. Mi sono piaciuti i protagonisti, invece, e l'atmosfera generale della trama. Nulla di che l'epilogo, privo di scoperte sconvolgenti; mi è addirittura parso che lasciasse scontenti alcuni personaggi.
Il libro scritto da Karen Powell l'ho apprezzato un po' di più. Intendiamoci, avendo letto l'"Amleto", era inevitabile che trovassi l'intreccio estremamente prevedibile (e per questo ho provato talvolta un tedio profondo). Sono però rimasta straordinariamente colpita dalla profondità dell'analisi dei personaggi, specialmente i corrispettivi delle figure femminili, nonché dall'abilità dell'autrice nel ricostruire il clima struggente e luttuoso della tragedia di Shakespeare.
Ho letto, in nemmeno due giorni, due retelling di altrettante opere shakespeariane (su cui, a loro volta, sono incentrati i prossimi due esami che ho in programma a giugno). Si tratta della "Dodicesima notte", a cui è ispirato "Siamo gli ultimi poeti del mare" di Julia Drake, e di "Amleto", a cui si richiama il romanzo in questione.
Per quanto riguarda il primo, l'ho trovato di una noia mortale, sia per lo stile piatto che per l'assenza di eventi coinvolgenti. Mi sono piaciuti i protagonisti, invece, e l'atmosfera generale della trama. Nulla di che l'epilogo, privo di scoperte sconvolgenti; mi è addirittura parso che lasciasse scontenti alcuni personaggi.
Il libro scritto da Karen Powell l'ho apprezzato un po' di più. Intendiamoci, avendo letto l'"Amleto", era inevitabile che trovassi l'intreccio estremamente prevedibile (e per questo ho provato talvolta un tedio profondo). Sono però rimasta straordinariamente colpita dalla profondità dell'analisi dei personaggi, specialmente i corrispettivi delle figure femminili, nonché dall'abilità dell'autrice nel ricostruire il clima struggente e luttuoso della tragedia di Shakespeare.
November 16, 2021
This is a fascinating story, atmospheric and well plotted, one of those books that draw you in and don't let you go. An old mansion, a murder, buried secrets resurfacing and two very different women, complex, nuanced figures with great psychological characterisation and inspired by Shakespeare’s female characters from Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude.
It starts slowly but at the end it turns out to be a very captivating read. The storytelling is excellent, rich and dense, with wonderfully rendered old England atmospheres tinged with Gothic touches, echoes of Hardy, of memorable English country scenes and great classic novels – it feels like something traditional and yet with a more contemporary tempo to it that resonates with our modern sensibility. The story in intriguing and leaves you on the tiptoes but does not aim to originality, there is something beyond time pulsating here, as expressed by the image of the river that flows telling stories that are eternal in a wonderful narrative flow.
My thanks to Europa Editions for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It starts slowly but at the end it turns out to be a very captivating read. The storytelling is excellent, rich and dense, with wonderfully rendered old England atmospheres tinged with Gothic touches, echoes of Hardy, of memorable English country scenes and great classic novels – it feels like something traditional and yet with a more contemporary tempo to it that resonates with our modern sensibility. The story in intriguing and leaves you on the tiptoes but does not aim to originality, there is something beyond time pulsating here, as expressed by the image of the river that flows telling stories that are eternal in a wonderful narrative flow.
My thanks to Europa Editions for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
Continuo a pensarci su e continuo a sentirmi confusa.
Diciamo che per l'atmosfera che si respira nel libro e per i rimandi shakespeariani merita decisamente una letta, dubito però che questa storia rimarrà con me a lungo.
Diciamo che per l'atmosfera che si respira nel libro e per i rimandi shakespeariani merita decisamente una letta, dubito però che questa storia rimarrà con me a lungo.
January 13, 2021
Very little happens in this book, and most of it is bad. It begins with death. It ends with death. There are sudden deaths and long, drawn-out deaths. But "The River Within" is not gothic, but rather feels like goth porn, something a death-obsessed teen would fetishize. The point of the book seems to be that while death is part of nature, succumbing to its seductions is a terrible idea, one must find a way to live in harmony with it. And the writing is pretty . . . lots of descriptions of gardens. (And between the pruning and the fertilizer, gardens feed on death, now, don't they?) A fine gift for your most neurasthenic friend.
