Down by the River is written by an Irish author who originally shocked her homeland by writing about women having affairs and eventually abortions.

One important fact to know about Ireland is that it was created based on the Catholic church's teaching. They believe that the woman belongs in the home, while the man provides for the woman. They also believed (like many other countries)  that woman was the moral keeper of man. I'm not saying that this is the way all Irish people think, just that there are written accounts of this line of thinking.

Down by the River takes the real life account of an Irish girl who was molested and became pregnant and fictionalizes it. The young girl in the novel is molested by her father for many years before becoming pregnant. She runs away to England in hopes of having an abortion and staying away from her father.

Unfortunately, she is sent back home to her father who tries to perform an in house abortion with a broom handle. (It is brutal but drives home the idea that if the government doesn't allow legal abortions more dangerous illegal abortions will take place.) The courts become involved after it becomes known who the baby's father is.

This book dives into several minds and is disturbing. It is thought provoking and painful. It is worth reading and I will probably read it again.

Scooper