Swimming in the Starry River

by Carey P. Reid

When Jim quits his job so that his wife Marsha can pursue her career, he finds life becoming simultaneously more difficult and more rich as he cares for their daughter Stella, who has a life-threatening disease. A first novel.

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Katherine Dalton]

Beautifully written and right to the heart. The father is a very real character with his own short failings, but he bring awareness and love throughout the whole story. I felt like there were parts of the book that didn’t need to be sexualized that were, but it could’ve been an authors way of manifesting the echos of sexual abuse.

Overall it was a really splendid, sad story.

[Jakki]

A night time routine of distraction telling stories of stars and mythology seemed to work for the physically challenged daddy as he carried his medically fragile young daughter on his shoulders. It was a way for both of them to set aside thoughts of her school disasters, upcoming Dr appointments and all that made life hard for a child with a disability.

A sweet and compelling novel, as a mama of an adult daughter with challenges the book gently led me back to those early days when she was young...trying my best to provide distractions of some sort.

[Joanie]

The little girl in this book is dying of a very rare illness. It's told from her father's point of view as he tries to care for her and come to terms with her imminent death. I just found this in my basement-I had forgotten all about it.

[Marya Leatherwood]

Although this book deals with a very difficult topic, the illness of a child, it is a story of great courage and dignity - definitely worth reading!

[Juliet]

P. Carey Reid's grasp of metaphor and simile make this already enchanting story vivid and enduring; the love between father and daughter is palpable.

[Fishsanwitt]

stamped

[JennyMac]

Beautiful book. LOVED it.

[Lexie]

heart wrenching book and so inspiring

[Cathy]

Well written and touching story of a dad's love for his daughter.

[Nancy]

Top 10 1994

[Patty]

Sad, but I liked it. I read it before having kids, however -- don't know if I could read it now.