Synopsis

Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River surrounds the Land family in 1960s Minnesota, including the eleven year-old protagonist Reuben, his faithful father and performer of miracles Jeremiah, and siblings Swede and Davy. In an act of retaliation, Davy shoots and kills two delinquent neighborhood boys with Rube as the only witness. With a guilty verdict impending, David escapes from jail. His family embarks from their hometown on a whirlwind adventure to reunite. Throughout their pilgrimage in a shiny new airstream, Reuben gradually unravels the truth of his brother’s crimes, bringing to light the dual potential of humanity for good and evil. 

Review

This story is reminiscent of classic western adventures, with valiant escapes by outlaws on horseback and a journey through the American frontier as its center. It draws back to narratives from the Old Testament, such as the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land and the Son of Jacob in Genesis. This blend of biblical and western tropes paint a portrait of mythic America evocative of John Steinbeck’s writing—both imbuing barren landscapes with meaning and divine acts of God. If you enjoyed The Grapes of Wrath, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, or Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, this book is for you. The circular structure of the plot makes the book so propulsive to read, and Enger leaves you wanting more at the denouement of each chapter. What makes this story so poignant is its rich prose, but also the emotional complexity of the characters and the enduring love between them. Peace Like a River is a book I will cherish forever. It’s bittersweet, incredibly textured, and about learning to see people for who they really are, even if the truth hurts.