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Peace Like a River Audiobook
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(3.00) - 36,325 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Born with no air in his lungs, it was only when Reuben Land's father, Jeremiah, picked him up and commanded him to breathe that Reuben's lungs filled. Reuben struggles with debilitating asthma from then on, making him a boy who knows firsthand that life is a gift, and also one who suspects that his father is touched by God and can overturn the laws of nature.
The quiet 1960's midwestern life of the Lands is upended when Reuben's brother Davy kills two marauders who have come to harm the family. The morning of his sentencing, Davy—a hero to some, a cold-blooded murderer to others—escapes from his cell, and the Lands set out in search of him. Their journey is touched by serendipity and the kindness of strangers, and they cover territory far more extraordinary than even the Badlands where they search for Davy from their Airstream trailer.
Sprinkled with playful nods to Biblical tales, beloved classics such as Huckleberry Finn, the adventure stories of Robert Louis Stevenson, and the westerns of Zane Grey, Peace Like A River is at once a heroic quest, a tragedy, a love story, and a haunting meditation on the possibility of magic in the everyday world.
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"Peace Like a River is a story with such great flow, it feels like it could be a movie. Enger makes his writing seem so easy and natural that at times it is hard to think about the writing because it rolls on so well. The story follows the quest to find Davy after he flees from the court after a self defense murder. As Reuben and his family look for Davy to complete their family, many other adventures come up and lead to a satisfying conclusion. It took me a while to fully appreciate this book. After finishing it, I thought it was a good book, but that it was nothing special. Over the summer, my mom started to read it and it hit me of how good and detailed this book actually is. I may read it again soon."
— Craig (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I’m urging this book on you because it is written in prose tart and crisp as a Minnesota Autumn. Peace Like a River is seductive and chatty and deliciously American and there are passages so wondrous and wise you’ll want to claw yourself with pleasure.”
— Frank McCourt, New York Times bestselling author -
“Once you begin Leif Enger’s Peace Like A River, you are carried away by the elemental surge of its story, the sheer eagerness to see what happens to the engrossing characters who exist far from the intrusions of the media in the timeless arena of family love and anguish over a lost member. It is Enger’s gift that he has made their extraordinary world credible.”
— Jim Harrison, New York Times bestselling author -
“Peace Like a River is that loveliest of gifts, a truly great book, into which the reader can sink deliciously and completely. The characters fill the reader’s days and nights; and in the reading of it, we cross over into amazing territory.”
— Rick Bass -
“What readers will appreciate first in Enger’s marvelous novel is the language. His limpid sentences are composed with the clarity and richness for which poets strive…Enger’s profound understanding of human nature stands behind his compelling prose.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“You don’t see novels like this one very often. Peace Like a River reminds a reader of Kent Haruf’s Plainsong or even Norman MacLean’s A River Runs Through It. It’s got that pure American loss of innocence theme, that belief in and fascination with miracles, that insistence on the goodness of men outside of the law.”
