Go as a River: A Novel

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your overall impressions of Go as a River? Discuss what you liked most and least about the book.
• Compare this novel to others in the same genre or by the same author, particularly novels relating to displacement, racism, and/or familial relationships. Did the novel remind you of others you’ve read?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Reflect on any part of Go as a River that evoked a strong emotional response (such as the town’s unjust treatment of Wil as an Indigenous man and his eventual gory murder, Victoria’s giving up their baby, or her unexpected reunion years later with their son, Lukas). Discuss why it was so impactful.
• One of the novel’s themes concerns the importance of place and the effects of displacement. How does this concept relate to your personal views or experiences? Have you ever experienced displacement?
• Explore connections between your life and the experiences of the novel’s characters. Which character resonated most with you and why?
• Seth betrays Victoria’s trust, and she never forgives him. Reflect on how realistic her reaction is given the significance of Seth’s actions. To what extent do you empathize with her reaction?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Analyze how Go as a River reflects or comments on historical and current societal views surrounding Indigenous identity, culture, and rights.
• The novel is set in the late 1940s in Colorado and continues through the early 1970s. While the characters are fictional, the town of Iola did become extinct to make way for the Blue Mesa Reservoir in the early 1960s. Discuss the influence of this period and setting on the story. Expand the discussion to consider the various impacts of dams and water management throughout the country, including projects like Hoover Dam and Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir.
• Explore how the novel’s themes (Displacement, Relocation, and Place Identity; Grief as a Journey; The Damaging Legacy of Racism; Female Identity and Motherhood; and any other themes you identified) resonate with today’s world.

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Go as a River is structured in five sections, the titles of which reflect various years or ranges of years, and the protagonist, Victoria, is the narrator. Analyze the effectiveness of this structure and perspective and how each helps shape the story.
• Discuss the development and relatability of Victoria, Wil, Seth, and Ruby-Alice. How does each character relate to the novel’s themes?
• Explore the significance of the Colorado mountain setting and how it contributes to the novel’s tone.
• Discuss the novel’s symbols and motifs (peaches, the river, maps and places, and any others you identified). How do they enhance the story’s impact?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you were charged with adapting Go as a River into a movie, series, or play, which would you choose and why? Who would you cast in the roles of Victoria, Wil, Seth, Victoria’s father, Ruby-Alice, Inga, and Lukas? How might you approach scripting, scoring, production or set design, costuming, directing, and other aspects of the project?
• Create a playlist that captures the novel’s mood or themes or that contains selections that reflect various characters.
• Imagine a sequel or continuation of the story. What happens after Victoria and Lukas meet? How might the characters’ lives play out?

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