Review of The River Wild

[Clauson Justin]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The River Wild" by Ken Bridge.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The River Wild by Ken Bridge is a historic fictional novel set in the 1800s. It is a novel where the good times, setbacks, trials, and tribulations of life are portrayed. In the book, we see the early life of the West of America and how it came to be, with Indian settlers and fur trappers forming this life.

Ken Bridge, in this coming-of-age novel, writes about Caleb, his early years, youthful age, adulthood, and old age. Caleb, a carefree and spontaneous man who loves to read, learn, and explore new things, lives his life in opposition to that of his brother, whose way of life is different from his in every way. Caleb‘s life takes a huge turn when he experiences his first heartbreak. Against all odds, he is forced to leave the comfortable life and family he has known and loved and set out to the West, hoping to forget his heartache and move on with his life. From here, we see the beginnings of how Caleb’s life and destiny take a new turn.

There was so much to love and appreciate about this book. One is the historical facts in the book. By writing this fictional novel based on non-fictional historical facts, the author provided an insight into what it was like in the earlier times of the West. The addition of a little hint of the travels and explorations of Lewis and Clark at the beginning of the book was also insightful. I appreciated the historical characters the author managed to sneak into the book. This made the events of the book seem more factual and also gave me an insight into the lives of these people. Also, I loved that the book was a coming-of-age book. Reading about the life of Caleb was like watching a child grow and hoping that life turns out well for him. It was beautiful to go through all the ups and downs of Caleb’s life with him. Most of all, I loved how the author portrayed the love of Christ Jesus, explaining it in details, displaying it in the lives of the characters, and also backing it up with scriptures stating that there is no condemnation for those who love and surrender their lives to God.

However, there were a few things I didn't appreciate about the book. One was the errors, which were mostly punctuation errors regarding the use of quotation marks. This book needs another round of editing because it is not well edited. Also, at the beginning of the book, there was a part where the author switched from a third-person point of view, which is the original state the book was written in, to a first-person point of view. Although it was a mistake that was immediately rectified in the next paragraph, it threw me off balance while it lasted.

I rate this book four out of five stars. I believe it is a story that every reader should get to read based on the merits of the book I mentioned earlier. I deducted a star because of the numerous errors I found. I did not deduct any other stars because, although I believe it should be proofread and edited professionally, it was an insightful read. I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction as well as those in love with historical nonfiction, romantics, and people in search of and still in doubt of God’s love.

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The River Wild
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[Stephen Pokoo]

Your review of ""The River Wild" is straightforward and easy to read. It offers a practical assessment of the book's qualities, making it accessible to anyone curious about this book. Your review is a helpful resource for potential readers. Well done!"

[Mayang Bature]

I really enjoyed reading this book too. It showed how Caleb's four peaks of life were navigated through, with him getting even wiser at every turn. You're right, it was just like watching a child grow. This was a wonderful review.

[Miracle Oge Adaeze]

I like book that correctly blends facts and fiction. In this case, a fictional story was put together with historically accurate details. That is impressive. Thank you for the review.

[Jay Lu]

"The River Wild" sounds like an immersive journey through America's historical landscape. Ken Bridge's portrayal of Caleb's life from youth to adulthood, set against the early West, seems both enriching and reflective. I'm particularly intrigued by how Bridge intertwines historical facts with fictional elements, creating a vivid backdrop for Caleb's story. The book's emphasis on personal growth, exploration, and faith is quite compelling. However, your note about the need for better editing highlights a critical aspect of storytelling - the importance of fine-tuning to maintain reader engagement. Thanks for this comprehensive review!