I lost my 7 year old daughter last year in a car crash, so I was really looking forward to a book whose central theme was grief, but this is a book about a man who discovers boating, and only remembers his son every so often as he's boating. At first, I was disappointed with this book, because it had so much boating lore in it. I was impatient to read the parts about grief, since those were the only parts that spoke to me. I was hoping for a book that was similar to so many of the other grief books that I've been reading and enjoying: brief and direct. But as I read through the book a second time, I found what I was looking for...it's just that you have to stay with the author to find it. If I had one criticism, it would be to put more philosophical stuff in the beginning, and don't save it for later. There is a great line on page 57 that would make a great intro to the book:
I have always trusted that the meaning of life ultimately comes mainly
through our emotional experience. That, no matter the cause, no matter
what purpose we attach to our actions, simply experiencing the joys and
sorrows of life in all their various ways and nuances—simply this
emotional response, is all that is needed to render life meaningful.
Then I could hang on to that bit of wisdom as I watched Vitae live out his boating experiences, instead of wondering "why's he getting so involved with minutiae of boating?" If I had a foreknowlege of his opinion of life, I'd be constantly watching to see if his worldview was being frustrated. Anyway, for grieving parents, be prepared for a book that luxuriates in the telling of a tale, but does deliver in the end with great metaphors and heartfelt discussion.

I recently read Open The River and was moved by Vitae's journey towards understanding the purpose of death. Having recently lost my best friend of more than twenty years I found solace in Vitae's quest for distraction; I too have been looking for something to take my mind off of the pain. I was impressed by his insightful boating adventure. He has found a way of escaping the reality of his hurt while looking it plainly in the face. His time on The River must afford him the opportunity to greive in a more honest manner than one would expect in "public."
Vitae's writing style in this book allows the reader a unique window into his life; many authors are not as willing to be as open and candid. I found that the path of surviving someone that you have loved with great intensity is universal. We all must overcome our greif and anger. We all must continue to live even with that empty space in our lives. Vitae has filled his space with his boat and The River. I found this book to be inspirational. Thank you Vitae.

You can feel the wisdom, energy, strength and grief of his words resonate on these pages. Especially insightful for parents who have not lost a child, who have not had to live through what Bergman has. Hard to put down, reads like a mystery, which it is, a spiritual quest. If you've ever wondered about the lure of the open sea and sailing, wonder no more. It's right here.