“I’ve never run this creek before, and I don’t know anyone who has. It’s not written up in any guidebooks…There is nothing out there in the way of human infrastructure, and I mean nothing. Once we go in, we’re on our own.”
That’s either the sternest warning or the hardest sales pitch that river guide Robbie Ducharme can issue to his clients of amateur yet reasonably fit men and women seeking adventure and the ultimate adrenaline rush in John Manuel’s novel of the outdoors, Solitario, The Lonely One.
It’s an opportunity that presents itself when a changing climate brings heavy rains to West Texas near the Rio Grande, creating a potential river canoe expedition in uncharted waters through a desert arroyo.
The book is a continuation of the author’s earlier book, The Lower Canyons, which introduces readers to Robbie, his dream to lead clients down the Rio Grande on canoe expeditions, and establishes some of the central characters. Reading this latest book is not dependent upon reading the first.
A STORY ABOUT SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS
While the trip itself in Solitario is the essence of the story and the experience described in these pages, there’s more to it than that. It’s also a story about split-second decisions, and the consequences of actions motivated by conscience and instinct.
In an earlier river run, Robbie sees two young people swimming from the Mexico side of the Rio Grande to the shores of the Texas side. The girl makes it, but the boy is struggling. With no time to understand what is happening beyond a boy drowning, Robbie comes to the rescue and gives the boy a lifeline.
That’s when Dan Gallagher, claiming to be policing the area, draws a pistol and says the two undocumented immigrants must return to the water and swim back across the river. Robbie objects, and confusion ensues. Robbie is pushed into danger, a cowboy emerges with as pistol and shoots Dan, and then takes off with Robbie’s canoe.
A couple of years go by, but Robbie is sued by Dan, who managed to survive. Relationships formed during the tragic events play out during the course of the book.
A BOOK WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION
While Robbie returns to his life as a river guide, uncertainty lingers about the outcome of the trial and potential retribution as a result.
There’s a lot to be said about the beauty and freedom of excursions on the river. In fact, the author, perhaps not intentionally, explains the experience nicely in describing the plight of a snake who is captured and relocated out of harm’s way: “Now that was the way to approach life. Skewered by unseen forces, hauled into the air, and dropped in a foreign place, don’t weep, don’t wail. Just get on with the job.”
In Solitario, The Lonely One, John Manuel has crafted a novel that delves into the many perils of life, as seen through a dangerous, challenging outdoor adventure or through delicate personal relationships with everyone from loved ones to apparent enemies. It’s a book worthy of your consideration.
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About John Manuel:
John Manuel is a writer whose published works span the genres from environmental journalism, to creative non-fiction, to fiction. He has published three novels, a memoir, and a guidebook. His articles have appeared in institutional magazines such as The National Institute of Environmental Health Science’s Environmental Health Perspectives, trade journals such as Canoe and Kayak, and popular magazines such as Audubon and Orion. John is also a professional photographer. His photos have accompanied his articles in Audubon, Duke Magazine, Canoe and Kayak, and Wildlife in North Carolina. Finally, John is a teacher. He has designed and taught courses at the Duke University Young Writer’s Camp and the Duke Center for Documentary Studies. Visit www.jsmanuel.com.
