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Time Is a River
With a strong, warm voice that brings the South to life, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe writes richly textured stories that intimately portray the complex and emotional relationships we share with families, friends, and the natural world. "Every book that Mary Alice Monroe has written has felt like a homecoming to me," writes Pat Conroy, bestselling author of The Prince of Tides. Time Is a River is an insightful novel that will sweep readers away to the seductive southern landscape, joining books by authors such as Anne Rivers Siddons and Sue Monk Kidd. Recovering from breast cancer and reeling from her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home to heal in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. She seeks refuge in a neglected fishing cabin belonging to her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson. Belle recently inherited the cabin, which once belonged to a grandmother she never knew -- the legendary fly fisher and journalist of the 1920s, Kate Watkins, whose life fell into ruins after she was accused of murdering her lover. Her fortune lost in the stock market crash and her reputation destroyed, Kate slipped into seclusion in the remote cabin. After her death the fishing cabin remained locked and abandoned for decades. Little does Belle know that by opening the cabin doors to Mia for a summer's sanctuary, she will open again the scandal that plagued Belle's family for generations. From her first step inside the dusty cabin, Mia is fascinated by the traces of Kate's mysterious story left behind in the eccentric furnishings of the cabin. And though Belle, ashamed of the tabloid scandal that tortured her mother, warns Mia not to stir the mud, Mia is compelled to find out more about Kate...especially when she discovers Kate's journal. The inspiring words of the remarkable woman echo across the years. Mia has been learning to fly-fish, and Kate's wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. She begins a quest to uncover the truth behind the lies. As she searches newspaper archives and listens to the colorful memories of the local small-town residents, the story of a proud, fiercely independent woman emerges. Mia feels a strange kinship with the woman who, like her, suffered fears, betrayal, the death of loved ones, and a fall from grace -- yet found strength, compassion and, ultimately, forgiveness in her isolation. A story timeless in its appeal emerges, with a power that reopens old wounds, but also brings a transforming healing for Mia, for Kate's descendants, and for all those in Mia's new community.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2008
838 people are currently reading
4035 people want to read
About the author
Mary Alice Monroe
71 books5,648 followersMary Alice Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 30 books, including her new novel, Where the Rivers Merge, the first book in a duology and her historical debut. The second book is titled The Rivers End. Release date has not been set yet.
Monroe has also published children’s books, which complement the environmental themes she is known for in her adult novels. Monroe’s middle grade series, written with Angela May, The Islanders, debuted #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List in 2021. The second book in the series, Search for Treasure, debuted #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. And the third book in the series, Shipwrecked, is available everywhere books are sold.
Nearly eight million copies of her books have been published worldwide.
Mary Alice has earned numerous accolades and awards including induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Award for Children’s Fiction; and her novel A Lowcountry Christmas won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction.
Mary Alice is also the co-founder of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie McDowell. Several of her novels are optioned for film.
Mary Alice has championed the fragility of the earth’s wild habitat. The coastal southern landscape in particular is a strong and important focus of many of her novels. For her writing, Monroe immerses herself in academic research, works with wildlife experts, and does hands-on volunteering with animals. She then uses the knowledge and experiences to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds are among the species she has worked with and woven into her novels.
Mary Alice is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards including the South Carolina Aquarium board emeritus, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, and the Leatherback Trust, which she received the Leatherback Trust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. She is especially proud to be a state-certified volunteer with the Island Turtle Team for more than twenty years.
Mary Alice splits her time between her home on the South Carolina coast and her home in the North Carolina mountains. When she’s not writing a novel, she is with her family or busy working with wildlife somewhere in the world.
Monroe has also published children’s books, which complement the environmental themes she is known for in her adult novels. Monroe’s middle grade series, written with Angela May, The Islanders, debuted #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List in 2021. The second book in the series, Search for Treasure, debuted #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. And the third book in the series, Shipwrecked, is available everywhere books are sold.
Nearly eight million copies of her books have been published worldwide.
Mary Alice has earned numerous accolades and awards including induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Award for Children’s Fiction; and her novel A Lowcountry Christmas won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction.
Mary Alice is also the co-founder of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie McDowell. Several of her novels are optioned for film.
Mary Alice has championed the fragility of the earth’s wild habitat. The coastal southern landscape in particular is a strong and important focus of many of her novels. For her writing, Monroe immerses herself in academic research, works with wildlife experts, and does hands-on volunteering with animals. She then uses the knowledge and experiences to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds are among the species she has worked with and woven into her novels.
Mary Alice is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards including the South Carolina Aquarium board emeritus, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, and the Leatherback Trust, which she received the Leatherback Trust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. She is especially proud to be a state-certified volunteer with the Island Turtle Team for more than twenty years.
Mary Alice splits her time between her home on the South Carolina coast and her home in the North Carolina mountains. When she’s not writing a novel, she is with her family or busy working with wildlife somewhere in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 672 reviews
July 23, 2016
From the blurb:
The closed-up mountain cabin, hiding all the secrets of Belle Carson's past, becomes Mia Landan's hide away. Everything about it screams neglect. Dead rodents, live spiders and mountains of dust over everything demands a daunting effort to open it up, clean away the disgrace and present its dignity to the world again. Belle Carsin strictly forbids the stirring of the mud surrounding the history of the cabin and its reclusive inhabitant - her grandmother Kate, whom she never knew and did not want to be associated with. But Mia had no other choice but to thoroughly clean the cabin in order for her to survive and heal.
1) Kate Watkins was both the fly fishing doyenne of the proud town Watkins Mill, and the femme fatale in local legend and gossip.
2) Mia Landan had to recover from her breast cancer treatment and her divorce.