January 10, 2022
Ersilia F. - per RFS
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Ciò che leggerete con Il fiume dentro di noi è la solita vecchia storia di amore, perdita, gioia e dolore. Sentirete questi sentimenti per tutta la durata della lettura, ma avrete anche la sensazione di trovarvi davanti a una serie di cose che dovrebbero essere tenute rinchiuse. Come una sorta di pudore, che non permette di far vivere liberamente i propri sogni o sentimenti ai vari personaggi di questa tragica vicenda.
Inghilterra, 1955, villaggio di Starome. Il corpo del giovane Danny Masters viene ripescato dal fiume. La sua morte sarà la scintilla che cambierà la vita di ogni singolo personaggio. Tra questi vi sono Alexander e Helena, coppia male assortita, amici d’infanzia di Danny. Lady Venetia Richmond, signora della ormai quasi defunta stirpe di proprietari terrieri, che vive la vita in un moto costante d’insoddisfazione e segreti inconfessabili. Thomas, fratello di Helena, in perpetua lotta contro il mondo, sempre pronto a scaricare la rabbia su ogni nuovo progetto che lo entusiasma. E Danny, innamorato di Helena, turbato da questo sentimento, impacciato nel manifestarlo, desideroso di poterla conquistare.
Ma le cose non vanno mai come vorremmo e attraverso due archi temporali, il presente dei ragazzi e il passato di Venetia, saremo messi al corrente di ogni dettaglio che riguarda le loro vite, e sapremo anche come e perché Danny sia finito nel fiume.
Una narrazione in terza persona che affascina, sicuramente, con la sua prosa vibrante e d’impatto, ma è anche prevedibile in alcuni punti. Racconta una storia già sentita: gelosie, invidie, segreti, bugie, la ricerca di se stessi, amori non corrisposti.
La prima metà della trama è lenta, come se ci stesse preparando a quello che ci attende, anche se intuibile. Nella seconda parte ci sono dei cambiamenti inaspettati, quasi spiazzanti, come se l’autrice volesse scioccare con alcune rivelazioni, aggiungendo un po’ di trepidazione ai fatti.
È un romanzo sulle aspettative, sul modo in cui gli altri ci vedono e su ciò che ci si aspetta da noi, sui ruoli imposti.
Personalmente, date le premesse, attendevo qualcosa in più, anche perché era stato osannato come il futuro cult della narrativa di genere. Tuttavia è un romanzo godibile, che parla di sentimenti e di quello che si è disposti a fare per essi.
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Ciò che leggerete con Il fiume dentro di noi è la solita vecchia storia di amore, perdita, gioia e dolore. Sentirete questi sentimenti per tutta la durata della lettura, ma avrete anche la sensazione di trovarvi davanti a una serie di cose che dovrebbero essere tenute rinchiuse. Come una sorta di pudore, che non permette di far vivere liberamente i propri sogni o sentimenti ai vari personaggi di questa tragica vicenda.
Inghilterra, 1955, villaggio di Starome. Il corpo del giovane Danny Masters viene ripescato dal fiume. La sua morte sarà la scintilla che cambierà la vita di ogni singolo personaggio. Tra questi vi sono Alexander e Helena, coppia male assortita, amici d’infanzia di Danny. Lady Venetia Richmond, signora della ormai quasi defunta stirpe di proprietari terrieri, che vive la vita in un moto costante d’insoddisfazione e segreti inconfessabili. Thomas, fratello di Helena, in perpetua lotta contro il mondo, sempre pronto a scaricare la rabbia su ogni nuovo progetto che lo entusiasma. E Danny, innamorato di Helena, turbato da questo sentimento, impacciato nel manifestarlo, desideroso di poterla conquistare.
Ma le cose non vanno mai come vorremmo e attraverso due archi temporali, il presente dei ragazzi e il passato di Venetia, saremo messi al corrente di ogni dettaglio che riguarda le loro vite, e sapremo anche come e perché Danny sia finito nel fiume.
Una narrazione in terza persona che affascina, sicuramente, con la sua prosa vibrante e d’impatto, ma è anche prevedibile in alcuni punti. Racconta una storia già sentita: gelosie, invidie, segreti, bugie, la ricerca di se stessi, amori non corrisposti.
