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, … 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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One of those books that impresses not just because it’s a great story, but it’s also SO well written. At times, I just re-read certain parts to just to admire how things were said.
This is among the best books I’ve read not just this year, but the last several years. The voice–the voice!!!–is one of the best first-person narrations I have ever in my life encountered. In that regard, it reminds me of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, but Enger’s story is far more structured, less dense, and an altogether easier read than …
Wow, oh wow. One of my favorite reads of the year. If you are a fan of Charles Martin or Chris Fabry you may like this poignant but uplifting story. An asthmatic boy has to make some hard choices in this novel that reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird in its style.
This is one of my you-must-read books. I recommend it to many people so I’m recommending it here. The story isn’t necessarily a happy one but it is satisfying. A family trying to live with the aftermath of a murder a son and brother committed mostly told through the eyes of the younger brother. Haunting and yet satisfying.
Well written novel, it depicted peace among conflicts from beginning to the end
After reading two pages of a borrowed book Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River, I wanted to own this book. This is a beautiful and gentle novel with precise descriptive words played out the scenes and dialogues as in a movie. It reminded me of The River Runs Through It. …
Leif Enger is an exquisite writer. Peace Like a River is a story about fanily, about love loss and loyalty. When I came to the end, I was sorry. The characters felt like family and I didn’t want to leave them.
This is my all-time favorite book! I usually own multiple copies so I can lend them out to friends and not worry about getting them back. 🙂
Hard to believe this was his first novel. WONDERFUL writing.
A tragedy that instigates a family’s quest is told in the tradition of storytelling. The narrator, an 11-year-old boy, gives an honest account of the events. It’s a story of family love, struggles, faith, mistakes made, and lessons learned, Likable, well-defined characters who have the spirit to keep persevering. The relationship between the …
One of my all-time favorites!
Exceptional characters in an inspirational story embracing a touch of supernatural within the parameters of the everyday. A must read and re-read.
One of the best books I have ever read. Themes of family, forgiveness, redemption, living with disability.
This is my second read through this book and I still love it. The prose is beautiful, the characters rich and deep, and the story is at once dynamic and peaceful.
Told from the perspective of Reuben Land, who was nine at the time and is telling the story as an adult, we learn about Reub’s father, Jeremiah, a man of deep and unmoving faith in …
Brilliant, evocative, and written in a clear-sighted adolescent’s voice that verges on stream of consciousness and flows magically with the surrealism of this astounding story. Narrator Reuben Land’s tells this remarkable story of a motherless family’s journey through the winter flatlands of North Dakota, on the trail of his elder brother, Davy, …
Some of the greatest characters I’ve ever read, in a plot that perfectly displays them.
Gripping and unusually well written
A haunting coming of age tale, beautifully written. One of the best books I’ve read all year (2019). My first from Enger, so I’ll definitely be looking at his other works. What a terrific writer.
Combination of family drama, forgiveness, coming-of-age, murder, fantasy, and the scariest character from a non-horror novel. Beautifully written.
This is my all time favorite book! Amazing character development enhances this fast paced yet complicated story.
I loved this book–it took me places I didn’t expect to go and made me feel things I didn’t expect to feel. It is both realistic and a spiritual journey that takes the reader on an unexpected ride. Plan to be surprised.