Push Not The River

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed this history lesson ... and Anna's story
Review:

Being the wife of an English teacher, I was honored to be asked by the author -- an English teacher -- to review his first novel, PUSH NOT THE RIVER.

The book is quality historical fiction, being based on the diary of Anna Maria Berezowska, a real life Polish countess. The characters were well-developed and the love story between Anna and Jan held the sub-plots together.

The only part of the story that didn't ring true to me was Zofia's overt sexuality. I majored in English and history, specifically focusing on social history, and this kind of behavior was rare in the bedrooms of married couples, let alone in the house of a single woman and her widowed mother. However, the author assures me the corrupt nature of the French court spread throughout the European continent. *Guess I misssed that class in college.*

Historical films are big box office right now, so I'm sure this book will be optioned by Hollywood. Casting the principle characters should be interesting.

Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Push Not the River
Review: I found this book Wonderful, the char.'s come to life, the plot is thrilling and hopeful at the same time. ! I love Saga's and this is one of the top five, I have ever read, especially on a very long plane flight this book kept me sane.
Great Love story of times gone by.

Rating:
Summary: The best historical novel I've read in years!
Review: I've just finished reading "Push Not the River" by James Conroyd Martin. I couldn't put it down. Mr. Martin's characters were fully fleshed out members of their era, but they spoke with a universality that rings true today, 200 years later. Mr. Martin has a command of the English language that is rarely seen in contemporary novel writing. He has meticulously built his novel and researched his subject matter so well that he made me feel I was a Polish patriot fighting for my life and the very existence of my country against the ruthless invading armies of Poland's neighboring empires. "Push Not the River" is an engaging and exciting book. I was a child of the 60's, a decade when ubiquitous Polish jokes were taken for granted as humorous, harmless and accurate depictions of Poles, their abilities and their place in history. Mr. Martin educates us by obliterating those stereotypes and misconceptions. After reading "Push Not the River" and learning of the nobility of these progressive, proud and oppressed people I'm ashamed for every Polish joke I ever told or laughed at.