La prima metà della trama è lenta, come se ci stesse preparando a quello che ci attende, anche se intuibile. Nella seconda parte ci sono dei cambiamenti inaspettati, quasi spiazzanti, come se l’autrice volesse scioccare con alcune rivelazioni, aggiungendo un po’ di trepidazione ai fatti.
È un romanzo sulle aspettative, sul modo in cui gli altri ci vedono e su ciò che ci si aspetta da noi, sui ruoli imposti.
Personalmente, date le premesse, attendevo qualcosa in più, anche perché era stato osannato come il futuro cult della narrativa di genere. Tuttavia è un romanzo godibile, che parla di sentimenti e di quello che si è disposti a fare per essi.
October 30, 2020
This book wasn’t on my radar until I saw a couple of very wise bookworms recommend it, and thank goodness they did - to miss out on this beautiful book would be a travesty!
Powell has written a story so delicate, so heartbreaking and full of tragedy that I just couldn’t put it down for a second - I was completely and utterly absorbed by these characters.
I was grateful to know immediately that Danny Masters had died, purely because I don’t think my heart could’ve taken the shock of it by the end of this book - as the only truly kind and innocent character in the story his was the tragedy which caused me the most sorrow.
However, no story could truly grab me this way without the characters that have a certain darkness to them! Lady Venetia seems so cold and unfeeling, yet as we realise how many people she has lost in her life, and that she suffered from what must’ve been PND, it becomes clear why she feels such a need to hold everything together. Equally, whilst her son, Alexander, seems selfish and cruel, it soon becomes obvious that he is battling his own demons around the death of his father, and the part he believes he may have played in Danny’s death.
Then we have poor Lennie, whose inner turmoil and mental health struggles Powell has managed to capture perfectly, and who perhaps holds the key to most of the tragedies throughout the novel. I know that all of these characters will stay with me for a long time.
I can’t recommend this book enough - whilst there’s no getting around the sorrow and tragedy, it’s absolutely worth it for such an intricately woven and captivating story that leaves you bereft upon finishing that final page.
After finishing this, I will gladly read whatever Powell writes with no questions asked!
Powell has written a story so delicate, so heartbreaking and full of tragedy that I just couldn’t put it down for a second - I was completely and utterly absorbed by these characters.
I was grateful to know immediately that Danny Masters had died, purely because I don’t think my heart could’ve taken the shock of it by the end of this book - as the only truly kind and innocent character in the story his was the tragedy which caused me the most sorrow.
However, no story could truly grab me this way without the characters that have a certain darkness to them! Lady Venetia seems so cold and unfeeling, yet as we realise how many people she has lost in her life, and that she suffered from what must’ve been PND, it becomes clear why she feels such a need to hold everything together. Equally, whilst her son, Alexander, seems selfish and cruel, it soon becomes obvious that he is battling his own demons around the death of his father, and the part he believes he may have played in Danny’s death.
Then we have poor Lennie, whose inner turmoil and mental health struggles Powell has managed to capture perfectly, and who perhaps holds the key to most of the tragedies throughout the novel. I know that all of these characters will stay with me for a long time.
I can’t recommend this book enough - whilst there’s no getting around the sorrow and tragedy, it’s absolutely worth it for such an intricately woven and captivating story that leaves you bereft upon finishing that final page.
After finishing this, I will gladly read whatever Powell writes with no questions asked!
September 27, 2020
Probably more of a 3.5 but I’ve rounded it up because why the heck not?
February 25, 2021
Story set in 1930's and 1950's Yorkshire village told from three different points of view.
