The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb

 

Corby Ledbetter isn't doing well.  Six months ago, he was married to the love of his life, Emily, their two year twins were thriving and he loved his job.  Then he lost his job as a graphic designer.  The company loved him and his work but they had to downsize and other employees had been there longer or had better credentials.  Now Corby is doing the house husband routine, looking after the twins and Emily is supporting the family on a teacher's salary.  They are both exhausted and Corby is hiding secrets.  Like the one about how he isn't really looking for a job these days.  Like the big one that he's drinking and doing drugs, even during the day while he's watching the twins.

Then the disaster happens and nothing will ever be the same again.  In a moment of Corby's intoxication, he makes a mistake and tragedy occurs.  He is criminally charged and sentenced to three years of prison but even worse, he hates himself and he's afraid the Emily does as well and that she can never forgive what he did.  

While in prison, Corby sees a lot of bad, inmates who terrorized others and guards that bullied the inmates because they could.  But over time, he also finds some good.  There are some guards and prison employees he gets close to.  He is helped by and helps other inmates.  He joins AA and gets his addiction under control.  Most importantly, he has the time to work on himself and get real about what he was doing and if he can make a positive change going forward.  As the days tick down, he makes himself promises about what he'll do when he gets out.  Can he pull it off?

Wally Lamb is an American author who is known for his novels about imperfect people (as we all are) who are trying to get to a better place.  His work is highly celebrated and this one is an Oprah Book Club pick.  Corby is a work in progress and the reader will have to decide if he can be forgiven for one minute of carelessness that changes the world of everyone around him.  Lamb has volunteered for years in a women's prison so the characters and routines of Corby's imprisonment ring true.  This book is recommended for literary fiction readers.