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WOW! I loved everything about “Where the Rivers Merge” by Mary Alice Monroe. Mary Alice Monroe has written a powerful, enthralling, memorable and thought-provoking novel. The timelines for this story are 1908, through 1988. The location for this. novel is the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Southern States Fiction, Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Women’s Literacy. In this well written novel, Mary Alice Monroe vividly describes the scenery, the location, fashion of the times, environmental issues of the time, gender and class inequality, and the dramatic, colorful, conflicted, complex characters. Emphasis was placed on a higher class vs. the lower class. Black people were treated unfairly, and not given equal opportunities. There were patriarchal traditions.
Mary Alice Monroe takes us on a literary journey in 1908, where there are changes going on in the Lowcountry south. Eliza, the protagonist is a young girl, who loves riding horses, helping her father on the farm, having adventures with her friends. As time marches on, Eliza deals with war, crops dying, and family problems. In 1988, an 88 year old Eliza has the responsibility of the family estate, business, and environmental matters that are dear to her heart. Eliza is determined to save her land and legacy. Her son Arthur has other ideas.
I appreciate how Mary Alice Monroe shows her expertise in environmental matters, and discusses the importance of family, friends, women, equality, honesty, fairness, love and hope. I was so emotionally involved, that I shed many tears. (Thank goodness for Kleenex) I highly recommend this heartfelt novel. There will be another book in this series, and I hope that Mary Alice Monroe has it ready soon! I can’t wait to read it!
Linda's Book Obsession: 