Where the Rivers Merge, Mary Alice Monroe (Review by Carli Monostra)
Rating: 4/5 stars
This historical fiction novel, set in the Deep South, has a unique environmentally focused flair!
The story begins in 1988 when an elderly Eliza receives intel that her son plans to remove her as CEO of the successful family company. The urgency to do so comes from Eliza’s conservation easement plan for Mayfield, the rice farm she grew up on in the Charleston countryside that also happens to now be a valuable asset. Eliza is presented with the opportunity to share her cherished Mayfield with family members and hopes to cultivate a similar love in them through sharing stories from herpast. This dual timeline allows readers to explore topics such as challenging traditional gender roles, racism, and environmental conservancy from the perspective of Eliza at different ages.
The world of Mayfield is vividly beautiful based on the detailed descriptions of flora and fauna. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the ecological importance of the ACE basin and the farming history of the area. The stories of how Eliza challenged traditional gender roles, even as a child, and how she dealt with the repercussions were captivating. Additionally, her daring nature to follow her desires created very realistic relationships with her loved ones that transformed as she goes from childhood to young adulthood.
However, I was a bit disappointed that there was no story progression in the 1988 timeline; instead, it was mainly used as a brief transition between events of young Eliza’s life. As readers, we do not know much about elderly Eliza beyond the family company she leads. I craved knowing more about how elderly Eliza felt about the past or how it is going to influence her plan to protect Mayfield from her son. I suppose my dissatisfaction is a reflection of the author’s ability to write an engaging storyline since I want more of it. I am excited to hear there will be a sequel, The Rivers’ End, that will allow me to continue to immerse myself in the land of Mayfield.
