Three Rivers Rising: A Novel Of The Johnstown Flood (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
This novel in verse tells the stories of the inhabitants of the communities around Johnstown Pennsylvania in 1888 and 1889. Celestia, the daughter of a wealthy Pittsburgh businessman has come to the South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club with her parents and older sister for summer vacation. Relaxing by the lake (reservoir) reading, Celestia meets Peter, the son of a coal miner from Johnstown. Celestia and Peter quickly become friends and then involved in a secret romance. Maura, a young wife and mother waits for her husband to sound the train whistle before arriving home. It's their secret signal; a way of saying "I love you" even when they're apart. Kate, a young woman who has become bitter and old since the death of her fiance excels at counting and ordering things. She's sent to nursing school to make use of her skills. When Celestia's family uncovers her secret they move to stop her, but a family emergency changes her life in an unexpected way. Celestia must decide whether she's willing to defy her family for the sake of love. The characters' lives become intertwined when the earthen dam in Lake Conemaugh breaks and the water comes soaring down the mountain into the villages below. In the wake of tragedy, each character must discover their inner strength in order to do what is right. This is an excellent debut novel. At first the blank verses seemed a little unusual for a novel, but they do come together and create a plot. The plot resembles Titanic or Dirty Dancing for the first half of the novel but the characters move beyond the cliche as the story moves along. Each set of poems comes together to create a mini plot that all come together in the final pages of the book. I couldn't put it down until it was done. The characters are well fleshed out and the reader gets a good sense of personality and thought process through the poems. I admire the way the characters all dealt with the flood, especially Kate. The ending of the novel is rather fairy tale-esque but it's sweet and enjoyable. The novel makes me want to learn more about this historic flood and the author lists several sources available for that purpose. I would definitely encourage readers 12 and up to read this book. I wanted to read this story because I have family from Johnstown and I'm there several times a year. Although this was fiction, I was still able to learn some historical facts. For example, I learned the flood happened on my wedding date! lolI was lucky enough to receive a signed copy that will be making its home on my bookshelf. I will surely be thinking of this story the next time I'm in Johnstown.
What do You think about Three Rivers Rising: A Novel Of The Johnstown Flood (2010)?
It wasn't awful, but it was a little boring and a little unrelatable.
—sundancer12
This is the movie Titanic only in Johnstown, PA.
—owalos
I enjoyed it -- too many perspectives though.
—letisiaax3
Loved the way this book is written in poems.
—AmyAnt
