“Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends… What unites us is far greater than what divides us.” - John F. Kennedy: Address before the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa, May 17, 1961 (After River -opening quote of the novel) After River by Donna Milner is based entirely on this quote. This book covers major themes in today’s society like, gossiping, ramifications of keeping secrets, prejudices, stereotypes, military desertion, family, severed bonds, innocence, being naive, ignorance, acceptance, beauty, confidence, back-stabbing best friends, teenage pregnancy, child abortions, victims of rape, sex with a minor, lust, homosexuality, being different, bullying, death, hidden truths, draft-dodgers (hippie), war, rejection, love, being abandoned, hate, racism, happiness, sorrow and forgiveness making it a well-rounded novel with a variety of topics to be read by not only Canadians, but everyone else as well. Even though the events that happen in the novel take place around 1966, it can still be connected to our daily lives because the same exact issues still reverberate in today’s world. A well recommended page-turner indeed!
As you read this engrossing novel, not only will you connect to the society, but you will also make deeper and personal connections to the characters in this book. Donna Milner fastidiously sets up the story well, and makes sure you really get a feel for the characters in the novel before she takes you on the downward spiral of events that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With the addition of Donna Milner’s colorful rich language, you will be able to take a closer look into each character’s lives and be able visualize and feel the events that take place as the story unfolds, especially since the book’s major themes and symbols revolve around today’s society. Because of our exposure to such familiar and strong topics, not only Canadians, but everyone should easily slip into this perfect book, the character’s lives, and the world they live in, just like Cinderella slips into the perfect glass slippers that fit just right!
What’s unusual about this novel is that the format of the book is not the usual- main character’s perspective: chapter, chapter, chapter, the end. After River, opens with a quote, and starts from the perspective of its main character, Natalie Ward. In between the storyline, at the beginning of a new chapter the story’s perspective alternates to Natalie's mother, Nettie's point of view. Nettie plays a substantial role in the novel, and her thoughts and words are important. Not only are they important for understanding the fundamentals of their mother-daughter relationship, it also shows the comparison, connection, and contrast between their personalities, and the story unfolds in two different perspectives; giving you the best of both worlds. The story even goes back and forth between the past and the present, giving you additional knowledge about the current events, preventing the storyline from being complex and confusing. The novel ends with an excerpt from a news article. Also, the story is narrated in first person, giving you a better feel of the affairs happening in other people’s lives in two different angles. This novel’s unusual narrative style and format style will attract not only Canadians, but many readers to try a new style of reading.
In addition, the language and device Donna Milner used in this novel in is not easy, nor is it complex. It contains the right words to help create a picture in your mind and a bit challenging words to provide more details to help play out a scene in your mind as you read. “In the town of Atwood, a swirling dust devil topples a child’s empty milk container. The child watches as the small plastic bottle is carried away, turning end on end, across the schoolyard.” (Pg. 342) Nowadays, young Canadians aren’t literate enough because of all the short forms and “msn talk” we use. So the slightly complex language is perfect for Canadians to read and be informed by the new, definitions of words and use these words in their daily speech. This novel can also be recommended to immigrants, because they too, can gain more knowledge and add new words to their expanding vocabulary.
Another reason why Canadians should read this novel is because it contains strong, powerful topics that occur on a daily basis in the society we live in today but in a different perspective and at a different time period. This helps us Canadians get in touch with our history and help realize the struggles people had went through in the past and how fortunate we are to be living in the society we live in today. Right now, if I had come to the realization that my best friend who is sixteen years old was pregnant, I would be somewhat shocked, but would have gotten over it within a week. It’s because of how common this issue is and how accepting the society we live in today is, it isn’t a problem. Society has adapted so much, that there are even schools especially made for pregnant teenage girls to bring their baby to school and learn at the same time. But back in the 1960’s, if the towns people (or society) had managed to figure out that you were a pregnant minor, you would bring shame to your family, and be shunned by everyone. People would torment you, harass you, bully you, vandalize your property, spread rumors and gossip about you. You would be isolated from the rest of the world for your “mistake” and soon become a loner, you would feel ashamed, and if the tormenting was really horrible, you may even want to consider suicide as a way to break free and be relieved from all your stress. Being different in a society back then, will eventually lead you to commit suicide because of the pressure and mental stress on you. That’s how horrible it was back then. But comparing that to now, it makes one wonder, “Why are you making a mountain out of a mole hole?” Why did something so small, become so big and how did this one tiny thing, set off a row full of dominoes? By reading this novel, I understood how it felt to live in a cruel society like that and made me feel gratitude towards god for blessing me with the opportunity to live in the world I live in today. It may not be great, but it’s far better than the past. Being different when you’re “not allowed to.” And being able to withstand the constant torture society presses onto you, made you truly powerful and strong. Being able to put up with stereotypes when your a homosexual, the power to reveal the hidden truths after years you have suffered the ramifications of keeping secrets in order to protect your loved ones, being a victim of rape, and years later being able to confront the assaulter in order to move on, have suffered from back-stabbing by your “best friends” and being able to forgive them years later, forgiving yourself for being the reason for almost causing your own beloved brother’s death, and leaving him with severe burn scars that cause people to cringe every time they make eye-contact, accepting yourself for being a homosexual. This is the moral of the story. Being able to accept yourself and release yourself by forgiving yourself for small problems that occurred in the past. Freedom to be you. “And great is the man with the sword undrawn.” (Pg. 342)
“Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends… What unites us is far greater than what divides us.” - John F. Kennedy: Address before the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa, May 17, 1961 (After River -opening quote of the novel) After River by Donna Milner is based entirely on this quote. This book covers major themes in today’s society like, gossiping, ramifications of keeping secrets, prejudices, stereotypes, military desertion, family, severed bonds, innocence, being naive, ignorance, acceptance, beauty, confidence, back-stabbing best friends, teenage pregnancy, child abortions, victims of rape, sex with a minor, lust, homosexuality, being different, bullying, death, hidden truths, draft-dodgers (hippie), war, rejection, love, being abandoned, hate, racism, happiness, sorrow and forgiveness making it a well-rounded novel with a variety of topics to be read by not only Canadians, but everyone else as well. Even though the events that happen in the novel take place around 1966, it can still be connected to our daily lives because the same exact issues still reverberate in today’s world. A well recommended page-turner indeed!
