1908: The Lowcountry of South Carolina is at the cusp of change. Mayfield, the grand estate held for generations by the Rivers family, is the treasured home of young Eliza. Free spirited, she refuses to be confined by societal norms. Instead, Eliza revels in exploring the golden fields and sparkling ponds of Mayfield, observing wildlife, and riding horses.
But her halcyon days are cut short by the Great War, coastal storms, and unexpected challenges to Mayfield. As Eliza battles personal pains and the ravages of family turmoil over the years, her love and devotion for the natural world puts her on a collision course with the patriarchal traditions of a bygone era.
1988: At 88, Eliza is the scion of the Rivers/DeLancey family. She’s fought a lifetime to save her beloved Mayfield and is too independent and committed to quietly retire and leave the fate of the estate to her greedy son. She must make decisions that will assure the future of the land and her family—or watch them both be split apart.
Set against the evocative landscape of the twentieth-century low country, Where the Rivers Merge is a dramatic and sweeping multigenerational family story of unyielding love, lessons learned, profound sacrifices, and the indomitable spirit of a woman determined to persevere in the face of change in order to protect her family legacy and the land she loves. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
I enjoy historical fiction, and Where the Rivers Merge is the perfect historical fiction experience. I didn’t know anything about the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and it was interesting to get a feel for life in the early 1900s in that part of the country, told from Eliza’s perspective. Despite a society that feels women and girls should stick to what is conventionally seen as feminine hobbies and skills, Eliza proves she can break those barriers and nothing is off limits, proving she has what it takes to eventually become the matriarch of Mayfield.
Surprisingly, Eliza still deals with patriarchal viewpoints in 1988. Her son threatens the fate of Mayfield, which means Eliza has to come up with a way to protect her heritage at all costs–even if it means going against the grain of her family. With the help of two unlikely relatives and family murals, she weaves a story that is deep and profound, at times heartbreaking and solemn, giving what feels to be a very honest and open portrayal of life and societal differences in 1908 and beyond.
What I enjoyed most was the environmental aspects to the story. It starts and ends with a large tree hollow, a place Eliza has found to be a place of reflection and safety, with childhood friends who grow up with her as the decades move on. There are watery streams and ponds, with infamous fishing holes and horse and livestock that become just as much a part of Eliza’s background as the people within it. The scenery felt idyllic, making me yearn for my own childhood and nature experiences. Each chapter started out with descriptions of wildlife, giving its reader teachable moments before delving into Eliza’s inner voice.
Eliza sees the best in people, even when I felt they didn’t deserve it–like with her son, or her mother. She doesn’t try to seek out redemption or to get even with those who want to push her down, instead working on a way to ultimately protect her future and the future of those who care about Mayfield just as much as she does. When it comes to Mayfield, there is no such thing as fighting fire with fire. Instead, fight fire with conservation, and education. I’ve heard there’s a part two to Eliza’s story, in The River’s End, and I look forward to reading that next installment. Where the Rivers Merge is five-star, all the way!
Thanks to HarperCollins for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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