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Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
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Peace Like a River (original 2001; edition 2002)

by Leif Enger

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5,6661631,784 (4.02)244
Fiction. Literature. Hailed as one of the year's top five novels by Time, and selected as one of the best books of the year by nearly all major newspapers, national bestseller Peace Like a River captured the hearts of a nation in need of comfort. "A rich mixture of adventure, tragedy, and healing," Peace Like a River is "a collage of legends from sources sacred and profane -- from the Old Testament to the Old West, from the Gospels to police dramas" (Ron Charles, The Christian Science Monitor). In "lyrical, openhearted prose" (Michael Glitz, The New York Post), Enger tells the story of eleven-year-old Reuben Land, an asthmatic boy who has reason to believe in miracles. Along with his sister and father, Reuben finds himself on a cross-country search for his outlaw older brother who has been controversially charged with murder. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and its remarkable conclusion shows how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies, the most tragic of fates. Leif Enger's "miraculous" (Valerie Ryan, The Seattle Times) novel is a "perfect book for an anxious time ... of great literary merit that nonetheless restores readers' faith in the kindness of stories" (Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press).… (more)
Member:elsyd
Title:Peace Like a River
Authors:Leif Enger
Info:Atlantic Monthly Press (2002), Paperback, 320 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:***
Tags:Fiction

Work Information

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (2001)

  1. 90
    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (atimco)
    atimco: These books share a precocious narrator, vital family relationships, and themes that are funny and sad and thought provoking all at the same time. Extremely well written and engaging.
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    bjappleg8: Similar story of a father's faith through family trials and tribulations as seen through a young boy's eyes.
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» See also 244 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 162 (next | show all)
Once in a great while, we encounter a novel in our voluminous reading that begs to be read aloud. Leif Enger's debut, Peace Like a River, is one such work. His richly evocative novel, narrated by an asthmatic 11-year-old named Reuben Land, is the story of Reuben's unusual family and their journey across the frozen Badlands of the Dakotas in search of his fugitive older brother. Charged with the murder of two locals who terrorized their family, Davy has fled, understanding that the scales of justice will not weigh in his favor. But Reuben, his father, Jeremiah—a man of faith so deep he has been known to produce miracles—and Reuben's little sister, Swede, follow closely behind the fleeing Davy.

Affecting and dynamic, Peace Like a River is at once a tragedy, a romance, and an unflagging exploration into the spirituality and magic possible in the everyday world, and in that of the world awaiting us on the other side of life. In Enger's superb debut effort, we witness a wondrous celebration of family, faith, and spirit, the likes of which we haven't seen in a long, long time—and the birth of a classic work of literature. ( )
  jepeters333 | Feb 26, 2024 |
This was this last months book club selection. Its a book I wouldn't normally read, however I'm glad that I did - it is set in an area that feels like a way of life for my parents and grandparents. However, I felt at times the book was older than the time it was set at, with horses being a way to get around and no TV's. I suspect that it was a deliberate choice, a throwback to the the Westerns that Swede liked to read.

As for the characters, I think this is loosely based on the Book of Job from the bible - with Mr. Land being faith being tested at every roadblock, from a son with Asthma, to an older son who made a very deliberate choice in an unjust situation. I think the kids were written truely, younger Sister Swede seeing her older brother as an outlaw accused unjustly, to Reuben, who has figured out that world isn't fair and choices are shades of gray.