As you read this engrossing novel, not only will you connect to the society, but you will also make deeper and personal connections to the characters in this book. Donna Milner fastidiously sets up the story well, and makes sure you really get a feel for the characters in the novel before she takes you on the downward spiral of events that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With the addition of Donna Milner’s colorful rich language, you will be able to take a closer look into each character’s lives and be able visualize and feel the events that take place as the story unfolds, especially since the book’s major themes and symbols revolve around today’s society. Because of our exposure to such familiar and strong topics, not only Canadians, but everyone should easily slip into this perfect book, the character’s lives, and the world they live in, just like Cinderella slips into the perfect glass slippers that fit just right!
What’s unusual about this novel is that the format of the book is not the usual- main character’s perspective: chapter, chapter, chapter, the end. After River, opens with a quote, and starts from the perspective of its main character, Natalie Ward. In between the storyline, at the beginning of a new chapter the story’s perspective alternates to Natalie's mother, Nettie's point of view. Nettie plays a substantial role in the novel, and her thoughts and words are important. Not only are they important for understanding the fundamentals of their mother-daughter relationship, it also shows the comparison, connection, and contrast between their personalities, and the story unfolds in two different perspectives; giving you the best of both worlds. The story even goes back and forth between the past and the present, giving you additional knowledge about the current events, preventing the storyline from being complex and confusing. The novel ends with an excerpt from a news article. Also, the story is narrated in first person, giving you a better feel of the affairs happening in other people’s lives in two different angles. This novel’s unusual narrative style and format style will attract not only Canadians, but many readers to try a new style of reading.
In addition, the language and device Donna Milner used in this novel in is not easy, nor is it complex. It contains the right words to help create a picture in your mind and a bit challenging words to provide more details to help play out a scene in your mind as you read. “In the town of Atwood, a swirling dust devil topples a child’s empty milk container. The child watches as the small plastic bottle is carried away, turning end on end, across the schoolyard.” (Pg. 342) Nowadays, young Canadians aren’t literate enough because of all the short forms and “msn talk” we use. So the slightly complex language is perfect for Canadians to read and be informed by the new, definitions of words and use these words in their daily speech. This novel can also be recommended to immigrants, because they too, can gain more knowledge and add new words to their expanding vocabulary.
Another reason why Canadians should read this novel is because it contains strong, powerful topics that occur on a daily basis in the society we live in today but in a different perspective and at a different time period. This helps us Canadians get in touch with our history and help realize the struggles people had went through in the past and how fortunate we are to be living in the society we live in today. Right now, if I had come to the realization that my best friend who is sixteen years old was pregnant, I would be somewhat shocked, but would have gotten over it within a week. It’s because of how common this issue is and how accepting the society we live in today is, it isn’t a problem. Society has adapted so much, that there are even schools especially made for pregnant teenage girls to bring their baby to school and learn at the same time. But back in the 1960’s, if the towns people (or society) had managed to figure out that you were a pregnant minor, you would bring shame to your family, and be shunned by everyone. People would torment you, harass you, bully you, vandalize your property, spread rumors and gossip about you. You would be isolated from the rest of the world for your “mistake” and soon become a loner, you would feel ashamed, and if the tormenting was really horrible, you may even want to consider suicide as a way to break free and be relieved from all your stress. Being different in a society back then, will eventually lead you to commit suicide because of the pressure and mental stress on you. That’s how horrible it was back then. But comparing that to now, it makes one wonder, “Why are you making a mountain out of a mole hole?” Why did something so small, become so big and how did this one tiny thing, set off a row full of dominoes? By reading this novel, I understood how it felt to live in a cruel society like that and made me feel gratitude towards god for blessing me with the opportunity to live in the world I live in today. It may not be great, but it’s far better than the past. Being different when you’re “not allowed to.” And being able to withstand the constant torture society presses onto you, made you truly powerful and strong. Being able to put up with stereotypes when your a homosexual, the power to reveal the hidden truths after years you have suffered the ramifications of keeping secrets in order to protect your loved ones, being a victim of rape, and years later being able to confront the assaulter in order to move on, have suffered from back-stabbing by your “best friends” and being able to forgive them years later, forgiving yourself for being the reason for almost causing your own beloved brother’s death, and leaving him with severe burn scars that cause people to cringe every time they make eye-contact, accepting yourself for being a homosexual. This is the moral of the story. Being able to accept yourself and release yourself by forgiving yourself for small problems that occurred in the past. Freedom to be you. “And great is the man with the sword undrawn.” (Pg. 342)