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Peace Like a River
Great
Books for Families
by
H. Wallace Goddard
 Some
books are impossible to describe effectively. They leave an indistinct
sense of being enriched and challenged. Peace Like a River
is just such a book. The plot is summarized in a Barnes and Noble
review:
“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.”
Three
things impressed me as I read the book. First, I loved the
language. For example:
“Whan
a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him
back up. A miracle contradicts the will of earth” (p. 3).
“ . . . the universal race
children run toward the doubtful prize of maturity . . .”
(p. 30).
“I heard the dry complaint of the kitchen floor . . .” (p. 48).
The
language is breathtaking.
Second
are the characters. The members of the Land family are as
real and likeable as your favorite relatives. They are not
spared pain. They wrestle with it in their own way and, in
the process, invite us to reflect on our own struggles with
pain and meaning.
Third
is the plot. The story has more than its share of tragedy.
I am no fan of tragedy for tragedy sake. Somehow the tragedies
pass lightly while the miracles linger. Ultimately the miracles
have greater heft than the tragedies.
I
agree with the reviewer at Publisher’s Weekly: “This is a
stunning debut novel, one that sneaks up on you like a whisper
and warms you like a quilt in a North Dakota winter, a novel
about faith, miracles and family that is, ultimately, miraculous.”
In
recommending this book, I am not suggesting that it is suitable
for reading with a young family. I recommend it for thoughtful
adults who want to renew their appreciation for the struggles
of life, the importance of family loyalty, and the miracles
that flow through life experience.
Leif
Enger (2001). Peace Like a River.
New York: Atlantic Monthly Press.
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