Peace Like a River by Leif Enger Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Peace Like a River
Book Review: Among best books
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has everything...extraordinary writing, a good plot, wonderful characters, range of emotions--from sadness to elation, pathos, poignancy. It is a great read. Have read many books this summer and this one continues to be among those I treasured most.Book Review: An endearing book
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved it. Perfect - no; but a great read. Some have criticized the authors strange words. I thought them delightful; I loved his style of writing. I have two criticisms: one is the ending. I thought the ending was hurried. And the second was Swede, the precocious 9 year old. I can't buy a 9-year old being able to write, cook, and talk like she did.Book Review: An entertaining read
Summary: 5 Stars
Enjoyed this book mainly because it was multi-layered. The main story was interesting, but also, each character was interesting in his own right. The father in his religious beliefs, the daughter who is wise beyond her years, the youngest asthmatic son, and the older son who makes the mistake of protecting his sister in a violent manner. This book demands you to continue reading, and that, I believe, is the mark of a good story.Book Review: An unusual book that delivers at times, and at others...not so much...
Summary: 3 Stars
As someone who has never even visited the Midwest, I was a bit of a "fish out of water" reading this novel. The landscape and the lifestyle (including children hunting!) were totally foreign to me. That being said, there were moments when I really became emotionally involved in this novel. I found the incidents of unexplained "spookism" early in the novel rather fascinating. They were reminiscent of magical realism novels that I enjoyed many years ago. However, as the novel progressed, I found myself irritated by several things: First, Swede is supposed to be a nine year-old girl. The poetry she created -- and her vocabulary, which is envied even by her eleven year-old brother -- was just not believable, unless she was some sort of child prodigy, but no one else in the book seemed to notice. That annoyed me, along with the sheer number of poems included. Enough already! Second, after a while, the number of religious references just got tedious. I understand the role faith and spirituality play in this novel but didn't feel it was necessary to beat the reader over the head with it. Last, I feel like there were some great moments of tension and suspense, particularly toward the end, but the author blew the delivery. I got impatient and was left unsatisfied. Overall, I can't say I feel strongly one way or the other about this novel. I wouldn't recommend it, but I wouldn't warn others not to pick it up. For readers interested in religious-themed novels, who are patient with books that move forward at a slow pace, you might enjoy this one. If this description doesn't describe you, then find something else.Book Review: Awesome book - one to ponder for a long time
Summary: 5 Stars
This book exceeded all expectations and is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Reuben, the 11 year old narrator, takes us through twists and turns, just odd enough to to mimic real life. Enger does a wonderful job of interspersing literary allusions and assumes a basic knowledge from his reader. The climactic scene towards the end comes unexpectedly. Enger tells this tale of how the spiritual world of faith interacts so closely with this temporal world. It's a story just strange enough to be true and how I wish it were.