What do you think?
Rate this book
Dancing the River Lightly
River. Dog. Storm. Cop. Rubber boots. Old man. Gay man. Two Mormons. Blackmail. Cascade Mountains. San Juan Islands. Trees by the truckload. Oreo cookies. More storms. Tennessee whiskey. Magic mushrooms. Thunder and lightning. A cameo or two by God.
And they dare to call it fiction...
And they dare to call it fiction...
366 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2005
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2014
I hadn't really expected much when I started reading this book. The cover art makes one assume this is a 'nature' novel. One of those outdoorsy books about people getting back to the land. But Dancing The River Lightly is as much a guide to the outdoors as Stephen King's The Shining is a 'how to' book on running a hotel.
Dancing tells the story of a diverse group of people who become caught in a storm, both the literal type with wind and rain, and one of their own creation. There is a gay man who goes on a spiritual quest after consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms and ends up befriending a Mormon woman. The woman's husband is blackmailed after getting a massage from a woman who turns out to be his sister-in-law. An old man falls in the river and a lesbian cop tries to solve a possible murder.
Quite a complex story, but Sheldon handles it all with amazing skill. A very impressive novel and I can not wait to read more from him.
Dancing tells the story of a diverse group of people who become caught in a storm, both the literal type with wind and rain, and one of their own creation. There is a gay man who goes on a spiritual quest after consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms and ends up befriending a Mormon woman. The woman's husband is blackmailed after getting a massage from a woman who turns out to be his sister-in-law. An old man falls in the river and a lesbian cop tries to solve a possible murder.
Quite a complex story, but Sheldon handles it all with amazing skill. A very impressive novel and I can not wait to read more from him.
September 12, 2014
A Dance You May Never Wish To End
Who could resist a book that promises whiskey, magic mushrooms, and a cameo or two by god?
This was one of the more surprising and enjoyable reading experiences that I have had in months, I only wish that there were more than five stars to give it. Don’t even mind the lack of sleep caused by a reoccurrence of the ‘just one more chapter and then bed’ syndrome of mine.
With the skill of a master craftsman, the author weaves together the lives of an eclectic casts of characters for an adventurous week of affirmations, revelations and wild weather. Even if you might not particularly like them within moments of their introductions, you feel as though you have known these characters all your life. They are your friends, neighbors, and even your family (whether you claim them or not).
*** This book was won as a Goodreads First Reads ***
Who could resist a book that promises whiskey, magic mushrooms, and a cameo or two by god?
This was one of the more surprising and enjoyable reading experiences that I have had in months, I only wish that there were more than five stars to give it. Don’t even mind the lack of sleep caused by a reoccurrence of the ‘just one more chapter and then bed’ syndrome of mine.
With the skill of a master craftsman, the author weaves together the lives of an eclectic casts of characters for an adventurous week of affirmations, revelations and wild weather. Even if you might not particularly like them within moments of their introductions, you feel as though you have known these characters all your life. They are your friends, neighbors, and even your family (whether you claim them or not).
*** This book was won as a Goodreads First Reads ***
February 27, 2014
I received this book free from a GoodReads give-away. At first I wasn't sure where this book was going. I was afraid it was going to just make fun of Mormons. I'm sure there are people like Benjamin in the church but most that I know don't fit that stereotype. As I read more though, I found myself enjoying all the different characters that some how come together during the storm. I liked how the characters lives all intertwined throughout the story and how stereotypes were dropped as the characters realized how much they enjoyed each other. As a lover of happy endings, I would have liked to see Benjamin have a change of heart and realize that people are more important than prestige and money, but maybe I can think that happens down the road. Overall I really liked this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2013
The characters in this book were believable that it was not hard to imagine them.
I really like the way each character came to the realization of their short comings, phobias or fears, except one of course, Benjamin, and then there was the storm. I think we all need a storm, or whatever form you would like to term it, in our life to make us realize what is really important.
In the description of the book it says that God may make an appearance or two and this would scare of some, but for me that isn’t the main theme of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, even the non- believers because don’t we all believe in something, even ourselves.
I really like the way each character came to the realization of their short comings, phobias or fears, except one of course, Benjamin, and then there was the storm. I think we all need a storm, or whatever form you would like to term it, in our life to make us realize what is really important.
In the description of the book it says that God may make an appearance or two and this would scare of some, but for me that isn’t the main theme of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, even the non- believers because don’t we all believe in something, even ourselves.
December 24, 2013
Dancing the river lightly is like warm cookies & milk for the soul. This book touched me on so many different levels. By the time I finished this book I felt so much peace come over me. God has a wonderful sense of humor, & is always showing us the way & sometimes has to get loud to get our attention. Loved this book! I won this book on goodreads.com. Thanks Mr. Sheldon!
November 21, 2009
An especially fun read if you've lived in NW Washington state.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews