Island Women

River Of Stars by Georgina Moore is a very charming and heartfelt dual timeline novel that I loved.

The action is set in the 1960’s moving forwards, and also in present day. We see events through the eyes of mainly the two Star women – a grandmother and her granddaughter, plus a few other points of view.

They all live on an island with the river Thames running through it. The island feels like a character in its own right. It ‘calls’ to people. There is a duty of care to preserve the past whilst planning for the future but also taking care of the rich heritage of the island.

The island encourages creativity. There has been a vibrant music scene, nature and artists flourish too. Alternative life styles call out the best in people. The island offers a vibrant life in contrast to the stifling cities of London and New York.

Two main families have inhabited the island – there have been friends and feuds – but ultimately the present generation are about preservation and conservation. New life in all its forms will be fruitful on the island.

We see a character whose creativity was squashed yeas ago. “She painted because she had to paint, but she felt like an imposter, robbed of her self-belief.” A holiday to Italy reminds her of what she is missing. The artist in her is called out.

All the characters were well drawn, their interactions with each other were believable.

River Of Stars is a rich tapestry of characters and location. It is a novel that explores life, relationships in various forms and creativity. I really enjoyed it.

JULIA WILSON