Themes You Remember
Muses by Anna Whitcomb, daughter
The story of Riverrock sheds light on how families and specifically the father and mother may possess an inordinate amount of influence and control on individual members within the nuclear family and extend that control to an outsider entering into the family. Was that the main theme of Riverrock? Perhaps, but that is just one theme played out within the structure of the novel. Other themes exist: college life at the time of World War II, women’s role during WWII and the opportunities afforded them because of the war. However, one of the major themes centers on how women gain independence within society, but not without fight. Without giving away the story here, my main objective for publishing my mother’s book was to bring to light the many trials and tribulations women surmounted even when society was so systematically pushing against them.
The story is predominately fiction with threads of truth but I suspect that may be the case with every novel. Writers often craft their stories from their own experiences and we all relish a good story. It moves us and it stays with us. We remember it for weeks. I have heard from readers of Riverrock that the characters and story stays with them; they keep thinking about it. Why I wonder? Perhaps, because it resonates with their own life or maybe a friend’s story they just heard. This is a story that might stick with you for a while.
