Two Rivers [Paperback]

T. Greenwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009

In "Two Rivers", Vermont, Harper Montgomery is living a life overshadowed by grief and guilt. Since the death of his wife twelve years earlier, Harper has narrowed his world to working at the local railroad and raising his daughter, Shelly. Still wracked with sorrow over his loss and plagued by his role in a brutal, long-ago crime, he wants only to make amends for his past mistakes. Then one day, a train derails in Two Rivers and Harper finds a chance at atonement. One of the survivors, a pregnant fifteen-year-old girl, needs a place to stay, and Harper offers to take her in. But soon he suspects that Maggie's appearance is not the simple case of happenstance it first appeared to be.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this evocative novel of redemption, Greenwood (Undressing the Moon) finds humanity and redemption in the life of a smalltown widower and his legacy of guilt. In 1980, 12 years after his involvement in the murder of a black man, railroad worker Harper Montgomery is still living under a cloud of guilt. Alternating between past and present, Harper's narrative reveals bit by bit the circumstances of the crime, as well as the long-devoted lover Harper was, and the caring father he's become. Harper's narrative makes a mystery of much: we know he participated in the murder, but not why. We know his wife died, but not how. Already struggling to raise his daughter, Shelly, further questions surround his decision to take in pregnant teen Maggie. As the past catches up the present, however, Harper's grave fears give way to unexpected and poignant developments. Greenwood is a writer of subtle strength, evoking smalltown life beautifully while spreading out the map of Harper's life, finding light in the darkest of stories. (Jan.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 373 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758228775
• ISBN-13: 978-0758228772
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

T. Greenwood is the author of six novels. She has received grants from the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and, most recently, the Maryland State Arts Council. Two Rivers was named Best General Fiction Book at the San Diego Book Awards last year. Four of her novels have been BookSense76/IndieBound picks; THIS GLITTERING WORLD is a January 2011 selection. Her seventh novel, GRACE will be released in April 2012.

She teaches creative writing at both UCSD's Extension Program and at The Ink Spot. She and her husband, Patrick, live in San Diego, CA with their two daughters. She is also an aspiring photographer.

More information on T. Greenwood can be found at her website: http://www.tgreenwood.com and her blogs: http://www.mermama.blogspot.com and http://www.ephemerafiles.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Two Rivers.Too Much, February 10, 2009

By 

Carol A. Sym (Maspeth, New york United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Rivers (Paperback)

Two Rivers, by Greenwood, is a well intentioned novel that gets it right in many ways. The characters are well developed and the sense of 60's nostalgia is often right on.The theme of guilt and forgiveness is depicted through Harper's story told in present and flashback mode.Harper must pick up his life and raise his daughter after losing the love of his life in childbirth. He must wrestle with guilt over a life changing incident involving a racial murder. Into this mix comes Maggie, a pregnant teenager, who appears in Harper's life after a train wreck in Two Rivers.All of these elements come into play in Harper's journey of life. At times it is just too much..........too many components intertwining.........too many extremes.......60's housewives forced into insanity by the doldrums of being homemakers..........the tragedy of civil rights involvement.........the interminable angst of first unrequited love......the horrors of Vietnam involvement and the Pacifist movement...........all of these themes are played out in the extreme in Greenwood's novel. Even though I found these extremes to be negatives at times, they do provide lots of material for a good book discussion.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book for book clubs, January 14, 2009

By 

ellie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Rivers (Paperback)

This is one of a very few books that, when I was finished reading, I immediately wanted to talk with someone else who had also read it. I have yet to find anyone who has read it, but that will soon change, because I am sharing it with everyone I know who likes an intelligent, thoughtful book. The twist at the end surprised me, but looking back I realized how masterfully she crafted the book and wondered why I didn't pick up on the clues. Reading the questions at the end also made me realize some other aspects of the book I hadn't thought of on my own. I can't wait for one of my friends to finish this so we can have a discussion over a cup of coffee! I plan on reading any other books by the same author.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Past Mistakes..., March 26, 2009

By 

L. Romich "Book Nympho" (Akron, oH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Rivers (Paperback)

In a small town, a blip on the map really, lies Two Rivers, Vermont. So small that everyone seems to know everyone and secrets are hard to keep.

Twelve-years have gone by since the death of Harper Montgomery's wife, Betsy. Leaving behind their only daughter, Shelly, for Harper to raise on his own. Harper still grieves the loss of his wife. He lives his life taking care of his daughter to the best of his abilities and working at the local railroad. The guilt he feels for something he did years ago eats away at him.

So when a train derails one fateful day, leaving many dead, he finds among the wreckage and destruction, a colored, pregnant fifteen year-old girl all alone. With her mother dead and no where else to go, she asks Harper if she can stay with him. Harper feels that this may be his chance for atonement. What he does not realize is that her being in Two Rivers was not by chance.

TWO RIVERS by T. Greenwood was a fascinating story. Greenwood told the story in great detail making the reader truly understand the story better. I thought the story was well-written and it kept my attention throughout the novel. This was a very good read.

Reviewed by Leona R.

APOOO BookClub