Casting for Recovery was the weekend retreat where she met and befriended Belle Carson as a fly-fishing guide. Belle offers Mia the use of Belle's cabin called Watkins Cove, up in the mountains of western North Carolina for the summer. It becomes the retreat where Mia starts her new life as a cancer survivor and as a new woman when the river becomes the place where she can be warmed by the sun, cooled by the water, and filled with hope, rising in thin wisps of speckled silver, each time she cast her line onto the water. The river allowed Mia to feel the first glimmer of life since the shock of her diagnosis which had left her heart as numb as the white scare on her chest. Each time she launched her fishing line into the water, a spark of life beckons on the other end of the line. The refreshing, rejuvenating water will also introduce a new man into her life.
Only Kate Watkins's story line kept me committed to the book. The mystery with the suspense glued to it, combined with the 'mechanics' of fly-fishing was enough of a tale to render this book an excellent read. Mmmm, the fly-fishing was over presented really, but still.
It is kind of sad, to me personally, that this strong and complete mystery was not presented as a standalone saga. Covering, almost smothering, it with a chick lit cloud (Mia's story line), with all its predictable and stale elements in tow, kind of broke the spell for me. Hence the lower rating. Presenting a new lease on life in the form of a new male character could have worked just as well, if the fluff, fuzz and frills of cheap romance elements were replaced with something more realistic in scope. Was it really necessary for him to live in a modern, upmarket condo; was it necessary to portray him as the most attractive, hormonal disorder for women? Do we really need to know what she wears and how perfectly beautiful she is; flattering of eyes, blushing; detailed romps in the hay? Yikes. My lack of language skills do not allow me to continue ...
If the author ever turns up the guts to write similar, informative stories, without the hay-frolicking yeeehaaa blanketing the real story, I will become a dedicated fan.
However, it is still a very very good read with a powerful ending. It almost left the reader wondering if a follow-up was planned. If not, it still leaves a feeling of goodness, as provided by the style, plot, strong characters and fast-moving story line, behind.
With a strong, warm voice that brings the South to life, "New York Times" bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe writes richly textured stories that intimately portray the complex and emotional relationships we share with families, friends, and the natural world.The tale contains all the elements to be a true southern charm. A wealth of interesting characters, cultural treasures and historical tidbits, but sadly combined with a overwhelmingly dollop of chick lit, brings forward another entertaining plot that is as much a love story as it is a suspense mystery. The river is presented as one of the main characters in the story.
More from the blurb:That is the basic plot.
Recovering from breast cancer and reeling from her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home to heal in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. She seeks refuge in a neglected fishing cabin belonging to her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson.
The closed-up mountain cabin, hiding all the secrets of Belle Carson's past, becomes Mia Landan's hide away. Everything about it screams neglect. Dead rodents, live spiders and mountains of dust over everything demands a daunting effort to open it up, clean away the disgrace and present its dignity to the world again. Belle Carsin strictly forbids the stirring of the mud surrounding the history of the cabin and its reclusive inhabitant - her grandmother Kate, whom she never knew and did not want to be associated with. But Mia had no other choice but to thoroughly clean the cabin in order for her to survive and heal.
She’d come to this sanctuary in the woods in the spring when her tears flowed like the rain. It was a time for renewal, and she dug deep and carefully planted seeds that had taken root in the long days and nights of summer to flourish and mature.Between the dishonorable past and the honorable future, lies a river, where fly fishing becomes the healer of three women: Kate, Belle and Mia. There was a mystery to be solved and a town's dignity to be restored.
“You see before you representatives of some of this town’s oldest and proudest families. Nada Turner is the editor and publisher of our newspaper. We speak for the town when we say that we demand an answer to this scandal that has clouded our city, spawned malicious gossip, and smeared the reputation of the Watkins family for two generations."There are two parallel stories gracing the tale:
1) Kate Watkins was both the fly fishing doyenne of the proud town Watkins Mill, and the femme fatale in local legend and gossip.
2) Mia Landan had to recover from her breast cancer treatment and her divorce.
Casting for Recovery was the weekend retreat where she met and befriended Belle Carson as a fly-fishing guide. Belle offers Mia the use of Belle's cabin called Watkins Cove, up in the mountains of western North Carolina for the summer. It becomes the retreat where Mia starts her new life as a cancer survivor and as a new woman when the river becomes the place where she can be warmed by the sun, cooled by the water, and filled with hope, rising in thin wisps of speckled silver, each time she cast her line onto the water. The river allowed Mia to feel the first glimmer of life since the shock of her diagnosis which had left her heart as numb as the white scare on her chest. Each time she launched her fishing line into the water, a spark of life beckons on the other end of the line. The refreshing, rejuvenating water will also introduce a new man into her life.
Only Kate Watkins's story line kept me committed to the book. The mystery with the suspense glued to it, combined with the 'mechanics' of fly-fishing was enough of a tale to render this book an excellent read. Mmmm, the fly-fishing was over presented really, but still.
It is kind of sad, to me personally, that this strong and complete mystery was not presented as a standalone saga. Covering, almost smothering, it with a chick lit cloud (Mia's story line), with all its predictable and stale elements in tow, kind of broke the spell for me. Hence the lower rating. Presenting a new lease on life in the form of a new male character could have worked just as well, if the fluff, fuzz and frills of cheap romance elements were replaced with something more realistic in scope. Was it really necessary for him to live in a modern, upmarket condo; was it necessary to portray him as the most attractive, hormonal disorder for women? Do we really need to know what she wears and how perfectly beautiful she is; flattering of eyes, blushing; detailed romps in the hay? Yikes. My lack of language skills do not allow me to continue ...
If the author ever turns up the guts to write similar, informative stories, without the hay-frolicking yeeehaaa blanketing the real story, I will become a dedicated fan.
However, it is still a very very good read with a powerful ending. It almost left the reader wondering if a follow-up was planned. If not, it still leaves a feeling of goodness, as provided by the style, plot, strong characters and fast-moving story line, behind.
June 27, 2008
This book is a July 2008 Indy Pick (aka BookSense)
This is a soothing and rare treasure of a book. Monroe has really outdone herself this time with the story of breast cancer survivor Mia Landan. After a year of surgeries, radical chemo and radiation, Mia is a ghost of who she once was--a socially polished public relations guru married to an equally driven and sophisticated lawyer. Mia's sister sends her on a 3 day weekend with Casting For Recovery (a real and very amazing group, by the way), a group of survivors who bond and heal, physically and emotionally, through fly fishing. Energized from the experience, she comes home to find her husband in bed with another woman. She blindly races back to the mountains and into the arms of Belle Carson, the fishing guide and infinitely kind hearted woman.
Belle owns a dilapidated cabin that she "rents" to Mia for the summer--it's Mia's job to fix the place up so that Belle can rent it out to fisherfolk come fall. But the cabin has a mysterious past that Mia gets completely obsessed with, involving her in the life, present and past, of small town Watkins Cove and the characters that live there. The mystery, the river, the fish, and the friendships bring Mia back to the land of the living and heal more than one person.
Told partly in narrative and partly through well researched historical diaries and letters, this is a very powerful story of forgiveness, redemption and new birth. Vitality flows through this book just a surely as the river flows next to the cabin. Any woman who believes--or least longs TO believe--in second chances should read this book.
This is a soothing and rare treasure of a book. Monroe has really outdone herself this time with the story of breast cancer survivor Mia Landan. After a year of surgeries, radical chemo and radiation, Mia is a ghost of who she once was--a socially polished public relations guru married to an equally driven and sophisticated lawyer. Mia's sister sends her on a 3 day weekend with Casting For Recovery (a real and very amazing group, by the way), a group of survivors who bond and heal, physically and emotionally, through fly fishing. Energized from the experience, she comes home to find her husband in bed with another woman. She blindly races back to the mountains and into the arms of Belle Carson, the fishing guide and infinitely kind hearted woman.
Belle owns a dilapidated cabin that she "rents" to Mia for the summer--it's Mia's job to fix the place up so that Belle can rent it out to fisherfolk come fall. But the cabin has a mysterious past that Mia gets completely obsessed with, involving her in the life, present and past, of small town Watkins Cove and the characters that live there. The mystery, the river, the fish, and the friendships bring Mia back to the land of the living and heal more than one person.
Told partly in narrative and partly through well researched historical diaries and letters, this is a very powerful story of forgiveness, redemption and new birth. Vitality flows through this book just a surely as the river flows next to the cabin. Any woman who believes--or least longs TO believe--in second chances should read this book.
December 26, 2016
I wasn't sure if I had it in me to finish this. Most of the first 100 or so pages were boring. There are two storylines and the one set in the early 1900s was the most interesting. At the halfway point, I decided to start skimming the pages, especially the descriptions of fly fishing. It was just okay overall.
October 12, 2017
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. - Henry David Thoreau
Just as she recovered from a breast cancer rehabilitation, Mia receives another unpleasant surprise; the husband she expected to be supported by in that difficult moment cheated on her with his secretary. Devastated and ashamed, Mia escapes to the one place she feels safe at; a cabin in the North Carolina Mountains. She makes a deal with the cabin owner and a friend, Bella, to fix and clean it and stay there for the summer.
Gradually, by bringing the old cabin together, Mia noticing how she recovers. The cabin once belonged to Kate Watkins, whose life was full of secrets, mystery, and rumors. Kate was accused of murdering her lover and her daughter ran away and never came back. After discovering Kate’s old journals and books, Mia understands what a remarkable woman Kate was and that all the speculations around her are false. Kate was a brilliant fisher and very talented painter. She wasn’t like other women of her era, she was independent, free-spirited and outspoken. Mia was inspired by Kate’s strong will and decides to leave her illness behind, divorce her husband and open a new chapter in her life.
She was determined to clear Kate’s name, the woman she never met but who brought so much impact in her life and reveal the long lost secrets.
Coming from Charleston, Mia wasn’t used to the friendliness of small-town citizens, and slowly lowered her guards and opened her heart to the new people she met in Watkins Glenn. The fly-fishing she was learning by Kate’s journals, assisted her to retrieve her own voice and see clearly how wrong she was living her life and how unhealthy her relationship with her husband Charles was. Slowly but steady, Mia gets the understanding about her life and what can make her truly happy. Along with the new friends, just as she lost the confidence in her attractiveness a new man comes in Mia’s life. A fly-fishing guide Stuart, whose friendship became precious to her.
After reading my first novel by Mary Alive Monroe earlier this fall, I was sure I’m going to read more. Her novels are so full of kindness and comfort, and that makes me want to go back to the pages I’ve just read. Like The Second Star to The Right, Time Is a River is a story of self-discovering and learning to live the life you always wanted but never dared. Let me just say, her novels make you want to travel and learn some new skills, otherwise how can you explain my urge to go fly-fishing and learn to draw watercolors? If you need a little bit of self-encouragement on a difficult day, read this book and I promise you, you’ll find an inspiration.
February 1, 2017
In some ways this was an enjoyable read. It was a book my husband picked up at the library and thought I might like. I was interested in the way Mia seeks to recover not only from the trauma of breast cancer but the infidelity of her husband. It was easy to feel empathy for her as she seeks to rebuild her self-esteem and her life. What was not so easy was the way she disregarded her friend Belle’s directive not to go digging into her family’s past. However, if she had not ignored Belle then you would not have had had much of a story as the plot hinges on her doing just that. My other problem was the inconsistencies of attitudes, both Mia’s and the town’s in regard to Belle’s grandmother, Kate Watkins. This didn’t ring true to me. And yet I admit, I kept reading which shows there was enough in the story to interest me.
The emphasis on fly fishing, which is something I have zilch interest in, I tended to skim over. But I liked reading about the setting. It is, after all, one I am never likely to visit. No way would you ever get me staying in a cabin in the wilds. The characters did maintain my interest, even if I didn’t always agree with their actions and attitudes. So, all in all, the type of book you might pick up for a beach read or during holidays, which was exactly the case with me. Not overly taxing but entertaining and with some romance thrown in.
