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Our winning group read for November is Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. Please discuss here and remember to use spoiler tags as needed, as everyone may start at different times and reads at different speeds.



On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the river Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the lifeless body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation? These questions have many answers, some of them quite dark indeed.

Those who dwell on the river bank apply all their ingenuity to solving the puzzle of the girl who died and lived again, yet as the days pass the mystery only deepens. The child herself is mute and unable to answer the essential questions: Who is she? Where did she come from? And to whom does she belong? But answers proliferate nonetheless.

Three families are keen to claim her. A wealthy young mother knows the girl is her kidnapped daughter, missing for two years. A farming family reeling from the discovery of their son’s secret liaison, stand ready to welcome their granddaughter. The parson’s housekeeper, humble and isolated, sees in the child the image of her younger sister. But the return of a lost child is not without complications and no matter how heartbreaking the past losses, no matter how precious the child herself, this girl cannot be everyone’s. Each family has mysteries of its own, and many secrets must be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known.

Once Upon a River is a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic, and richly atmospheric, the beginning of this novel will sweep you away on a powerful current of storytelling, transporting you through worlds both real and imagined, to the triumphant conclusion whose depths will continue to give up their treasures long after the last page is turned.

Looking forward to this one - I loved her book The Thirteenth Tale.

Picked this up today, going to hold off on starting it until November 1st.

Anyone else started this yet? Im on page 60.. i have a free night so I'm going to try to make it through part one. I'm intrigued but not really sure where it's going to go. I nominated this because it was the most talked about book on my instagram but i didn't really know the plot. From the synopsis i get that it's going to be about who this girl is..so we will see. I'm gonna try to update throughout.

Loved, loved, loved this book. More than The 13th Tale. I think it may be my favorite book of the year (next to Where the Crawdads Sing). The story upon a story and the beautiful way she told it - ahhhhh, still in heaven (or on the river) with this one.

Colleen wrote: "Loved, loved, loved this book. More than The 13th Tale. I think it may be my favorite book of the year (next to Where the Crawdads Sing). The story upon a story and the beautiful way she told it - ..."

Oh Yay, I'm so into this world she has created by the river. I have made it into part II and can't stop. I wasn't sure at first but the more I read the more I like her writing style and the story. I will have to check out the 13th Tale next.

I’ve just started it - only through Chapter 1. Can’t wait to catch up to you - it’s off to a good start!

The further I make it into this book, the more questions I have. So much mystery..this is the first book I've wanted to just skip and read the last chapter.

I read this a couple a months ago and really loved it. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

I was not familiar with this novel or author but it sounded interesting. It was so much more than that!
The descriptions of the Thames and the minor characters are detailed enough to be interesting but not so lengthy as to detract from the pace of the story. As for the main characters, I developed an emotional attachment to Every Single One. And I must admit, I have never been so tempted during the first half of a book to skip to the end just to find the answer to the mystery. This whole novel was such a pleasant surprise!

I just realized I hadn't wrote here since I finished this. This book is my new all time favorite. As Aimee wrote above, this books character descriptions are perfect. There is never too little or too much description. How often does a book with this many characters, wrap up each individual story so perfectly? I would go into more detail but I don't know how to do spoiler tags. I want to work at the Swan and listen to the stories all day.

Chelsey, for spoiler tags copy the line below and remove all the periods leaving no extra spaces. Write the text you want to hide where indicated.

<.spoiler.> the text you want to hide goes here <./.spoiler.>

Kristie wrote: "Chelsey, for spoiler tags copy the line below and remove all the periods leaving no extra spaces. Write the text you want to hide where indicated.

the text you want to hide goes here "

Thank You!

This is the first BOTM reading I've been able to participate in since April! I'm happy to be back!

I'm on pg. 192 (halfway through a chapter) and I think I missed some of the back story. Instead of looking back in the book, maybe someone could tell me if I missed something or if this is just part of the suspense (view spoiler)[Lily White has talked about the little girl being her sister, but the age difference is obviously too big for that to be true. Was anything else said about Lily White earlier that would explain why she things the little girl is her sister? (hide spoiler)]

Thanks!

Welcome back, Lex! I wasn't able to read this one this month so I can't answer your question, but I hope someone does.

Lex wrote: "This is the first BOTM reading I've been able to participate in since April! I'm happy to be back!

I'm on pg. 192 (halfway through a chapter) and I think I missed some of the back story. Instead ..."

(view spoiler)[ You haven't missed anything, that one confused me too for a minute. Lily has the one of the most interesting stories but most of hers doesn't come out until the last few pages. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished this one and really enjoyed it. Loved the “fairy tale�� aspect and all the many characters - I wanted to pull up a chair at the Swan and hear their stories. There are a lot of characters so if you can, best to read in a short timeframe - I had to keep putting it down and coming back due to personal events and had to reground myself a few times on who was who. I’m not sure I would have picked this book out to read myself and really glad the group did - wonderful book!

I’m a little late to the party! I just started this book... just got done reading chapter 1 and I’m hooked!!

Cynthia wrote: "I’m a little late to the party! I just started this book... just got done reading chapter 1 and I’m hooked!!"

Yay, let us know what you think when you finish!

Chelsey wrote: "Lex wrote: "This is the first BOTM reading I've been able to participate in since April! I'm happy to be back!

I'm on pg. 192 (halfway through a chapter) and I think I missed some of the back sto..."

That's good to know, thank you! I'm hoping to finish this over my four-day weekend!

I just got to part four! I'm hoping to finish this between today and tomorrow, but I'm so hooked. I need to know what's happening.

I just finished! I agree with others, that the characters in Once Upon a River really complete the story. I will definitely be reading some of Diane Setterfield's other works in the future, because she has a true talent for bringing a story together.

Lex wrote: "I just finished! I agree with others, that the characters in Once Upon a River really complete the story. I will definitely be reading some of Diane Setterfield's other works in the future, because..."

It really seems like this was a hit for everyone! I'm also excited to read some of other work.

Yes, I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to get to it. I'll have to read it soon.