Saturday, 13 October 2012

Great rivers

The Amazon

The Hudson

The Thames
I only learned today that the online bookseller Amazon, like that famous imprint Thames and Hudson, is named after a great river. Until now, I had always vaguely associated Amazon with those fearful warrior ladies. Asked last week to recommend a novel to fellow creative writing classmates, I chose The River by Rumer Godden. It is a brilliant evocation of India, and family life from the viewpoint of an observant child.  The transition from childhood is gradual,  progressing through familiar steps but then suddenly and shockingly accelerates. The end is so unbearably sad that this time round I could not bring myself to re-read the last few pages.

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