The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb Summary
Overview of The River Is Waiting
In "The River Is Waiting," Wally Lamb's triumphant return joins Toni Morrison in rare three-time Oprah selection territory. Drawing from his prison teaching experience, this addiction-to-redemption masterpiece had Oprah herself calling after a 27-year silence. Can truth truly heal our deepest wounds?
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Key takeaways
When Tragedy Strikes in an Instant
Imagine backing your car out of the driveway on an ordinary morning and feeling that sickening bump beneath your tire. For Corby Malone, this horrific moment becomes the pivot point of his entire existence when he discovers he's run over his two-year-old son Niko while under the influence of alcohol and Ativan. The accident occurs during a period of personal crisis - unemployed for months, secretly drinking instead of job hunting, and lying to his wife Emily about his activities. That fateful morning unfolds with excruciating detail: the resistance under the wheel, neighbors running toward him screaming, his son lying beneath the car in a pool of blood while his twin sister Maisie remains safely strapped in her car seat. The aftermath is equally devastating. At the hospital, doctors deliver the news that Niko didn't survive, and Emily collapses in grief. Though initially tempted to lie about his intoxication, Corby ultimately confesses to Detective Tunisia Sparks about drinking and taking prescription drugs before the accident. This honesty leads to his arrest for second-degree involuntary manslaughter and a five-year prison sentence, suspended after three years. As he's led away in handcuffs, Corby watches Emily leave the courtroom with her mother, beginning his journey through the criminal justice system as punishment for a tragedy he never intended but for which he bears full responsibility.
From Love Story to Unraveling
Surviving Prison's Brutal Reality
The River as Life's Current
Art as Salvation
Addiction's Grip and Recovery's Fragility
Finding Light After Darkness
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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