I found the story to be competently written, but at times it at times, it was a slog to read. Pacing could have been better. I'm not sure I liked the ending, I was expecting more emotion, instead it was just a "whelp, here is what everyone is up to now" sort of thing. As for our bookclub, I think it will bring interesting conversation, especially about Davy's choice that caused this whole mess. ( )
  TheDivineOomba | Jan 16, 2024 |
It's true; no nine-year-old writes poetry like Swede. But, Nathan, thanks for bringing this book to my attention. It took me a long time to read it because I read it very carefully and in the end I cried. In a way, it reminded me of [b:Gilead|68210|Gilead A Novel|Marilynne Robinson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170687634s/68210.jpg|2481792]. ( )
  LibrarianDest | Jan 3, 2024 |
(56) I am late to the party with reading this novel - has been on my to be read list for close to a decade. Not sure why finally made me make the plunge. This is a story that pulls at your heart strings about a single father and his 3 children. At the outset of the book it becomes clear that the Dad is some everyman turned hero and possibly angelic. It was never quite clear to me who Davy, Swede, and Rube's mother was and why she left - but they are ordinary kids with their own extraordinary ways living life in a midwestern small-town in the 1950's when the oldest brother accidentally but maybe on purpose has a fatal run-in with some small town bullies. Davy becomes an outlaw the run. The narrative told through Swede's poetic odes to Western bandit's and and our sickly protagonist Rube's retrospective reflections and it is poignant, dear, and at times gripping. While I won't ruin the end, it has a storytelling arc than any literature professor has got to admire.

The penultimate chapter that gives the book its name was ultimately where I lost touch with the novel a bit. I was not minding the magical realism at all and while I didn't feel as if this part was out of place, it tipped the whole book over a wee bit into Hallmark movie of the week territory. Overall, the author's fine writing does indeed save it from the melodramatic. I adored Rube, and loved Swede's poems, and their Dad's quiet strength -- The beginning with duck hunting, the scenes in the airstream, Mr. Andreeson. Really excellent well-written details and characters.

I am glad I read and I think I will remember. Not necessarily anything concrete to criticize, but just shy of missing the mark from being really something special for me. Likely because I couldn't buy the God and I guess heaven piece - but that might be a me problems as opposed to the novel's problem. ( )
  jhowell | Nov 7, 2023 |
hmmm....there were parts in this book it seemed to drag for me, and then the action would pick back up. By the last third I could not put it down. If you like the West and lots of old western references, you would love the book. For me, that was not a strength of the book. ( )
  Asauer72 | Jul 3, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 162 (next | show all)

» Add other authors (8 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Leif Engerprimary authorall editionscalculated
Rawlinson,ReginaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
Dedication
To Robin
The country ahead is as wild a spread
As ever we're likely to see

The horses are dancing to start the advance--
Won't you ride on with me?
First words
From my first breath in this world, all I wanted was a good set of lungs and the air to fill them with - given circumstances, you might presume, for an American baby of the twentieth century.
Quotations
So thoughtlessly we sling on our destinies.
Thinking of supper, I asked, “You want us to do anything, Dad?”
“Persevere,” he said.
I’m sorry if you thought better of me, but the fact is I spent whole hours imagining alarming humiliations for those kids - big dumb kids, always with effortless all-star lungs. … It’s true. No grudge ever had a better nurse.
I couldn’t put words to it, but Swede, as usual, could.
This still happens with Swede and me. I’ll lack a word, and she’ll dump out a bushel of them.
“My sympathies,” Dad said. “Appreciated but gratuitous,” the woman replied – and Swede would have loved her forever for that phrase alone –
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Wikipedia in English (1)

Fiction. Literature. Hailed as one of the year's top five novels by Time, and selected as one of the best books of the year by nearly all major newspapers, national bestseller Peace Like a River captured the hearts of a nation in need of comfort. "A rich mixture of adventure, tragedy, and healing," Peace Like a River is "a collage of legends from sources sacred and profane -- from the Old Testament to the Old West, from the Gospels to police dramas" (Ron Charles, The Christian Science Monitor). In "lyrical, openhearted prose" (Michael Glitz, The New York Post), Enger tells the story of eleven-year-old Reuben Land, an asthmatic boy who has reason to believe in miracles. Along with his sister and father, Reuben finds himself on a cross-country search for his outlaw older brother who has been controversially charged with murder. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and its remarkable conclusion shows how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies, the most tragic of fates. Leif Enger's "miraculous" (Valerie Ryan, The Seattle Times) novel is a "perfect book for an anxious time ... of great literary merit that nonetheless restores readers' faith in the kindness of stories" (Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press).

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