November 30, 2020
This is such a gorgeously written book, I could pluck out pretty much any sentence as an example of how to make language evoke atmosphere and character with precision and delight. I was completely swept up in it for the first half, loved Danny (wish there was more of him) and the pitch-perfect recreation of a fading world of English country gentry and lush countryside was a fun place to get lost in on some chilly autumn nights. Every detail felt so well researched, and incredibly confident, layers being built up to create an experience that felt very real. I was however a little disappointed in the storytelling ultimately; the promise of the opening was let down by some quite predictable revelations - the inevitable secret pregnancy, the love triangle, the hushed-up suicide. And I lost track of where the characters ended up (what happened to Lennie’s baby?), I wanted to dig a bit deeper into their perspectives, especially Lennie and Alexander, but they seemed to fade away in Lennie’s case, or remain frustratingly distant in Alexander’s. I actually feel like this book could have been longer, it all seemed to wrap up too quickly, with too many deaths on top of each other. Still, a beautifully written novel, and I’ll definitely read whatever Powell writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2020
I'd heard about this one from some English bookish people I follow in the media much earlier this year and the premise intrigued me so that I was excited to request an ARC from the publisher, Europa. They granted this request and I jumped in...and then floundered.
Thinking back on it, I don't think that I recall any of those bookish people in England reporting back having actually read this one, and I suspect it's because they didn't want to provide a negative review or were just left unmotivated, which was my ultimate reason for failing to finish this one.
The good, here, is that I appreciated the actual writing (as in the words, the sentences, the language), and that's the primary reason I stuck with it for as long as I did. I unfortunately found the rest of the elements - the structure, the characterizations, the movement of the plot - all frustrating or simply not working for me.
In a year when I am very intentionally DNFing even books I've bought if they fail to snare me (or even just retain my bare curiosity), unfortunately the confusing timelines and the wholly unsympathetic characters just couldn't win.
Thinking back on it, I don't think that I recall any of those bookish people in England reporting back having actually read this one, and I suspect it's because they didn't want to provide a negative review or were just left unmotivated, which was my ultimate reason for failing to finish this one.
The good, here, is that I appreciated the actual writing (as in the words, the sentences, the language), and that's the primary reason I stuck with it for as long as I did. I unfortunately found the rest of the elements - the structure, the characterizations, the movement of the plot - all frustrating or simply not working for me.
In a year when I am very intentionally DNFing even books I've bought if they fail to snare me (or even just retain my bare curiosity), unfortunately the confusing timelines and the wholly unsympathetic characters just couldn't win.
June 3, 2021
Powell has written a very powerful story about choices, tradition, and love. The river is a constant presence whether it is either in the background or the foreground.
I especially liked the character of Venetia, as she embodies every bad trait of the English aristocracy and still comes across as sympathetic.
I did have to look back several times to check out what date the current chapter was about. Thank heaven the headings were there!
One note: in this day and age, there is no excuse for misspellings, wrong words, and bad grammar. The text is riddled with them, and I am sure they are not being used for dramatic purposes.
I especially liked the character of Venetia, as she embodies every bad trait of the English aristocracy and still comes across as sympathetic.
I did have to look back several times to check out what date the current chapter was about. Thank heaven the headings were there!
One note: in this day and age, there is no excuse for misspellings, wrong words, and bad grammar. The text is riddled with them, and I am sure they are not being used for dramatic purposes.
December 30, 2020
The River Within seems like a classic story of love, loss, class distinction and tragedy. What makes the story unique is Powell’s poetic language and the sense of place that permeates the story. Even though the story opens with a death (not a spoiler), this is a delicate telling of human emotion. It is told by the alternating narration of the four main characters and multiple timelines which can be a challenge to keep straight, but it helps to maintain the tension of the story. I enjoyed this story and will look for more from this author. Thank you to Net Galley and Europa US, and Dreamscape Media for the Advanced Listener’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2022
Beautifully written. I think there’s a nice, if not sad, message/theme which I enjoyed, and think the writing and the imagery really helped to encapsulate this. The mystery and complexity of the story and the switching perspectives made me want to keep reading and put all the pieces together, although I did find the end somewhat unsatisfying.
January 18, 2021
Goodness what a read. Set in Yorkshire in 1950's. Alexander the heir to Richmond hall is friends with Thomas and his sister Lennie the children of a member of staff. During a hot august the three pull their friend Danny from the local river. All are horrified by his mysterious death and it affects the love affair that exists between Alex and Lennie. Meanwhile Alex's mother Venetia is struggling with her husbands recent death and the secrets that surrounded it. As summer passes to autumn secrets and lies lead to tragedy. Beautifully written and displaying a real love for the wildness of Yorkshire and it's land this was a fab read.
