Electroshock therapy, child abuse and modern-day slavery... just another day in Christine's life. Take a heart-wrenching yet inspiring ride through one woman's incredible journey that is so compelling that you are simultaneously trying to look away and unable to stop yourself from reading on. Christine's father is a wealthy, tyrannical man renowned in the diamond business. At the age of just five, little Christine is cast aside into a boarding school where she is ridiculed for two embarrassing problems. She grows up in a never-ending circle of traumatic experiences both in her boarding school and at home. It culminates into a falling out between father and child that was never fully mended, leading her into a world of promiscuity and alcohol, eventually landing her in a violent marriage. Driven to the limits of despair and heartache, she creates a plan to escape her world of misery. Will her plan work? No Fourth River is gripping, harrowing, uplifting and inspiring. A true story of survival, courage and triumph. A story that asks: This journey shows the tenacity of the human spirit and how the will to survive can often be hidden behind self-destructive tendencies. This beautifully written novel is an incredible inspiring true story about loss, abuse, survival and hope. Honestly....I was really quite impressed. You have a from-the-heart tale that resonates. This novel is very well written, a real page turner. It's inspirational and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is powerful stuff. I like your frank, no excuses yet no shame writing style. It's rare to find a script that actually has me thinking about it later. A story that strikes at a visceral level and latches onto the brain like a tick... now that's good writing. Christine engages the reader's attention from the very first page, with the mysterious title. I do not wish to give away too much of the twists and turns of this incredibly undulating tale but let me say that it's one heck of a great read. It is well written, gripping, sad, harrowing and triumphantly victorious all in one. The description on each page is piercingly graphic, so as you witness some scenes, you feel as though you wish you could leap inside the pages to defend its innocent victims - but you can't and so you watch from the sidelines as your admiration for the heroine author grows. As the book progresses, the brave character of the writer starts to touch your heart and by the time the book comes to an end, you feel as if you are saying goodbye to a wonderful, courageous friend whom you wish to hug with great warmth. This is a fantastic book to read while travelling, which would make any journey fly by and you may miss your stop! However, it is also an educational tome in that there are lessons along the way which would be of benefit to anyone who has to face major challenges and needs encouragement and inspiration. I am giving it five stars because this book is a first-class document which is not only entertaining but also dynamically tutorial. It should be prescribed reading for everyone over the age of fifteen. There is wisdom at the end of each tale like a light at the end of every tunnel. Highly recommended - buy it for anyone you know who feels isolated and unloved to show how the biggest heartbreaks can be the foundations to making a fantastic heroine or hero.