Once Upon a River / Bonnie Jo Campbell - 3***

[Book Concierge]

Once Upon a River – Bonnie Jo Campbell
Audiobook narrated by Susan Bennett
3***

From the book jacket - After the violent death of her father, sixteen-year-old Margo Crane takes to the Stark River in her grandfather’s rowboat, with only a few supplies and a biography of her hero Annie Oakley, in search of her mother. But the river, Margo’s childhood paradise, is a dangerous place for a young woman traveling alone, and she must be strong to survive, using her knowledge of the natural world and her ability to look unsparingly into the hearts of those around her.

My reactions
I hardly know what to write about this novel. Very early on I was disturbed by Margo and the adults around her – or should I say the adult who was NOT around her, specifically her mother. I wanted to hug her and keep her safe and warm. And then I wanted to shake her till her teeth rattled. I was distressed by her circumstances, her poor choices, her acting out (specifically when it came to men), her apparent lack of any sort of moral compass. And yet … she is a compelling character and I couldn’t just turn away from her.

Still, this is no Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s central character had a certain innocence about him, and Margo seems to lack innocence. This is no mere adventure, her very survival depends on her ability to make a go of it. I had to keep reminding myself about how young she is; even Campbell keeps reminded the reader of Margo’s real age. The ending is both hopeful and heart-breaking.

Susan Bennett does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has a tendency to draw an audible breath just before each sentence, and that “breathy” delivery was a distraction until I got used to it. Her pacing was good, and she has enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the characters.

[Denizen]

This is a book that I took off my TBR to try and keep it manageable. Reading your review, I feel that was probably the right decision.