The emphasis on fly fishing, which is something I have zilch interest in, I tended to skim over. But I liked reading about the setting. It is, after all, one I am never likely to visit. No way would you ever get me staying in a cabin in the wilds. The characters did maintain my interest, even if I didn’t always agree with their actions and attitudes. So, all in all, the type of book you might pick up for a beach read or during holidays, which was exactly the case with me. Not overly taxing but entertaining and with some romance thrown in.
July 23, 2016
I thought that I had read all of Mary Alice Monroe's books but somehow I missed this one. I listened to it on a long drive and my involvement in this book made the miles fly by.
Mia is a breast cancer survivor on the physical side of recovery but still dealing with it from a mental and emotional standpoint. Her sister sends her to a survivor retreat in the NC mountains called Casting for Recovery, where breast cancer survivors learn to fly fish and connect with nature and each other as a means of recovery. When Mia returns home, she finds her husband in bed with another woman and she flees back to the NC mountains. She rents a small cabin and decides to stay there for the summer to try to figure out her future life and gets involved in the mystery surrounding the original owner of the cabin.
As with all of Mary Alice's books, her love of nature and the environment shines throughout this book. The river and the mountains are as much a part of the story as the characters. One additional note, Casting for Recovery is a real group that is involved with breast cancer survivors and I am very impressed with their work.
This is a great book - not only do you get a wonderful story but you get to mentally spend time in the beautiful NC mountains.
Mia is a breast cancer survivor on the physical side of recovery but still dealing with it from a mental and emotional standpoint. Her sister sends her to a survivor retreat in the NC mountains called Casting for Recovery, where breast cancer survivors learn to fly fish and connect with nature and each other as a means of recovery. When Mia returns home, she finds her husband in bed with another woman and she flees back to the NC mountains. She rents a small cabin and decides to stay there for the summer to try to figure out her future life and gets involved in the mystery surrounding the original owner of the cabin.
As with all of Mary Alice's books, her love of nature and the environment shines throughout this book. The river and the mountains are as much a part of the story as the characters. One additional note, Casting for Recovery is a real group that is involved with breast cancer survivors and I am very impressed with their work.
This is a great book - not only do you get a wonderful story but you get to mentally spend time in the beautiful NC mountains.
June 14, 2018
It has been some time since I've read a book as beautifully written as this one. The story is engaging, the words tumble effortlessly just as the river Mia fishes in tumbles down the mountain. The setting is lovely, the cabin is dreamy. The author makes mountain life even more enticing than I already feel it is. The friendships Mia builds are wonderful, her healing and growth are refreshing and Stuart is the quintessential romantic Scotsman. I didn't want this story to end, and it's been even longer since I've read a book where that has happened to me. Is it wrong that I literally hugged this book when I (sadly) finished reading it? I don't want to have to return it to the library, therefore I will have to purchase my own copy for my home library so I can read this treasure again in the future.
February 17, 2010
This was a great book. It spoke to me in ways no other book has. It is the story of a breast cancer survivor who makes a life for herself after her recovery, which is complicated by a divorce when her husband decides he no longer wants a relationship with her after the loss of her breast.
Mia landan is much more strong than she thinks she is. I really identified with her character because I had breast cancer 4 years ago. Mia and I both found out who our real friends were. True friends stick around for you, others don't.
Mia is able to solve a mystery for a community where she temporarily stays after her husband tells her he wants a divorce. She learns to fly fish, fix things and even builds a new sidewalk for her landlady. She learns that she is strong and can do what she puts her mind to work doing. She even forms a relationship with a fishing guide, who loves Mia for who she is and not for her missing breast.
he book gives me hope that I, too, can come out of a diagnosis of breast cancer even stronger than I am now. But, you have to wrk on your mind and body first. If you don't, you will end up feeling inadequate as a person. Mia's message is to keep up your hope and things will get better. When you lose hope, you have nothing left.
Mia landan is much more strong than she thinks she is. I really identified with her character because I had breast cancer 4 years ago. Mia and I both found out who our real friends were. True friends stick around for you, others don't.
Mia is able to solve a mystery for a community where she temporarily stays after her husband tells her he wants a divorce. She learns to fly fish, fix things and even builds a new sidewalk for her landlady. She learns that she is strong and can do what she puts her mind to work doing. She even forms a relationship with a fishing guide, who loves Mia for who she is and not for her missing breast.
he book gives me hope that I, too, can come out of a diagnosis of breast cancer even stronger than I am now. But, you have to wrk on your mind and body first. If you don't, you will end up feeling inadequate as a person. Mia's message is to keep up your hope and things will get better. When you lose hope, you have nothing left.
August 13, 2008
Recovering from breast cancer and stil reeling from her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan seeks refuge in a friend's long-empty cabin near Ashville, North Carolina. As Mia cleans, she finds the journal of 1920s renown fly-fisherwoman Kate Watkins, her friend's grandmother. Mia learns of Kate's affair with a married man, and that according to local lore Kate has long been the prime suspect in his murder.
As Mia reads more of the journal, she becomes convinced that Kate is innocent. As she works to clear Kate's name with the locals, Mia also begins to heal herself in the process as well as reconnect her friend with a grandmother she never knew.
A strong, emotional read with well-developed characters.
Recommended.
As Mia reads more of the journal, she becomes convinced that Kate is innocent. As she works to clear Kate's name with the locals, Mia also begins to heal herself in the process as well as reconnect her friend with a grandmother she never knew.
A strong, emotional read with well-developed characters.
Recommended.
August 27, 2025
I enjoyed this novel. A breast cancer survivor moves into a small cabin in the Appalalacian Mtns. that belonged to a friend’s grandmother. She’s learning how to fly fish, and find herself after her husband dumps her. The story has lots of nature and fly fishing. The protagonist makes good friends in town, and there is a mystery that’s solved by the end of the story.
