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A review by mikepage7176
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
4.0
This is a really good book. The characters are incredible and deep. It doesn't superficially dive into anything, but things are often left unsaid and implied which is the mark of great development in my opinion. The narrators blindspots are left in place giving it a realistic feel. You are very present in their world. The ordeal central to the book isn't initially simple as put forward. It's a complex situation and it brings out depth in the central characters. There is great humor in their interactions, and oftentimes a heartfeltness that doesn't resort to sapiness.
The setting is amazing. You are freezing cold reading this book as he immerses you in the harsh northern mid-west winter climate.
The greatest part is that it is basically a theodicy. The tension of a miracle worker being present as Reuben struggles comes up a few times and is amazing. The tragedy is heart rending. It's often a part of a story I love, especially with a redemptive story arc. This one is quite open ended more than I like though (it still works extremely well). Or maybe just so excruciatingly tragic it's hard to swallow.(?)
The drawbacks are few. Major ones are the narrators character tendency to ramble in certain circumstances that don't seem to contribute much to the story. His foreshadowing is troubling. I don't mind it when it's used right, but in this case you realize it's giving away parts of the plot that I'd rather have come to me progressively through the reading.
The setting is amazing. You are freezing cold reading this book as he immerses you in the harsh northern mid-west winter climate.
The greatest part is that it is basically a theodicy. The tension of a miracle worker being present as Reuben struggles comes up a few times and is amazing. The tragedy is heart rending. It's often a part of a story I love, especially with a redemptive story arc. This one is quite open ended more than I like though (it still works extremely well). Or maybe just so excruciatingly tragic it's hard to swallow.(?)
The drawbacks are few. Major ones are the narrators character tendency to ramble in certain circumstances that don't seem to contribute much to the story. His foreshadowing is troubling. I don't mind it when it's used right, but in this case you realize it's giving away parts of the plot that I'd rather have come to me progressively through the reading.