The River Reflects by Mark Godfrey
We become like the river reflected, both light and dark. Struggling artist Sylvia is offered an unusual commission by the mysterious Victor, acting on behalf of a secret sponsor, who wants to engage her for a year to produce art depicting the Holocaust. She accepts the project on trust and discovers an enigmatic thirteen-year-old girl Nina, who becomes her model and pupil.
As the months pass, Sylvia begins to unravel the truth about Victor, the secret sponsor and Nina, while unearthing more about history and identity than she was ever prepared for. A family drama that champions the structures and beliefs that underpin a civilised society.
The River Reflects faces the darkest shadows of human nature. With the Thames winding relentlessly through this compelling story, Sylvia, Victor, Nina and those around them progress from fear and isolation to seek love and fortitude and the redemptive power of the human spirit.
Author Bio.
Mark Godfrey was born in Chiswick, London and brought up in west London and Cheshire. He lives in Heaton Moor, Stockport. He is an award-winning short story writer. This is his first novel.
Review
‘The River Reflects’ is a poignant, moving and educational book. It’s very apt again to be reviewing a book centred around the Holocaust since Tuesday past was Holocaust Memorial Day. The topics covered are well researched and there is an underlying aim to show that this is not just a blip in humanity, it’s an event that occurs throughout history.
Sylvia is an artist who although hasn’t hit the big time is known for her work. She is approached by a stranger to see if she would be interested in completing a top secret and immersive project for the year. She won’t be told who her sponsor is and what the project is about before saying yes. When she goes to meet the intermediary, we meet Victor. But Sylvia recognises him as being the stranger that was standing outside her house the other day. What is going on?
Of course she accepts who couldn’t resist the temptation but then she is told the topic and it’s the Holocaust. Victor immerses her into the world of the Nazis and how they managed to take power and dictate their way to the extermination of the Jews, Poles, Roma, Communists and dissenters during the Second World War.
There is a lot of detail in this book that isn’t for the faint hearted. I knew a lot of the history but even somethings were new to me. It deals with horrific events. But that is what I think this book is about. It’s to shock people. Its to illuminate that this can reoccur at any time and has been all through history. We need to remember it was actually the British during the Boer War who came up with the idea of concentration camps. It wasn’t a new concept.
There are a lot of twists during this story - none of which I am going to spoil as it’s important that the reader gets the reaction that the author is going for. This is an intriguing way to educate and explain to readers the issues behind hatred and genocide. Keep reading this book as it really picks up the pace towards the end with revelations and the final events. But I think the pacing is also a reflection of how these thoughts and ideas percolate in society. It’s a slow build up with ideas being whispered about and behind hidden doors and then suddenly it’s too late and the horror and shock that it’s already happening and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
Please read this book as it is definitely worth your time.