September 2, 2012
I could not stop reading until I finished this wonderful novel. The language, flow, mood, and themes speak to me. As I was reading I suddenly remembered and embraced another book by another author that equally drew me in. In the 1970's I read Norman Maclean's A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, long before it was made into a movie. At the time I read Maclean's story I was deeply touched as it reminded me of how closely tied my life has always been to flowing bodies of water. To anyone who enjoys reading southern literature or knows the joys of spending an afternoon mesmerized by a lake, stream, lake, or an ocean, reading TIME IS A RIVER is time well spent. (Thank you, Jesse, for recommending it to me.)
If you have never read Maclean's A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT I highly recommend it as well. The movie as grand as it was did not do justice to that piece of literature.
"Now nearly all those I loved and did not understand when I was young are dead, but I still reach out to them.
Of course, now I am too old to be much of a fisherman, and now of course I usually fish the big waters alone, although some friends think I shouldn't. Like many fly fishermen in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters." Norman Maclean
If you have never read Maclean's A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT I highly recommend it as well. The movie as grand as it was did not do justice to that piece of literature.
"Now nearly all those I loved and did not understand when I was young are dead, but I still reach out to them.
Of course, now I am too old to be much of a fisherman, and now of course I usually fish the big waters alone, although some friends think I shouldn't. Like many fly fishermen in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters." Norman Maclean
October 20, 2008
I felt that this book had great potential at the beginning, vividly painting pain and anguish we often must confront in life but as the story went on it offered a healing process that I found largely unrealistic, troubling, and even angering.
while the protagonist may very well have found solace and healing in her actions, I am troubled by the lack of contrition of the main character when she went against the clear and deliberate wishes of the friend whose charity she was living off of, and dug up a family history of her friend that she wished to leave undisturbed. I find it unrealistic that the friend would forgive her.
I found it extremely troubling and even angering that the story vilifies unfaithful spouse and shows the subsequent brokenness and sheer anguish experienced by the protagonist yet hallows and promotes the actions of the parallel protagonist whose story largely revolves around the fact that she too inflicted the same pain upon another woman. It is as if it condones all behavior so long as you are not the one that ends up getting shafted.
while the protagonist may very well have found solace and healing in her actions, I am troubled by the lack of contrition of the main character when she went against the clear and deliberate wishes of the friend whose charity she was living off of, and dug up a family history of her friend that she wished to leave undisturbed. I find it unrealistic that the friend would forgive her.
I found it extremely troubling and even angering that the story vilifies unfaithful spouse and shows the subsequent brokenness and sheer anguish experienced by the protagonist yet hallows and promotes the actions of the parallel protagonist whose story largely revolves around the fact that she too inflicted the same pain upon another woman. It is as if it condones all behavior so long as you are not the one that ends up getting shafted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2008
wow. I love the satisfied, sated feeling I get after finishing a great book. This book gave me that feeling. It’s such a perfect blend of romance, intrigue and woman finding her self. That’s the kind of story I really like.
Mia flees to a remote cabin in the North Carolina mountains when her marriage fails. She’s recovering from breast cancer, learning how to fly-fish and discovering herself. And investigating the life of Kate Watkins, the woman who lived in the cabin, and according to town legend murdered her lover. But Kate, a pioneer of female fly-fishing (in the 1920s) was more complicated than that and as Mia digs she finds more of herself.
Just a lovely summer read, rich with historical detail and descriptions of fly-fishing.
Mia flees to a remote cabin in the North Carolina mountains when her marriage fails. She’s recovering from breast cancer, learning how to fly-fish and discovering herself. And investigating the life of Kate Watkins, the woman who lived in the cabin, and according to town legend murdered her lover. But Kate, a pioneer of female fly-fishing (in the 1920s) was more complicated than that and as Mia digs she finds more of herself.
Just a lovely summer read, rich with historical detail and descriptions of fly-fishing.
May 21, 2014
Interesting, sweet, timeless read. Two different time periods are interspersed which does stimulate interest in the story. I particularly found the book worthwhile because one of the main characters stays in a river cabin that is filled with antiques, books, and a bit of a mystery. There is also a little romance thrown in but not too much so it gets all syrupy gushie.
The subject of fly fishing is the common theme. I have never even tried this sport nor do I want to; however, the subject was interesting and not at all boring while reading. The trout were caught and released which might help the faint of heart.
One of the main charactera, Mia, is a breast cancer survivor. Her journey was thought provoking.
The subject of fly fishing is the common theme. I have never even tried this sport nor do I want to; however, the subject was interesting and not at all boring while reading. The trout were caught and released which might help the faint of heart.
One of the main charactera, Mia, is a breast cancer survivor. Her journey was thought provoking.
March 9, 2014
I must admit as much as I love this author and how she writes, I wasn't looking forward to the sad topic such as breast cancer. Amazingly, I was enraptured with this book. Ms. Monroe has a wonderful ability to weave wonderful stories with the greatest details that literally draw you into the story so you don't want to put it down. Yes, breast cancer was a major item, but it takes a back seat to how Mia grows from it's low depth into a self assured woman. I absolutely love the fascinating art of fly fishing and how this was her stepping stone to an amazing world she discovered. I don't want to reveal too much, that is the joy of this reading adventure.
April 20, 2009
WARNING: CHICK-FLICK REVIEW!
This is a novel I purchased one Friday evening during one of my stops at the local Wal-Mart to purchase what I am sure was a buggy-full-of-can't-live-without-items and when I was also in need of an escape from the land of education...then I proceeded to not read it for several weeks due to not being able to escape Educity.
Now back to the novel...Time Is a River.
This journey, written by Mary Alice Monroe, appealed to me because the main character is a breast cancer survivor. I could not remember reading one on such a close-to-the-arm topic (I once had a melanoma insitu there...oh, the dreaded "C" word...an insitu is a cancer that has not invaded below the first layer or two of skin)...nor one on fly-fishing, not that this topic appeals to be personally but is interesting from a sitting-in-my-comfy chair distance. Right?
The next selling point was the multi-genre approach the author achieved. What a great way to "hook" an English teacher! Besides the narrative format, Monroe includes a poem, several diary entries, letters, and famous quotes. Just too cool! A sly way to enter more than one character's head, more thoughts, multiple dreams.
