In "Story of a New Zealand River," Jane Mander beautifully captures the essence of life in early 20th century New Zealand. The story follows Alice Roland as she navigates the challenges of love, cultural differences, and societal expectations. Mander's vivid descriptions of the rugged New Zealand landscape bring the setting to life, making it feel like a character in its own right.

The characters in the novel are complex and well-developed, each struggling with their own inner demons and desires. Alice's journey of self-discovery is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, as she learns to navigate the difficult waters of love and family loyalty.

Mander's writing style is poetic and lyrical, drawing the reader into the story from the very first page. The themes of love, loss, and the struggle for independence are timeless and universal, making "Story of a New Zealand River" a poignant and memorable read.

Overall, I highly recommend "Story of a New Zealand River" to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or stories of personal growth and resilience. Jane Mander's beautiful prose and captivating storytelling make this a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

Book Description:
"This is the land of the lost, one of those happy spots where no questions are asked. Of course, the fact of a person's being here is usually all the explanation necessary." The Story of a New Zealand River is a romance set in the Northland region of New Zealand, in the time when the forests of New Zealand's grandest tree, the kauri, were being logged for their exquisite timber. The novel begins as Alice Roland and her free-spirited daughter Asia are being rowed in a black punt by handsome and cultured David Bruce up the Kaipara harbour to their new home at a raw kauri logging settlement in a bend of the Kaiwaka river. Tom Roland, a rough colonial and the boss of the settlement, is Alice's husband of a few years. Alice is a beautiful but tight-laced, proud, puritanical Englishwoman whose mismatch with Tom Roland is not a happy one. They arrive with Alice's piano among their belongings to find a half-built cottage, a strange collection of inhabitants, from gentry to scoundrels, and a place that is beautiful and challenging. Jane Mander was a New Zealand novelist and journalist. As well as New Zealand, she also lived in Sydney, New York and London. There is a superficial resemblance between The Story of a New Zealand River and the Jane Campion film The Piano, which is principally the setting and the piano.