river

River
$6.95
Let me preface this review by indicating I am reviewing this text as an educator and its applications for my students. Debby Atwell in her book, The River, combines simple, yet poignant words with illustrations that look like paintings. The book is about what happens to a river through time. In the beginning the river nourishes and enables the life around it to prosper. As time goes on, people become careless and the river becomes polluted with wastes. People who live in the community by the river set out to change what the river has become to what it once was. Most people in America can relate to this text since we have experienced what has happened in our own communities due to pollution of our rivers and streams. The River gives us all a remarkable message - we all can work together, like people did in the book, to correct the mistakes of the past; i.e., in this case, pollution. I believe that this book can be used as an outstanding vehicle for discussion for Grades 2 - 5. I really enjoyed this book because it teaches children through remarkable illustrations why the pollution occurred.

Peace Like a River
$13.95
Peace Like A River is a wonderful novel. Of the many books I've read this year, it is my favorite. The plot is quick to grab you. The characters are well-developed and I was quickly drawn into caring about them. In fact, I shed a tear over them. It is a beautifully written story.

The book is tagged christian fiction, and the father is very religious, but the book will appeal to all who read it.

River: The Joni Letters
$18.98
This music takes patience and attention to get into. First time I heard it, I thought it was too mellow and uneventful. It took me a few listenings to really make out what was happening. Herbie and company have really put together a thoughtful,and stimulating, work of art. If you let it, the music will take you to very beautiful places. On every listening I continue to gain appreciation of his interpretation of Joni's songs. This is truly a masterpiece of Jazz.

The River
$15.93
Maybe I'm all alone here, but the reason the River is such a good album is the way the vocal melodies seem to have REALLY improved for this one. Bruce Springsteen was never one to write catchy vocal melodies because his attention mainly focused on lyric writing, his emotional voice, and the millions of fans who can relate to said lyrics.

On the River however, we're treated to all the things that made Bruce Springsteen great on albums such as The Wild, the Innocent and the E. Street Shuffle, PLUS the addition of immediately enjoyable vocal melodies.

Perhaps this was due to the fact that the rock scene in the early 80's changed for many musicians and forced them to write simpler and catchier vocal melodies in order to make it big and make a splash on the commercial radio scene, or perhaps Bruce just felt like changing his songwriting around a little bit to diversify his talents. Who knows.

The River remains a classic album for those who appreciate great vocal melodies combined with the important lyrics of Bruce Springsteen from the past. This is one album Springsteen fans MUST own.