Then the extended metaphor: the river becomes the life-sustaining need of the main character Mia Landon, with whom one cannot help but bond because of her many imperfections. Just as we each face our own reflection in the mirror and find all its many faults, Mia struggles and does overcome her many insecurities...those appointed her by this deadly disease and her adulteress ex-husband (let's see...can a male be an adulteress? Sorry, the description just fits.)
The setting: Mia escapes her reality to find reality (yes, tis true) in a cabin by a river on a mountain...a place far-removed from civilization. Her cell phone could not even get reception! To such a place she goes and faces loneliness as she never has before. Now for the irony? I read this novel during Arkansas' Ice Storm 2009. As I read/heard the many strange sounds of the night within this novel as Mia overcomes her fear of the night, I also heard the lonely pops of the limbs and trees on our land as they succumbed to the weight of the ice that had them enclosed. I heard nature's call...both through fiction and non-fiction.
As a Christian, I appreciated Monroe's affirmation of God through this character who had endured so much who concludes that she could not help but believe in Him after what she went through. Good testimony. Good enough for anyone.
Did I mention this is a ghost story? Out of all Mia's fear, ghosts are not one of them. Maybe this is because this ghost is troubled, and Mia can empathize with that. As a means of helping another hurting person...or ghost, in this case, Mia makes some heroic and very determined endeavors to help this ghost finally rest in peace.
Then I finished the novel and realized that this novel had been and could be used as a focus for a book club with the series of questions that followed. My favorite? #15. The reader is to reflect and find characteristics of a fairy tale. You can! Now who does not enjoy a good fairy tale? No matter what age you are! Thus, I encourage your reading this question before reading the novel.
Wondering if Mia finds her Prince Charming? SPOILER ALERT! She does!
This is a novel I purchased one Friday evening during one of my stops at the local Wal-Mart to purchase what I am sure was a buggy-full-of-can't-live-without-items and when I was also in need of an escape from the land of education...then I proceeded to not read it for several weeks due to not being able to escape Educity.
Now back to the novel...Time Is a River.
This journey, written by Mary Alice Monroe, appealed to me because the main character is a breast cancer survivor. I could not remember reading one on such a close-to-the-arm topic (I once had a melanoma insitu there...oh, the dreaded "C" word...an insitu is a cancer that has not invaded below the first layer or two of skin)...nor one on fly-fishing, not that this topic appeals to be personally but is interesting from a sitting-in-my-comfy chair distance. Right?
The next selling point was the multi-genre approach the author achieved. What a great way to "hook" an English teacher! Besides the narrative format, Monroe includes a poem, several diary entries, letters, and famous quotes. Just too cool! A sly way to enter more than one character's head, more thoughts, multiple dreams.
Then the extended metaphor: the river becomes the life-sustaining need of the main character Mia Landon, with whom one cannot help but bond because of her many imperfections. Just as we each face our own reflection in the mirror and find all its many faults, Mia struggles and does overcome her many insecurities...those appointed her by this deadly disease and her adulteress ex-husband (let's see...can a male be an adulteress? Sorry, the description just fits.)
The setting: Mia escapes her reality to find reality (yes, tis true) in a cabin by a river on a mountain...a place far-removed from civilization. Her cell phone could not even get reception! To such a place she goes and faces loneliness as she never has before. Now for the irony? I read this novel during Arkansas' Ice Storm 2009. As I read/heard the many strange sounds of the night within this novel as Mia overcomes her fear of the night, I also heard the lonely pops of the limbs and trees on our land as they succumbed to the weight of the ice that had them enclosed. I heard nature's call...both through fiction and non-fiction.
As a Christian, I appreciated Monroe's affirmation of God through this character who had endured so much who concludes that she could not help but believe in Him after what she went through. Good testimony. Good enough for anyone.
Did I mention this is a ghost story? Out of all Mia's fear, ghosts are not one of them. Maybe this is because this ghost is troubled, and Mia can empathize with that. As a means of helping another hurting person...or ghost, in this case, Mia makes some heroic and very determined endeavors to help this ghost finally rest in peace.
Then I finished the novel and realized that this novel had been and could be used as a focus for a book club with the series of questions that followed. My favorite? #15. The reader is to reflect and find characteristics of a fairy tale. You can! Now who does not enjoy a good fairy tale? No matter what age you are! Thus, I encourage your reading this question before reading the novel.
Wondering if Mia finds her Prince Charming? SPOILER ALERT! She does!
June 10, 2009
I loved this book. It is a beatifully written novel that is so much more than a romance novel. It is a story of a woman who has been at her lowest in life and finds her way back again and rediscovers herself and her true beauty through the metaphor of fly fishing.
It is set in the beautiful moutains of North Carolina which is one of the prettiest places on earth to me and Mrs. Monroe describes it with honesty and love.
It combines a love of all things good about the south the hospitality, the ability to tell a good yarn and the love of home,family(the bonds of sisters) and about the love of the land and culture. All of this can be found in this book.
I would recommend to anyone who just likes a good book and a story well told.
It is set in the beautiful moutains of North Carolina which is one of the prettiest places on earth to me and Mrs. Monroe describes it with honesty and love.
It combines a love of all things good about the south the hospitality, the ability to tell a good yarn and the love of home,family(the bonds of sisters) and about the love of the land and culture. All of this can be found in this book.
I would recommend to anyone who just likes a good book and a story well told.
April 1, 2015
This is a heartwarming novel about a woman named Mia who is recovering from breast cancer and her husband’s infidelity. She spends time in a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina to recuperate and rebuild her sense of self.
All of the characters are well-developed and endearing. The author has a wonderful writing style. There’s also a story within a story about a trail-blazing female fly-fisher in the 1920s. There is mystery and romance as well. I highly recommend it.
All of the characters are well-developed and endearing. The author has a wonderful writing style. There’s also a story within a story about a trail-blazing female fly-fisher in the 1920s. There is mystery and romance as well. I highly recommend it.
