Summary and Review of After River By Donna Milner

I am currently reading the book "After River" by Donna Milner.

The story takes place on a 1960's dairy farm in British Columbia, its main character: Natalie Ward. The Ward family have a relationship that makes them inseparable. But things change when "River" arrives as their new worker. As River's stay lengthens, Natalie's affections for him grow stronger. Then, the summer of Natalie's seventeenth birthday, the Ward Family's relationships are changed forever.


Although the synopsis of this book dulled me exceedingly, I found it became more compelling as I proceeded. Until its' depressing downfall, it had seemed adequate. After that, it just became unreasonable! I think the plot of a novel should be somewhat logical and conceivable. However, if you are into staged, over-the-top, semi-romantic novels you may not have the same issue as me.

~Gillian B.

Why I Selected This Quote As A Heading

My relationship with books is very strong. I am the sort of person who mourns the end of a good book. I usually spend a few days after finishing it sulking, thinking I'll never read a book quite as good; but I always manage to prove myself wrong.

I see myself in this selected quote because I always find a good book transports me to other times and places and makes me feel like I'm a part of its' plot. I especially find this in books written in first person. You can almost feel as though you've known the main character/s your whole life by the end of a good novel. For me, at the end of a great book, I feel as though I'm leaping out of the characters' skin and feel a bit dazed for a moment, just grasping the fact that I've actually finished the story.

So I selected this quote because it tells of books taking us on journeys in the most extraordinary places with the most fascinating people which, I feel is what the treasure of reading is all about.

-Gillian B.