Reviews

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

bibliophile80's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful!! Wasn't sure I was going to like it, but I wanted to read it slowly and savor it like a good chocolate.

nancysweitzer's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Eleva year old main character maybe not for me. Also a little too much religion

cassiakarin's review against another edition

5.0

Is there any more soul satisfying than a rich and joyously tearful ending? This story carried me along at the pace of my own childhood. Comfortable in curiosity like in a summer treasure hunt, but faster than can be grasped like the first sight of the hidden prize. The youthful expressions, feelings, and regrets of childhood were ever present, and ever relatable in this story. I felt as though I could walk through it in my old sneakers and in my cut-off jean shorts without embarrassment. Yet there was a profundity of depth and of mystery that even my adulthood sat up straight for. At no point did I feel like the story "dragged on." At no point was I certain what was going to happen, though the narrator was not covert in how he retold his memories. And the ending... Those last two chapters...I whimpered, and frequently paused to sturdy myself against the counter, close my wet eyes, and brace my lower lip for the impact of powerful and dreadful hope.
I have had only a few mightily profound moments encountering an urgency to reach the land that Reuben describes in these chapters, but in his poetic telling they all came back alive to me. C.S. Lewis' vision is very present, as is St. John's, and J.R.R. Tolkien's too. The end of this story is so worth the journey. The heaviness of my own chest in its ending is so worth the breathlessness. The simplicity of breathing itself brings miracles now nearer because of this tale.

entommoore's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

snutedute's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

juliew12's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

nathanomalley's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Easily in my top 10 of favorite books I’ve read. Deeply moving.

themeg1234's review against another edition

2.0

killed a little bit of my soul but the ending was muy bien

droggjr's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of the best fiction books I've ever read. I didn't want to put it down. But I so didn't want it to end. I am not good with words so I won't try to describe my thoughts. I just felt good as I was reading it.

marlisphillips's review against another edition

2.0

I listened to this on audio. I enjoyed listening to it in the car but I don't know that I would have finished it if I'd been reading it. It was a little strange. The miracles that occurred were a little bizarre. And I'm not quite sure how I felt about the family's reaction to what the son did. Never having been in that situation I don't know how I would react, of course. I guess I'm glad I read it since I'd been hearing about it for so long but I don't think I would recommend it to anyone else.