September 13, 2008
I really enjoyed the first 100 pages of this book but then...it seemed to drag on... and there are many references to fly fishing...and you know fly fishing just didn't peek an interest in me! :) It is a mixture of a present day story intertwined with a past story that I just struggled keeping interest in.
September 15, 2008
This is not just the story of a breast cancer survivors battle with overcoming the fear of cancer. It is a lesson in living life to the fullest. The novel compares the river and fly-fishing the river, to the ups and downs in life. She learns to be thankful for the miracles!
July 22, 2017
I'm such a big Mary Alice Monroe fan and this book was really a keeper! Set away from her beloved Charleston area, this book is set up in the mountains of North Carolina. After Mia Landon discovers her husband cheating on her, she flees to a small cabin near Asheville owned by a woman running a fly fishing program for women recovering from breast cancer. As she begins to try and heal her spirit and body she stumbles upon a diary of Kate Watkins, a legendary fly fisher who owned the cabin previous. Kate's story is one of a strong woman fighting to be recognized in a sport for men only. Kate's lover disappears under mysterious circumstances that leaves a black cloud over the family for generations. Mia becomes drawn to the story and Kate and is determined to find out the real story. This book is a wonderful story of bravery, strong will, and determination. Excellent read!
January 29, 2020
I enjoyed learning about fly fishing something I knew nothing about. A nice story.
July 23, 2024
Beautiful story. I couldn’t put it down.
February 16, 2014
Recovering from breast cancer and still reeling from the revelation of her husband's infidelity, Mia Landan flees her Charleston home for the healing serenity of the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. She seeks refuge in a neglected cabin belonging to her fly-fishing instructor, Belle Carson.
Belle has recently inherited the cabin, which once belonged to a grandmother she never knew - a legendary fly fisher and journalist from the 1920s. Kate Watkins may have once been spoken of with great reverence and pride among her peers, but after she is accused of murdering her lover, her life falls into ruins. Her fortune lost in the stock market crash and her reputation utterly destroyed, Kate retreated into seclusion in the remote cabin. After her death, the fishing cabin remained locked and virtually abandoned for decades.
Little does Belle realize that by opening the cabin doors to Mia for a summer's sanctuary, she will be reopening the scandal that has plagued her family for generations.
From her first step inside the dusty cabin, Mia is captivated by the remnants of Kate's mysterious story left behind in the eccentric furnishings of her cabin. And though Belle, ashamed of the tabloid scandal that tortured her mother, warns Mia not to fan the flames, Mia feels compelled to find out more about Kate...especially when she discovers Kate's journal.
The inspiring words of a remarkable woman echo across the years; and Mia - just learning to fly-fish - finds Kate's wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. She begins a quest to uncover the truth behind the lies. As she searches newspaper archives and listens to the colorful recollections of the local residents, the story of a proud, fiercely independent woman emerges.
Mia feels a strange kinship with the woman who, like her, suffered fears, betrayal, the death of loved ones, and a fall from grace - yet found strength, compassion and, ultimately, forgiveness in her isolation. A truly inspiring story is revealed - timeless in its appeal, with the power to reopen old wounds, but a story which also is a miraculous balm - bringing peace and healing for Mia, for Kate's descendants, and for all those in Mia's new community.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I found that the plot was relatively fast-paced - although there were some scenes that moved along at a more leisurely pace. Overall though, this was a very quick read that drew me in right from the beginning. I was also intrigued by the mysterious subplot and wanted to know what would happen next. I give this book an A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Belle has recently inherited the cabin, which once belonged to a grandmother she never knew - a legendary fly fisher and journalist from the 1920s. Kate Watkins may have once been spoken of with great reverence and pride among her peers, but after she is accused of murdering her lover, her life falls into ruins. Her fortune lost in the stock market crash and her reputation utterly destroyed, Kate retreated into seclusion in the remote cabin. After her death, the fishing cabin remained locked and virtually abandoned for decades.
Little does Belle realize that by opening the cabin doors to Mia for a summer's sanctuary, she will be reopening the scandal that has plagued her family for generations.
From her first step inside the dusty cabin, Mia is captivated by the remnants of Kate's mysterious story left behind in the eccentric furnishings of her cabin. And though Belle, ashamed of the tabloid scandal that tortured her mother, warns Mia not to fan the flames, Mia feels compelled to find out more about Kate...especially when she discovers Kate's journal.
The inspiring words of a remarkable woman echo across the years; and Mia - just learning to fly-fish - finds Kate's wise words comparing life to a river resonate deeply. She begins a quest to uncover the truth behind the lies. As she searches newspaper archives and listens to the colorful recollections of the local residents, the story of a proud, fiercely independent woman emerges.
Mia feels a strange kinship with the woman who, like her, suffered fears, betrayal, the death of loved ones, and a fall from grace - yet found strength, compassion and, ultimately, forgiveness in her isolation. A truly inspiring story is revealed - timeless in its appeal, with the power to reopen old wounds, but a story which also is a miraculous balm - bringing peace and healing for Mia, for Kate's descendants, and for all those in Mia's new community.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I found that the plot was relatively fast-paced - although there were some scenes that moved along at a more leisurely pace. Overall though, this was a very quick read that drew me in right from the beginning. I was also intrigued by the mysterious subplot and wanted to know what would happen next. I give this book an A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
April 15, 2023
Love all her books! This one different from most. Mia leaves Charleston for the hills of North Carolina to live in a cabin and she learns how to fly fish..I always learn something new!
May 9, 2009
This is soothing novel about healing and moving past survival to abundant living. It makes me want to head to the nearest river and learn to fly fish. The main character is a woman who is forced to find herself again after a bout with breast cancer. the story springboards from an organization called "casting for recovery" which teaches breast cancer patients and survivors how to fly fish as a therapeutic tool.
