River Earth: A Personal Map

by John C. Pierce

River Earth is a personal exploration of family and community in and around the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. In these poignant essays, John Pierce probes the lifelong impact of a teenage boy's loss of a father, and how it led his own sons to a life on the river. He lifts the covers from the seeming tranquility of north Idaho's woods to reveal the personal impact of a friend's fear of racial violence. His mother's heroic lingering death...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874221773
• ISBN13: 9780874221770
• Release Date: August 1999
• Publisher: Washington State University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

I want to visit Jeru Creek

Next to mysteries, my favorite reading material is the essay. A book of essays by one author has special appeal because I get to see many sides of the author's personality. River Earth reveals a sensitive, caring man who has solid relationships with family and friends. He has a great sense of humor. His phrasing makes it easy to visualize him slipping and tripping over river rocks as he seeks out an elusive trout or running down the river bank to confront two workers laying white plastic pipe down the middle of his beloved river. For me, however, the playful stories are eclipsed by the poignant ones. By chance, I read "Who Am I?" within a couple of days of the tenth anniversary of my mother's death. I couldn't stop my tears. John Pierce also describes paradise in this book. Paradise is a green place with a river and many chances for solitude and quiet reflection. The book contains photographs showing the author, some of the places already artfully described, family and friends. Beautiful illustrations, like the river on the cover, continue throughout the book. Both add to the character of the book. Thank you John Pierce for the insights into your special places and feelings. I am buying a 2nd and 3rd copy to share with my friends.