American River Currents Analysis

"American River Currents" by Mallory M. O’Connor tells an engaging story that’s entertaining and holds your attention till the end. I found myself wanting to read more by this author. Isn't that the highest praise you can give a book? The novel is set against the backdrop of the wild 1960s. That era had a lot going on, right? We had the space program and the moon landing, but also a ton of disruption and discord. The civil rights movement, the Vietnam War escalating, and the farm labor movement caused so much chaos. Women’s roles in the family and workplace were changing. Tragically, we lost John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy to assassinations. The nation saw widespread protests, heated political drama, and cultural warfare. The baby boom generation coming of age and advances in TV and communication only fueled the fire. By the end of the decade, it's estimated there were around 20-30 bombings per week in the U.S.

O’Connor tells her story through three somewhat interconnected families – the McPhalans, the Morales, and the Ashidas. Each family represents a different immigrant wave to America. Their stories delve into how they assimilate into American culture while also feeling a bit alienated from their original cultures. Some have assimilated so much they’re anxious about newer immigrant groups. Native Americans might find this ironic.

Owen McPhalan is a California state legislator and landowner. His ex-wife, Marian, is an artist living mostly in NYC, Massachusetts, and Mexico. They have two daughters: Alexandria, an aspiring piano prodigy, and Kate, who lives in Cleveland with her husband Carl, a well-known maestro. Carl works with the Cleveland Symphony. Their lives revolve around Stefan Molnar, a world-famous pianist in Cleveland. Stefan is a wonderfully gothic character who stirs up a lot of interaction between Kate, Carl, and Alex. A big part of the book focuses on Kate and Carl’s life together and their complicated relationship with each other and Stefan.

Tommy Ashida, a third-generation Japanese American, is an architect in San Francisco. He travels to Japan to reconnect with his roots and ends up marrying Emiko, bringing her back to the U.S. The Morales family is Mexican American. Jorge, a Mexican immigrant, runs a successful business. Two of his teenage kids, Silvio and Allison, play key roles in the story. The family is somewhat involved with Cesar Chavez’s farm labor movement in California. Through this and their reactions to the Vietnam War, they explore the nature of protest and dissent.

The novel spans from 1963 to 1970, touching on significant movements and events of that period. However, the cultural conflicts and issues are still relevant today. It’s a good read for anyone trying to understand our times. Besides major historical events, O’Connor also touches on violence toward women, social Darwinism, and toxic relationships. It's interesting to reflect on a time, less than 60 years ago, when there was no email, international calls were an adventure, and doctors made house calls.

Tackling such a broad subject is a big challenge. In terms of literary technique and style, the book has strengths and weaknesses. As a historical novel, it tells the story of the 1960s through its characters, reflecting the emotional way we experience events. Most of us weren’t in Dallas when JFK was shot, but we all remember where we were when we heard the news and how we felt. For this technique to work, characters need to have enough emotional connection to events to effectively communicate with the reader. O’Connor generally does a good job, though it’s a bit uneven. Kate’s story is particularly moving, especially regarding her changing role as a woman. Carl and Kate’s interactions with Stefan and the artistic community are well done. However, Jorge, Allison, and Silvio’s exploration of dissent feels too distant and doesn’t convey the intense emotions of the times.

In my opinion, the book could’ve used better editing. O’Connor goes into great detail describing people, places, and things but overuses modifiers. For example, instead of saying “Alex gazed adoringly at Stefan,” she writes, “Alex laughed, perfect white teeth between pink lips, cornflower blue eyes gazing at Stefan adoringly.” Overuse of modifiers distracts from the emotional flow. She also tends to describe things both literally and metaphorically, like “…camellia bushes just beginning to bloom – delicate white and pink blossoms opening like shy young girls before they burst into voluptuous full flower.” It can be numbing and less impactful when metaphors are overused.

Interestingly, the prose improves when the action intensifies, like in a climactic Christmas dinner scene toward the end. Kate, Carl, Alex, and Marian confront critical secrets, and the scene is both hilarious and horrifying, with tight dialogue and high emotion.

I really enjoyed "American River Currents" by Mallory M. O’Connor. The best part was how she brought her characters to life. At its best, I could emotionally connect with their experiences. I was a teenager during the book's period, and many scenes evoked vivid memories for me. I least liked the stylistic elements. The overuse of modifiers and metaphors distracted from the emotional flow, becoming deadening over time. I rated it 3 out of 4 stars, mainly due to the uneven editing and stylistic issues. Nonetheless, it’s a great read, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a good story about a fascinating time in our history. It’ll interest those who lived through the period and those seeking perspective on today’s events.