Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River
I have been doing a horrible job of posting on this year’s family book and cd/dvd exchange. My bad. I figured I would finally post again, this time on Dan’s pick: Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River. I really had no idea what to expect going into this story but now I can definitely see why Dan chose the book.
This is an extremely well written piece of fiction about faith and family. The story centers on 11 year old Ruben Land, his struggles to breathe, his outlaw brother, poetic sister, new found mother, and miraculous father. The simplicity of love and trust shines through in this heart warming narrative. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction.
I enjoyed one of the moments where Ruben had a close personal experience with God:
It only felt powerful, like truth unhusked.
Once torched by truth, Swede [Ruben's sister] wrote years later, a little thing like faith is easy.
And later in the story, after Ruben felt that things weren’t going fairly for him, he made the astute observation that “Fair is whatever God wants to do.” And finally, the conclusion brings home a great expression of faith:
Is there a single person on whom I can press belief?
No sir.
All I can do is say, Here’s how it went. Here’s what I saw.
I’ve been there and am going back.
Make of it what you will.
Worth the read, check it out!
December 6th, 2006 | Category: Family Book and CD/DVD Exchange, Literature
| 
Print This Post
| Leave a comment | Trackback URL
December 10th, 2006 at 11:15 am
I’ve seen this book and it looked intriguing, thanks for the review
December 10th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
I added a link to you on my weblog since I read yours regularly, I hope that’s ok??
December 10th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
Glad I could do it sage, let me know how you like it!
Thanks much for the link Jen, I really appreciate it!! It really is quite kind of you.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
[...] 17. Danielle (Lieutenant Hornblower)18. Dorothy (The Places in Between)19. Matt Jones (Peace Like a River)20. Sage (The Deer on a Bicycle)21. Aunt Judie (The Thrill of the Chaste) [...]
October 12th, 2007 at 6:28 am
Im starting to enjoy this book but it needs more excitement.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
[...] New York Times Book Review), Jenny Spadafora (12frogs), Jana Siciliano (Bookreporter.com), Renee, Matt Jones, and Bradley Mariska (Offenburger.com). Nicole Eckblad did this project based on the novel for her [...]