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sandbar17's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
imogenrose91's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook performed by MacLeod Andrews.
The title character, Virgil Wander, is a small-town cinema owner (and town clerk), who survives an accident on a snowy night when his car breaks through a barrier and “flies” off a bridge into frigid Lake Superior. When he awakes in the hospital, he’s told he has some “minor brain injury” and his memory is somewhat affected. Slowly he begins to piece together his personal history, as well as that of the town in which he lives – a former mining town, now struggling along after one hard-luck event after another. He’s helped – or hindered – in his recovery by a cast of interesting people: among them the town beauty Nadine, an old Norwegian who constructs and flies elaborate kites, a young boy after a legendary giant sturgeon, a depressed handyman who never seems to have the tools he needs, and a prodigal son returned to town with big-city connections and plans to revive the town’s economy.
I love character-driven novels and this one perfectly fits the bill. I love Enger’s way with words, the way he paints the landscape and draws his characters who so perfectly fit the scenario he gives us. Enger’s town is small, but the people in it are larger than life. There is a spirituality, or mysticism about Enger’s story-telling that captures my attention as well. In his recovery, Virgil spends a lot of time thinking and reflecting – on life, on the town, on love, on death, on friendship. He feels he is a changed man and refers to his pre-accident self as “the previous tenant.” Virgil seems to be more open now – to possibilities, to enjoying life, to finding love.
There are moments of humor and tenderness, and some evil and tragedy as well. All the elements of any life – the life of a person or of a town. However, the overall feeling is one of hope and resilience and of looking forward to the future, whatever it may bring.
MacLeod Andrews does a marvelous job performing the audio edition. He uses a Minnesota accent that sounds spot on to this Wisconsin resident.
The title character, Virgil Wander, is a small-town cinema owner (and town clerk), who survives an accident on a snowy night when his car breaks through a barrier and “flies” off a bridge into frigid Lake Superior. When he awakes in the hospital, he’s told he has some “minor brain injury” and his memory is somewhat affected. Slowly he begins to piece together his personal history, as well as that of the town in which he lives – a former mining town, now struggling along after one hard-luck event after another. He’s helped – or hindered – in his recovery by a cast of interesting people: among them the town beauty Nadine, an old Norwegian who constructs and flies elaborate kites, a young boy after a legendary giant sturgeon, a depressed handyman who never seems to have the tools he needs, and a prodigal son returned to town with big-city connections and plans to revive the town’s economy.
I love character-driven novels and this one perfectly fits the bill. I love Enger’s way with words, the way he paints the landscape and draws his characters who so perfectly fit the scenario he gives us. Enger’s town is small, but the people in it are larger than life. There is a spirituality, or mysticism about Enger’s story-telling that captures my attention as well. In his recovery, Virgil spends a lot of time thinking and reflecting – on life, on the town, on love, on death, on friendship. He feels he is a changed man and refers to his pre-accident self as “the previous tenant.” Virgil seems to be more open now – to possibilities, to enjoying life, to finding love.
There are moments of humor and tenderness, and some evil and tragedy as well. All the elements of any life – the life of a person or of a town. However, the overall feeling is one of hope and resilience and of looking forward to the future, whatever it may bring.
MacLeod Andrews does a marvelous job performing the audio edition. He uses a Minnesota accent that sounds spot on to this Wisconsin resident.
shareen17's review against another edition
4.0
This book is about a man recovering from a car accident living in a small, midwestern town. It's full of beautifully written thoughts and well-developed characters with a little splash of mysticism. I found the book pretty slow-paced, but still memorable and worth reading.
mlsweeten's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is certainly a slow read that is character driven. There’s not a strong plot but the characters make up for that. Really it’s about the rebirth of people in a dying town. If you like this book and have never watched a season of Northern Exposure, you should give it a try. The vibes are similar.
gkelch's review against another edition
3.0
We just read this for my book club. It's the story of a man who gets something of a new perspective on his life, his town, and the people in it after surviving a serious accident. I enjoyed it, though the pace was a bit slow for my taste. It was well-written and I'd recommend if you like gentle stories about small towns or particularly enjoyed Harry's Trees.
jcgrenn_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant writing and masterful storytelling. The larger than life Tim Burtonesque characters, the ease of walking through the small town, the eerie Norse mythological feel of men taming winds and waters and lightning—all made for a novel that was a beautiful, enjoyable ride.
gayle_g's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Despite the unassuming name of the book - Virgil Wander - the descriptions of the place, the characters, and the events provide a rich mosaic for your imagination. To me it is a calming book to read when you are rattled. The book conveys a sense of community despite some character flaws. There are a couple characters that feel like outsiders - one might benefit from feeling accepted.; the other character has deeper, darker issues that take on a sinister tone.
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Virgil Wander' by Leif Enger is his first novel in ten years. His first novel 'Peace Like a River' is one of my favorites.
Virgil Wander has survived a car crash into an icy lake when we meet him. He has some cognitive and physical limits. This makes it hard to run the small movie theater he owns. He takes in a roommate in Rune, a man who builds kites and ponders the mystery of his missing son. The small town is full of other unusual, but real, characters, all suffering their own version of tragedies.
Leif Enger has way of creating affably memorable characters. In previous books, characters have gone on journeys. In this book, the journey is more internal and the quirky hard luck town becomes a character of its own. Loving a place and the oddball characters that inhabit it are what happens to Virgil Wander. We don't get many hints about his life before the accident, but this book feels like the character is born anew with a chance to rebuild his world.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Grove Atlantic and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Virgil Wander has survived a car crash into an icy lake when we meet him. He has some cognitive and physical limits. This makes it hard to run the small movie theater he owns. He takes in a roommate in Rune, a man who builds kites and ponders the mystery of his missing son. The small town is full of other unusual, but real, characters, all suffering their own version of tragedies.
Leif Enger has way of creating affably memorable characters. In previous books, characters have gone on journeys. In this book, the journey is more internal and the quirky hard luck town becomes a character of its own. Loving a place and the oddball characters that inhabit it are what happens to Virgil Wander. We don't get many hints about his life before the accident, but this book feels like the character is born anew with a chance to rebuild his world.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Grove Atlantic and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.