River Song by Di Morrissey

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke

This hard-covered novel with dust jacket, River Song, is Di Morrissey’s thirtieth book to be published. Over the years she has been providing interesting human stories for her readers taking them to different parts of Australia. She is well regarded in the literary world for her Australian-based stories and has been rewarded for her contribution over the years since her first book was published in 1989. All her novels contain environmental, political and cultural issues while exploring small towns and the personalities who inhabit them.

In River Song her setting is the Manning Valley in northern New South Wales where she introduces a group of people who come together to produce a yearly production for the local musical theatre. Joining the group this year is a New York composer who is visiting the town. It is in this section of the book that the lives of key characters in the story are explored as they work together to produce the yearly production. This year their choice will be different because of the input from the newcomer to town. Rumours also begin to circulate about the demise of the building they rely on.

At the end of the successful performance, four of the characters decide to buy a lottery ticket. The remaining pages of the story address the lives of these women when they discover that they have won a large amount of money. All could benefit from financial help at this time but sometimes a windfall brings with it unimagined consequences. The many facets of human nature soon begin to exert their influence. It was interesting to read the individual ways each chose to spend their winnings and how money can change the personalities and actions of some people.

Through the story the issues of history and land preservation are addressed when the town council tries to raise money for projects they want to see developed. Exploitation and domestic violence can also be found in this tale. Contrast is introduced when some of the characters choose to leave the small town for a different culture on a Pacific Island or the hustle and bustle of the music scene in New York.

On the final page of this book are the song lyrics, On the River, by Hester Fraser (stage name GOLDHEIST), no doubt a link to the title of this book.

The Author’s Note, just before the lyrics, is an interesting read, as it foregrounds Australia’s Percy Grainger (1882-1961). The production the theatre group created was based on his life. In the 1980s, British film director Ken Russell and Di Morrissey worked on a film script to highlight the life of this genius. However, the script never made it to the screen. Keeping a promise that she would never give up bringing this remarkable life to the masses, Di Morrissey decided to incorporate an awareness of Percy Grainger, the pianist, composer, music arranger and musical inventor into the latest novel she has written.

This was an interesting read into human nature providing an insight into the music and theatre industry.

River Song

(2024)

by Di Morrissey

Macmillan

ISBN: 978-1-76098-559-2

$39.99; 403pp

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