Eternal on the Water: Library Edition

Monninger, Joseph

ISBN 10: 1470838354 ISBN 13: 9781470838355

Publisher: Blackstone Pub, 2012

From the day Cobb and Mary meet kayaking on Maine's Allagash River and fall deeply in love, the two approach life with the same sense of adventure they use to conquer the river's treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easily—and neither does their love. When Mary's life takes the cruelest turn, she vows to face those rough waters on her own terms and asks Cobb to promise, when the time comes, to help her return to their beloved river for one final journey.

Set against the rugged wilderness of Maine, the exotic islands of Indonesia, the sweeping panoramas of Yellowstone National Park, and the tranquil villages of rural New England, Eternal on the Water is at once heartbreaking and uplifting—a timeless, beautifully rendered story of true love's power.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review

Praise for "The World as We Know It"

"Ask yourself when the last time it was that you read a book so beautiful and agonizing that it made you cry for joy and sorrow. "The World As We Know It" does that." --"Bookreporter"

"Monninger has homed in on the beauty and cruelty of the natural world in this gripping and moving story of loss and understanding. Readers ... will revel in Monninger's warm and graceful descriptions of rural New Hampshire and his adept understanding of the landscape of human relationships." --"Booklist"

"Joe Monninger beautifully captures the essence of childhood adventure and the sweet innocence of falling in love for the first time. Fans of John Irving, you have a new author to love." --Lisa Genova, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Still Alice" and "Left Neglected"

"Joseph Monninger's"Eternal on the Water"is a compelling and poignant love story. His two characters, both strong and independent, meet by chance in the Maine wilderness and find in each other the depth of connection they have been searching for and the confrontation with mortality they have been dreading all their lives. Their celebration of life and their emotional parting will touch you deeply and move you to tears."
--Selden Edwards, author of "The Little Book"
Praise for "The World as We Know It"

"Ask yourself when the last time it was that you read a book so beautiful and agonizing that it made you cry for joy and sorrow. "The World As We Know It" does that." --"Bookreporter"

"Monninger has homed in on the beauty and cruelty of the natural world in this gripping and moving story of loss and understanding. Readers ... will revel in Monninger's warm and graceful descriptions of rural New Hampshire and his adept understanding of the landscape of human relationships." --"Booklist"

"Joe Monninger beautifully captures the essence of childhood adventure and the sweet innocence of falling in love for the first time. Fans of John Irving, you have a new author to love." --Lisa Genova, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Still Alice" and "Left Neglected"

""Eternal on the Water" is more than a heartfelt love story. It is a beautiful and searching exploration of the meaning of commitment and the majesty of nature, told in the strong, clear voice of a true believer. In these pages, there is much to learn of life, death, love and healing. It's a book to savor and then to share."
--Susan Wiggs, "NYT" bestselling author of "Just Breathe" and "Lakeshore Christmas"

""Eternal on the Water" is a book that reminds you that joy and sorrow are inextricably entwined, that one means less without the other. What would you do if you were Mary, or Cobb? This luminescent story will never leave you. I adored it."
--Dorothea Benton Frank

"Joseph Monninger's "Eternal on the Water" is a compelling and poignant love story. His two characters, both strong and independent, meet by chance in the Maine wilderness and find in each other the depth of connection they have been searching for and the confrontation with mortality they have been dreading all their lives. Their celebration of life and their emotional parting will touch you deeply and move you to tears."
--Selden Edwards, author of "The Little Book"

Praise for "The World as We Know It"
"Ask yourself when the last time it was that you read a book so beautiful and agonizing that it made you cry for joy and sorrow. "The World As We Know It" does that." --"Bookreporter"
"Monninger has homed in on the beauty and cruelty of the natural world in this gripping and moving story of loss and understanding. Readers ... will revel in Monninger s warm and graceful descriptions of rural New Hampshire and his adept understanding of the landscape of human relationships." --"Booklist"
"Joe Monninger beautifully captures the essence of childhood adventure and the sweet innocence of falling in love for the first time. Fans of John Irving, you have a new author to love." --Lisa Genova, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Still Alice" and "Left Neglected""

"Henry David Thoreau meets Nicholas Sparks in this poignant love story rooted in the forests of Maine. On sabbatical, prep school teacher Jonathan Cobb's only goal is to retrace Thoreau's historic 92-mile journey along the Allagash Waterway by kayak, little realizing that, like Thoreau, he will soon "front only the essential facts of life" after meeting Mary Fury on his first night camping. An experienced, exuberant outdoorswoman, Mary invites Cobb to join her for a lecture at the Chungamunga camp for girls suffering with medical illnesses. There, Cobb is impressed by the camaraderie of the group, drawn in by their emphasis on creativity, mythology and survival skills. His growing feelings for Mary are put to the test when she reveals that she's suffering from Huntington's disease, and details the condition's debilitating path. Though the plot sometimes drags through Monninger's numerous digressions, his keen eye for nature, subtle incorporation of indigenous myths and use of symbolism make for a memorable story of love and courage."
--PW

"Love conquers all, the saying goes, but it can t win out over the disease that befalls Mary Fury, the seemingly unflappable heroine at the center of Monninger s poignant, if a bit overlong, novel. Fury has the gene for Huntington s, a cruel affliction that attacks the body slowly, reducing a once healthy person to a mass of twitching muscles and nerves. Jonathan Cobb, a University of New Hampshire professor on sabbatical, learns the grim reality of Mary s situation shortly after the two meet (and instantly fall in love) on the Allagash River. This is the land of Thoreau s Walden Pond, and Cobb had come there to experience firsthand the pleasures of a simple life illustrated by its celebrated author. When Mary begins showing signs of Huntington s, the two must cope with the inevitable, which includes honoring Mary s wishes to live out her days as she sees fit. Monninger (Baby, 2007) is a gifted writer, and readers able to overlook a few maudlin moments will relish this eloquently rendered tale."
--Booklist"

A touching love story immersed in the beautiful simplicity of nature and life lived in the present moment."
--Lisa Genova, NYTimes bestselling author of Still Alice"

About the Author

Joseph Monninger has published several award-winning YA novels and three books of nonfiction, including the memoir Home Waters, and has been awarded two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. He lives and teaches in New Hampshire, where he also runs a dog sled team.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.