Where the River Ends

The problem with having a “bucket list” is that the final destination is death, and Abbie Coleman’s cancer is making sure she arrives at this ending. Her husband, Doss Michaels, does two things brilliantly—paints paintings and loves Abbie. Not everyone experiences this kind of love, a love that transcends illness and takes risks to ensure that the person being loved fulfills their dying wish. One item on Abbie’s bucket list and her dying wish is to travel 130 miles down St. Marys River; a journey made complicated by her powerful Senator father who has never liked Doss, and the threat of a hurricane heading toward them.

Charles Martin uses this river as a metaphor for cancer: ugly, twisting, dangerous with tiny glimpses of the show more fragile beauty of life. Even the way he wrote this book is jarring, not as polished as his other work, but raw and honest. Where the River Ends is a thought provoking, tug-at-your-heart voyage on the not so pretty river of life. show less

“The Bucket List” meets “The Notebook”

I couldn’t put this book down. This is the sweetest story of never-ending, to the core, selfless, dedicated love. There isn’t a woman who wouldn’t want a Doss Michaels in their life.

Doss, a struggling artist who grew up in a trailer park, meets, falls in love with, and marries the senator’s daughter – Abbie Coleman. Though he knows his father-in-law does not like him and disapproves of their marriage, he doesn’t let that deter him from giving Abbie his full heart.

When health troubles arise, Doss and Abbie have choices to make—many of them illegal and (to her father) unethical. Through the ups and downs of their decisions, and consequences for each choice, their strength, love show more and will to survive are tested.

Abbie makes a list of ten things she hopes to do in her life. Together, she and Doss go through the checklist, racing against time, the law, and the senator’s formidable determination.

I tend to think of “Where the River Ends” as “The Bucket List” meets “The Notebook”. I laughed and cried throughout this story and didn’t want the book to end. I’ve grown to know and love the characters and feel a void now that I’ve closed the cover.

Charles Martin paints a vivid portrait of Charleston and the St. Mary’s River, making me feel as if I’ve been there. I’ve put the remaining Charles Martin books on my wish list. Great author. Great story. Great experience. show less

Synopsis: husband helps wife with metastatic cancer fulfill some of the items on her "before I die" list--including a canoe trip down a Florida river.
I wanted to like this book, since I like canoeing, but didn't find it very believable. Maybe I just don't know enough about how someone with brain metastases would act. But sometimes the husband has to help his wife wash, eat, get dressed, then other times she is walking thru the shrubs or dancing on a sandbar. This book is all about him. For most of the trip he doesn't even speak to her, & she is mentioned only as occasionally lifting her head above the gunnel, or trailing her hand in the water. So I'd recommend this only to people who want to read about a man's journey of show more self-discovery. Or a poke in the ribs to your male partner who isn't as devoted as you'd like. show less

This is the third book I've ready by Charles Martin. While I wouldn't rate it as my favorite, it is still very well-written and emotionally gripping. I can't imagine what it's like to fight a raging disease that takes over every aspect of your life and marriage. But this book gives beautiful insight to the life of a caregiver. Doss is dedicated to his wife, Abbie, and her needs. But Doss is also human and humans are prone to err, as proven by his dinner "date" while still married to his wife. No, a secret affair never blossoms, but it does show that even caregivers need a sense of connection. Caregivers (and patients!) miss the affection, sex, physical and emotional aspects that we associate with dating and marriage.

It's a beautiful show more story and I'm sure you'll find it enlightening as well as thought-provoking. show less

This is a beautifully written love story. It took me a little bit to get into it since it's very narrative and light on dialogue. I listened to the audio book and I absolutely loved the way Mark Deakins read the story about Doss and Abbie. I do have to say, as a breast cancer survivor, it was a little bit of a shock by the time I was on Disc 7 of 10 to find out what kind of cancer Abbie was dying from. Her treatment flashbacks were a little hard for me to hear as they brought back memories. But this is more about her cancer, this is about the love between Doss and Abbie who come from very different backgrounds. I also loved the ending. This is a wonderful book and I think since it's more narrative, it is best to listen to the audio show more book. Just make sure towards the end, you are not listening while driving to work or you might have to reapply your make-up. Highly recommend this book. show less

I picked this up in a great Amelia Island bookstore. It takes place along the St Mary's River which straddles the Florida-Georgia line and dumps out across from Amelia Island. I also recognized the author and like his work.
It's a fabulous story. I admit I was a little taken back by the sticker on the cover warning me I'd be heartbroken at the end (that's not usually my type of book), but I found the book more uplifting than sad. Doss grew up on the river and has dreams of becoming an artist. He's from a poor and abusive family but wins a scholarship to the College of Charleston where he meets Allie, the beautiful but practical daughter of the Senator of the state.
The story switches back and forth between their past lives and the show more present. Allie has cancer and is dying. Her last wish is to take a canoe ride down the St Mary's River with Doss, but her powerful father wouldn't allow such a thing. Doss 'kidnaps' her and they take off. It's a crazy, wild, and empowering trip yet bittersweet because it's the last one they'll take together.
Mr. Martin is a good writer and he has put together a powerful story of love and redemption. I highly recommend it. show less

Doss Michaels takes his wife Abbie on a canoe trip down the St. Marys River that runs between Georgia and Florida.  Abbie is dying of cancer, and this trip is one of her ten bucket list items.  Doss is a painter and former river guide who grew up poor, but he meets model Abigail Grace Eliot Coleman (later a designer), daughter of a senator, when he saves her from a mugging in Charleston.  The story alternates between events of their trip down the river, and their past.  They sneak away for the river trip because the senator thinks Abbie belongs in hospice, and spend much of it trying to evade being seen by others.  Amazingly, they manage on this trip to accomplish all but one of the ten bucket list items (and even that last one show more happens later).  I did feel that some of the bucket list items (pages 26-27, ride an antique carousel, do a loopty-loop in an old plane, sip wine on the beach, go skinny-dipping, swim with the dolphins, wet a lien, pose, dance with my husband, laugh so hard it hurts, and "ride the river all the way from Moniac") were pretty unusual, and I felt the plot was rather contrived to make them happen.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed Charles Martin's sweetly romantic story and the descriptions of the river. show less