The River Is Waiting

Lamb’s gut-wrenching new novel, his first in nine years, begins with a shocking tragedy involving a father under the influence. This act of a moment tears Corby’s family apart and strips him of his freedom. In prison, Corby’s guilt and grief consume him; his misery is compounded by a terribly unjust penal system. And yet there are moments of soaring human connection, as Corby finds small mercies in the form of kindness from the prison librarian, an escape into his art, and friendship. Lamb’s novels are not without elements of redemption but I can’t overstate how terribly sad this is—and also how deeply human. An extraordinary and unforgettable reading experience.