The River- Blog Tour

 

Author: Craig A Smith

Publisher: Into Books

Publishing Date: 20th March 2025 

Many thanks to the publishing team and Random Things Tours for my physical copy and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

The River is a life-spanning epic novel about death and new beginnings. There's a saying, beloved of Scottish grannies: "Whit's fur ye will no' go by ye". Seemingly embracing this maxim, Lachlan McCormack lives his life as aimless as a piece of driftwood, but somehow gets to where he always wanted to be - where the river meets the sea.

The novel is a love story, both to his childhood sweetheart, and to Scotland, and follows Lachlan's journey through seven decades of the nation's political, sporting and cultural history (and disappointments). Along the way, it appears that only death has the power to propel him onward, and the novel revisits the seven significant deaths that have shaped him and mapped his journey. It explores the cyclical nature of life, love, happiness, and Scotland's ongoing struggle with its place in the world.

My Thoughts 

The authors writing and story telling was very well done. The descriptions of the setting and plot made it feel like you could imagine it all happening.

The story was paced and you can feel the emotions and love and loss between Lachlan and Morag. Even after many years apart they had this raw connection that ran deep than they even realised. We follow the life of Lachlan from childhood through adulthood and how many challenges he has endure during this time. You begin to wonder if some things didn't happen which direction would his life go in. 

The story spans from 1950 til 2016 and touches on many issues through this time. The plot also touches on politics and the effects this has on the choices everyone makes

I was hooked from page 1 and really enjoyed it.