The River is Waiting, by Wally Lamb

 

Characters
Corbin Ledbetter “Corby” – artist Emily – teacher Maisie Niko   Betsy – Emily’s mom Pat – dad Ana – girlfriend   Vicki - Corby’s mother, smokes marijuana Dad – abusive, college professor   Dr. Beena Patel – grief counselor   Detective Sykes   Bryan – Emily’s future husband	Yates Correctional Institute
	Lieutenant Cavagnero -guard, initial supervisor of grounds’ crew   Albert Liggett “Pug” – first cellmate Manny – second cellmate Wes and Gunner – inmates Jheri Curl – inmate Captain Delia Graham – control desk   Solomon Clapp – Corby asked to look out for him by Cavagnero   Library: Fagie Millman – librarian Javier   Guards on grounds’ crew: Piccardy, Anselmo, Goolsby – guards Piccardy took pleasure in abusing Corby   AA Meeting in prison Javier – leader Jheri Curl – in choir Father Andy - inmate

 

NOTE: Page numbers are from the 2025 hardback edition.

1.      Emily blames Corby because of the choice he made to drink, take the Ativan, and drive.  Did you think what happened was more or partly an accident?

2.      How do you think Corby would react if the roles were reversed?

3.      When driving home from their first appointment with Dr. Patel, Emily becomes upset, speeds, and swerves into the approaching lane.  How different is this from what Corby did?

4.      What acts of kindness did you find in the book?  For example, when Corby was placed in the psych ward O’Brien spoke kindly to him and said to “Get some sleep” (page 161) and Lieutenant Cavagnero returned to his cell and told him “Keep the faith” (page 157).

5.      It was mentioned several times that Corby’s father may have been abusive.  For example, he had “disturbing dreams: my father screaming at my mother and me as we cower together on the kitchen floor” (page 151) and on page 188 he remembered his father berating him for bringing him the wrong type of screwdriver.  When he was in college his counselor asked, “Have you ever considered that you might have been the victim of verbal abuse?” (page 29).  Do you think that may have played a part in his anxiety, addiction, and accident?

6.      When Corby was up for early release, did you understand why Emily said he could not come home?

7.      Did you like the ending: Corby died from COVID, Emily about to marry Bryan, Emily and Maise going to see Corby’s mural?

8.      Why was there a brief chapter about Dr. Patel at the very end?

9.      Now that you have finished the book, what characters do you remember and were the most interesting and/or memorable for you?

10.  In an interview with Oprah, Wally Lamb said that he starts with a character and with no outline or ending and never knows how the story will unfold.  Do you think he was surprised about where this story took him?

11.  In the interview, Lamb said that initially the novel alternated between chapters from Emily’s and from Corby’s point of view, but his editor suggested that it only be from Corby’s.  Do you think that was a good idea?  Would he have been about to do justice to both sides if he had stayed with his initial plan?

12.  Wally Lamb taught a writing class in a women’s prison as a volunteer for 20 years.  Also, his youngest, adopted, son has gone to prison.  How do you think those experiences may have influenced this book?

13.  In the acknowledgements, the author does not mention any research he did on the topics in the book, for example panic attacks, breathing exercises (pages 118-119) or grounding techniques (page 119).  Do you think he should have or can he just assume the reader will not take anything as fact?

14.  Did your opinion change about Corby as you read his story?

15.  Why do you think Oprah selected this book?