Peace Like a River - a book review

 

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger was a National Bestseller and I understand why.  It encompasses some adventure, some tragedy, and some healing.  

It's narrated by 11 year old Reuben Land and tells the story of his family which consists of his dad Jeremiah, his older brother Davy, and his younger sister Swede for the majority of the book.  Reuben's mother left the family when his dad, who had been in medical school, gave it all up.  Jeremiah raised his three children by himself.

There was an altercation when Reuben's older brother Davy shot, partly in self-defense, two bullies who had entered the Land home during the middle of the night to do harm to the Land family as a result of a fight that Jeremiah had broken up in the locker room of the school where he'd been a janitor.  Davy, who  showed no remorse for what he'd done, becomes a fugitive of the law.  The majority of the rest of the novel is about the family, the FBI, and local authorities trying to locate Davy.

Along the way, the Lord intervenes in their lives through a woman named Roxanna Cawley who provides shelter for the family when a major snow storm hits the area.  Jeremiah does end up marrying Roxanna to the children's delight.  She was the mother that they had never really known when it came to the way she cared for them.

I don't believe this book was presented as a Christian novel, but there's definitely a strong Christian sense to its theme.  I don't agree with some of the emphasises placed on some things, but I read this book for pure pleasure and I don't have to agree with everything that it talks about in order to enjoy the book.

I would highly recommend the book.  Leif Enger is definitely a wonderful storyteller.