It is a sweet story, a satisfying read. Here is one excerpt spoke to me:
"Standing in the river with the water rushing at her ankles and the light of the fireflies in her eyes, she too felt part of the river's enduring flow. She heard gurgles and splashes as the voice of the river and she closed her eyes,listening. Let go and follow me.....
"Stuart, I know what sickness is. That's where I've come from. And I know what it's like to be healthy. To not live under the shadow of cancer. That's where I want to be again.For the longest time I didn't know how to get from pain to well. I was stuck in this dark place, numb with fear. But when I'm in the river I'm living completely in the moment. Not in the past, not in the future, but in the now.Time swirls together like the water at my feet and I am standing in time and time is a river and i am the river."
Even if you are not struggling with cancer, with divorce, with any hard thing, read this book. It will lift your spirit.
It is a sweet story, a satisfying read. Here is one excerpt spoke to me:
"Standing in the river with the water rushing at her ankles and the light of the fireflies in her eyes, she too felt part of the river's enduring flow. She heard gurgles and splashes as the voice of the river and she closed her eyes,listening. Let go and follow me.....
"Stuart, I know what sickness is. That's where I've come from. And I know what it's like to be healthy. To not live under the shadow of cancer. That's where I want to be again.For the longest time I didn't know how to get from pain to well. I was stuck in this dark place, numb with fear. But when I'm in the river I'm living completely in the moment. Not in the past, not in the future, but in the now.Time swirls together like the water at my feet and I am standing in time and time is a river and i am the river."
Even if you are not struggling with cancer, with divorce, with any hard thing, read this book. It will lift your spirit.
June 30, 2009
I really loved this book. Is sparked that reading fire in me again. It has been some time since I have felt that pull to spend hours curled up with a story. I'm greatful that it is back.
Mia is a survivor. A breast-cancer survivor and a woman surviving the betrayals of a cheating husband. To cope with the sudden changes in her life, Mia runs for refuge to a cabin hidden in the North Carolina mountains. Armed with nothing but determination and a fly-fishing rod, Mia will learn what hope really means and find inspiration in Kate Watkins--an accused murderer from the 1920's. Kate's story of tragic loss and ultimately, strength and forgiveness reaches through the decades that seperate these two women and changes Mia forever.
A great story of courage. love, a bit of mystery, and a lot of hope. So easy to get caught up in.
Mia is a survivor. A breast-cancer survivor and a woman surviving the betrayals of a cheating husband. To cope with the sudden changes in her life, Mia runs for refuge to a cabin hidden in the North Carolina mountains. Armed with nothing but determination and a fly-fishing rod, Mia will learn what hope really means and find inspiration in Kate Watkins--an accused murderer from the 1920's. Kate's story of tragic loss and ultimately, strength and forgiveness reaches through the decades that seperate these two women and changes Mia forever.
A great story of courage. love, a bit of mystery, and a lot of hope. So easy to get caught up in.
August 11, 2009
Key quotes:
"I write these words down because I do not want them to come back into my heart. By writing these words down I must face the feelings. It is strange how I feel a shiver of the feeling when I say the word aloud. I shall read the words over and over until that feeling is gone. These are the feelings of the lost. I am not lost." p. 83
"Rivers and streams can have dangerously swift currents. Remain alert and cautious when stepping foot into any moving water. Once in the water, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and one foot slightly in back of the other. Once anchored in your position you can concentrate on your cast. A stable stance is a must in strong currents. As any dancer knows, the secret is balance." p. 301
"There are times when the storm clouds roll in and lightening flashes above that you have to use common sense and get out of the water." p. 315
"I write these words down because I do not want them to come back into my heart. By writing these words down I must face the feelings. It is strange how I feel a shiver of the feeling when I say the word aloud. I shall read the words over and over until that feeling is gone. These are the feelings of the lost. I am not lost." p. 83
"Rivers and streams can have dangerously swift currents. Remain alert and cautious when stepping foot into any moving water. Once in the water, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and one foot slightly in back of the other. Once anchored in your position you can concentrate on your cast. A stable stance is a must in strong currents. As any dancer knows, the secret is balance." p. 301
"There are times when the storm clouds roll in and lightening flashes above that you have to use common sense and get out of the water." p. 315
September 18, 2009
Here's an easy read with a clear meaning. There's romance, mystery, betrayal, renewal. The lure of fly fishing has eluded me even though my husband is an avid fly fisherman. This book explores the human connection to the river and nature.
It's easy to admire Kate Watkins, a fictional fishing guide, who gained fame in the 1920's when fly fishing was a male dominated sport. I got drawn into the mystery surrounding her lover's disappearance - was the gossip that Kate had murdered him accurate? That's what the main character, Mia, is compelled to find out. When Mia takes refuge in Kate's long abandoned cabin to recover mentally from a victory against breast cancer and other personal loss, she is drawn to Kate's story and begins to stir up the mud.
I relaxed and went with the flow of the book.
It's easy to admire Kate Watkins, a fictional fishing guide, who gained fame in the 1920's when fly fishing was a male dominated sport. I got drawn into the mystery surrounding her lover's disappearance - was the gossip that Kate had murdered him accurate? That's what the main character, Mia, is compelled to find out. When Mia takes refuge in Kate's long abandoned cabin to recover mentally from a victory against breast cancer and other personal loss, she is drawn to Kate's story and begins to stir up the mud.
I relaxed and went with the flow of the book.
August 17, 2010
When my book club picked this, I was NOT excited at first. After reading it however, I loved it! This isn't just about a woman who survived breast cancer and finds hope in fly-fishing. It's a real like at what it's like to get hope and purpose back. Perhaps even finding yourself when it was buried in the life you lead. Let's face it, many of us don't reflect on who we are very often...and perhaps we should.
I also loved the "mystery" aspect of this book. Being a history buff myself, it was fun to dive into a town's history and the obvious that the mood of the town can affect how it sees even its most prominent members.
I also loved the "mystery" aspect of this book. Being a history buff myself, it was fun to dive into a town's history and the obvious that the mood of the town can affect how it sees even its most prominent members.
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