February 20, 2024
Not entirely convincing retelling of Hamlet set in post-WW2 Britain. The characters in the setting would be more persuasive if they weren’t trying to be forced into Hamlet’s patterns. As it is no one’s motivations quite seem real.
February 27, 2022
A generous 3 stars. Not a bad read with some evocative writing, but the character development was awfully shallow and their actions made little sense. Wouldn't recommend.
October 4, 2021
Ciò che leggerete con Il fiume dentro di noi è la solita vecchia storia di amore, perdita, gioia e dolore. Sentirete questi sentimenti per tutta la durata della lettura, ma avrete anche la sensazione di trovarvi davanti a una serie di cose che dovrebbero essere tenute rinchiuse. Come una sorta di pudore, che non permette di far vivere liberamente i propri sogni o sentimenti ai vari personaggi di questa tragica vicenda.
Inghilterra, 1955, villaggio di Starome. Il corpo del giovane Danny Masters viene ripescato dal fiume. La sua morte sarà la scintilla che cambierà la vita di ogni singolo personaggio. Tra questi vi sono Alexander e Helena, coppia male assortita, amici d’infanzia di Danny. Lady Venetia Richmond, signora della ormai quasi defunta stirpe di proprietari terrieri, che vive la vita in un moto costante d’insoddisfazione e segreti inconfessabili. Thomas, fratello di Helena, in perpetua lotta contro il mondo, sempre pronto a scaricare la rabbia su ogni nuovo progetto che lo entusiasma. E Danny, innamorato di Helena, turbato da questo sentimento, impacciato nel manifestarlo, desideroso di poterla conquistare.
Ma le cose non vanno mai come vorremmo e attraverso due archi temporali, il presente dei ragazzi e il passato di Venetia, saremo messi al corrente di ogni dettaglio che riguarda le loro vite, e sapremo anche come e perché Danny sia finito nel fiume.
Una narrazione in terza persona che affascina, sicuramente, con la sua prosa vibrante e d’impatto, ma è anche prevedibile in alcuni punti. Racconta una storia già sentita: gelosie, invidie, segreti, bugie, la ricerca di se stessi, amori non corrisposti.
La prima metà della trama è lenta, come se ci stesse preparando a quello che ci attende, anche se intuibile. Nella seconda parte ci sono dei cambiamenti inaspettati, quasi spiazzanti, come se l’autrice volesse scioccare con alcune rivelazioni, aggiungendo un po’ di trepidazione ai fatti.
È un romanzo sulle aspettative, sul modo in cui gli altri ci vedono e su ciò che ci si aspetta da noi, sui ruoli imposti.
Personalmente, date le premesse, attendevo qualcosa in più, anche perché era stato osannato come il futuro cult della narrativa di genere. Tuttavia è un romanzo godibile, che parla di sentimenti e di quello che si è disposti a fare per essi.
November 6, 2020
Living in North Yorkshire I was keen to read this “”local” book, but apart from the mention of a few Northern towns, it could have been set anywhere.
The beginning was promising - the discovery of the dead, bloated body of Danny Masters, by three young people walking along the river bank on a country estate in Richmond. It is 1955. Danny was a childhood friend of them all and the story traced back from there, covering their relationships and past through alternating chapters from the viewpoint of Danny, Venetia, the recently widowed wife of the owner of Richmond Hall and Lennie, the daughter of the steward at the Hall. As the store progresses we learn that Danny was in love with Lennie, but Lennie is in love with Venetia’s son Alexander.
I found the alternating chapters, many of which jumped back and forth over the space of only a few months, confusing at times, made worse by the often irritating oblique writing style. I also felt the first few chapters were an amalgam of creative writing techniques which jarred and added little to my understanding, Unfortunately I ended the novel still unaware of exactly what had happened.
Beyond the first chapters I did start to enjoy the book, and felt it settled into telling a story. However, not one of the characters escapes misery and grief and with themes of death, suicide, unrequited love, unfaithfulness, unwanted pregnancy, mental health and post-natal depression, it is a pretty melancholic read.
With thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.
