Values & Ideas

Society

Community

Relationships

Fathers

Emotions & Behavior

Grief

Guilt

Wally Lamb

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore The River Is Waiting and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The River Is Waiting Summary and Study Guide

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Background

The River Is Waiting Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of religious discrimination, mental illness, child abuse, pregnancy loss, child death, suicidal ideation and self-harm, substance use and dependency, graphic violence, and cursing.

Part 1: “The Unimaginable”

Part 1 The River Is Waiting Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, racism, religious discrimination, gender and transgender discrimination, antigay bias, mental illness, child abuse, child death, death by suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, cursing, and death.

Part 2: “Day by Day by Day by Day by Day”

Part 2 The River Is Waiting Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, racism, religious discrimination, gender and transgender discrimination, antigay bias, sexual violence and harassment, rape, mental illness, child abuse, pregnancy loss, child death, death by suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm, animal cruelty and death, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, sexual content, cursing, illness, death, and physical and emotional abuse.

Part 3: “A Simple Stone”

Part 3 The River Is Waiting Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, sexual violence and harassment, rape, mental illness, child abuse, pregnancy loss, child death, animal cruelty and death, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, sexual content, cursing, illness, and death.

Part 4: “Butterfly Boy”

Part 4 The River Is Waiting Part 4 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

The River Is Waiting Character Analysis

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Themes

The River Is Waiting Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The River Is Waiting Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The River Is Waiting Important Quotes with Page Numbers

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Book Club Questions

The River Is Waiting Book Club Questions