Book Review for

Peace Like a River
by Leif Enger

Rarely does a story like this come along. It is on par with Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."
The story opens with the narrator, Reuben Land, being still-born into the world, until his deeply
devout father, Jeremiah Land, commands him, "Reuben Land, in the name of the living God
I am telling you to breathe." Reuben does live, and goes on to witness his older brother, Davy,
pick up a Winchester rifle and defend their younger sister, Swede, from two intruders. Davy then
 escapes jail on horseback, heading for the badlands of North Dakota, and the Land family sets
out to find him.

"Peace Like a River" presents a family's love for one another more powerfully and moving than
almost any other novel. It presents wonderful themes of bravery, love, and faith in God, and
makes the reader feel like a member of the Land family. Young Swede, who is a poet and
lover of the Old West, will remind readers of Scout in "Too Kill a Mockingbird." 

The end of the story contains a vivid description of heaven found no where else.
This could easily become one of the ten best books you have ever read.


 Return to "Reading for Pleasure" page