Peace Like a River
Peace Like a River
Author: Leif Enger
Desc: 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.