— Angeles Times Book Review -
“It’s the impassioned honesty of his quiet, measured narrative voice that gives weight and truth to the fantastic elements of this engrossing tale…This is a stunning debut novel, one that sneaks up on you like a whisper and warms you like a quilt in a North Dakota winter, a novel about faith, miracles and family that is, ultimately, miraculous.”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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Winner of the 2002 YALSA Alex Award
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A 2001 Book Sense Book of the Year
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A 2001 Los Angeles Times Best Book
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A New York Times bestseller
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A Publishers Weekly bestseller
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A 2001 Time Magazine Top 10 Book for Fiction
Peace Like a River Listener Reviews
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tyler baker, 1/15/2020
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" I love the voice of the main character. Excellent writing, beautiful story. "
— Tamara, 2/20/2014 -
" Great voice & compelling story. "
— Leah, 2/18/2014 -
" The story's strongest suit is the family. The younger brother (book written in his voice) has a life-long respect for his older brother who ends up being somewhat distant (I won't say the details to spoil the story). Their relationship from childhood to older age is a lightening rod for the story. You really get a good sense of the the environments they live, outdoors, hunting, the school, homes, friends homes, etc. "
— Scott, 1/11/2014 -
" Loved this book. MN author. "
— Jennifer, 1/11/2014 -
" just could not get into it, maybe I will try it again some other time "
— Tiffanie, 1/10/2014 -
" This is such a spectacular book that I will need to return to write a real review. "
— Rita, 1/8/2014 -
" WOW after being illuminated to the Biblical references at Book Club I see the light. It was well done especially from a first time novelist. I really enjoyed it. "
— Robbin, 12/8/2013 -
" My friend Dan chides me for appreciating this book, who knows? "
— Brian, 12/5/2013 -
" I enjoyed the poetic language in this book. "
— Tonya, 11/18/2013 -
" The story was good but I found it hard to read. The name says it all! "
— Lauren, 10/22/2013 -
" one of my absolute favorites. must read. "
— Erica, 10/22/2013 -
" Loved it. I'm from North Dakota and it was terrific to feel the setting so well. "
— Martha, 9/25/2013 -
" Wonderful narrative. Enger has an easy and relaxed style and has created truly endearing and memorable characters. "
— Trish, 9/11/2013 -
" This is an extremely tender story. Full of tears and laughter as well. I highly recommend it for reading! "
— Lyn, 5/13/2013 -
" Weird, like it was written forty years ago. "
— Korey, 2/20/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. The story, the writing, the character, it's all good. I especially enjoyed Swede's writing. Highly recommend this book! "
— Sherry, 1/9/2013 -
" I loved this book! When you finish it, it makes you take a deep sigh, and smile. "
— Mike, 9/29/2012 -
" One of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. "
— Arlene, 6/3/2012 -
" Pretty good book by a MN author. The Swede and Reuben brother-sister duo reminded me of Scout and Jem from "To Kill a Mockingbird." Swede's poetry is highly entertaining. "
— Marie, 5/23/2012 -
" Another favorite book.... "
— Juli, 5/23/2012 -
" got three pages in before the gag reflex kicked in "
— Steven, 11/2/2011 -
" The San Fransisco Chronicle says "Peace Like a River serves as a reminder of why we read fiction to begin with." And I agree. "
— Sarah, 8/11/2011 -
" One of the most beautifully written books -- the wording is magical, even if the story isn't quite as compelling. "
— Carey, 6/23/2011 -
" A longtime favorite I re-read for bookclub and I loved it as much as ever. "
— Aprocuniar, 5/23/2011 -
" This is a quiet book but a great study in life in the plains. I liked it. "
— Marilyn, 5/23/2011 -
" No one in our book group liked this book - and I was the one that had to make up questions and ask them! What a pain. Of the 8 attendees, only 3 (including me) finished it. All the rest started it and decided it wasn't worth finishing. <br/> <br/>I have no idea where the name came from! "
— Barbara, 5/20/2011 -
" I did not really enjoy this book. It was too far fetched for me to even contemplate the events truly happening to the characters. "
— Trisha, 5/14/2011 -
" A book that really made me think, question and ponder. I loved it! "
— Anna, 5/13/2011 -
" If "To Kill a Mockingbird" took place in Minnesota, and if Atticus Finch had a miracle or two up his sleeve. "
— Fairview, 5/13/2011 -
" This is my favorite fiction book of the year so far. I bought this book for my mother so she could enjoy it as well. This is a great book club pick or beach read. It is not expected or predictable. The characters are interesting and unique. This is a book that will stay with me. "
— Kerry, 5/10/2011 -
" LOVE this book b/c of the powerful father figure. Free sample at a conference YEARS before it made its mark on the charts. Want to read again. "
— Melissa, 5/8/2011 -
" Don't ask me why I've had this one on my bookshelf for 10 years and not read it before now. It was worth the wait. "
— Gail, 5/5/2011 -
" As an asthmatic I absolutely LOVE the description of what it is like to wake in the night with breathing problems. "
— Whitney, 5/5/2011
About Leif Enger
Leif Enger is the author of Peace like a River and So Brave, Young, and Handsome. He was raised in Osakis, Minnesota, and worked as a reporter and producer for Minnesota Public Radio for nearly twenty years. He lives in Minnesota with his wife and two sons.