The beginning was promising - the discovery of the dead, bloated body of Danny Masters, by three young people walking along the river bank on a country estate in Richmond. It is 1955. Danny was a childhood friend of them all and the story traced back from there, covering their relationships and past through alternating chapters from the viewpoint of Danny, Venetia, the recently widowed wife of the owner of Richmond Hall and Lennie, the daughter of the steward at the Hall. As the store progresses we learn that Danny was in love with Lennie, but Lennie is in love with Venetia’s son Alexander.
I found the alternating chapters, many of which jumped back and forth over the space of only a few months, confusing at times, made worse by the often irritating oblique writing style. I also felt the first few chapters were an amalgam of creative writing techniques which jarred and added little to my understanding, Unfortunately I ended the novel still unaware of exactly what had happened.
Beyond the first chapters I did start to enjoy the book, and felt it settled into telling a story. However, not one of the characters escapes misery and grief and with themes of death, suicide, unrequited love, unfaithfulness, unwanted pregnancy, mental health and post-natal depression, it is a pretty melancholic read.
With thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.
August 28, 2021
E' partito piano Il Fiume dentro di noi.
Inizialmente, diciamo per le prime 80/90 pagine, ne ho apprezzato lo stile snello e piacevole e l'impianto narrativo che di certo non è inedito (il cambio di prospettiva che di capitolo in capitolo ci porta nella mente dei diversi personaggi, il cambio cronologico che ci fa saltare avanti e indietro nel tempo della narrazione) ma che Powell ben gestisce.
Poi, intorno a pagina 100, qualcosa è cambiato.
L'introspezione dei personaggi si è fatta più marcata, Powell ha scostato le tende ed è andata a pescare nel torbido concedendo ai suoi personaggi, soprattutto femminili, delle discese in territori azzardati (come la maternità, la depressione, le relazioni coniugali) e gestendo benissimo l'alternarsi di questi punti di vista e il progredire della storia che, di pagina in pagina, aggiungendo dettagli contribuiva a dipanare la matassa di queste storie intrecciate in maniere più profonde e inestricabili di quanto potevamo aver immaginato.
Non da ultimo, le ultime 80 pagine sono un omaggio a Shakespeare concentrato. Ci sono scene che richiamo episodi celebri dell'Amleto, pur mantenendo i caratteri dei personaggi inalterati e non sfociando nell'imitazione nuda e pura ma anzi regalando alla trama Shakespeareana nuovi punti di vista e aspetti sui quali riflettere.
Ho trovato l'epilogo davvero eccellente, una degna conclusione per un romanzo che va migliorando di pagina in pagina. Dopo pagina 100 è stato davvero difficile posare il libro, le ultime 90 pagine le ho lette tutte d'un fiato!
Inizialmente, diciamo per le prime 80/90 pagine, ne ho apprezzato lo stile snello e piacevole e l'impianto narrativo che di certo non è inedito (il cambio di prospettiva che di capitolo in capitolo ci porta nella mente dei diversi personaggi, il cambio cronologico che ci fa saltare avanti e indietro nel tempo della narrazione) ma che Powell ben gestisce.
Poi, intorno a pagina 100, qualcosa è cambiato.
L'introspezione dei personaggi si è fatta più marcata, Powell ha scostato le tende ed è andata a pescare nel torbido concedendo ai suoi personaggi, soprattutto femminili, delle discese in territori azzardati (come la maternità, la depressione, le relazioni coniugali) e gestendo benissimo l'alternarsi di questi punti di vista e il progredire della storia che, di pagina in pagina, aggiungendo dettagli contribuiva a dipanare la matassa di queste storie intrecciate in maniere più profonde e inestricabili di quanto potevamo aver immaginato.
Non da ultimo, le ultime 80 pagine sono un omaggio a Shakespeare concentrato. Ci sono scene che richiamo episodi celebri dell'Amleto, pur mantenendo i caratteri dei personaggi inalterati e non sfociando nell'imitazione nuda e pura ma anzi regalando alla trama Shakespeareana nuovi punti di vista e aspetti sui quali riflettere.
Ho trovato l'epilogo davvero eccellente, una degna conclusione per un romanzo che va migliorando di pagina in pagina. Dopo pagina 100 è stato davvero difficile posare il libro, le ultime 90 pagine le ho lette tutte d'un fiato!
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