Rating: 
Summary: Child's Play
Review: Romantic mysticism and cute children add up to a pretty picture, but one that won't stand up to critical scrutiny. I might be willing to suspend my disbelief with respect to the miracles and fantasy here if the characters showed believable motivations and followed credible patterns of human nature. The author presents an idealized picture of children who are too good to be true and noble adults who are willing to sacrifice all for the sake of the children. The author seems to have a serious intent to show how Reuben comes of age and is tested by hard reality, but the cute tone of the book fights against any serious message. The cop-out ending negates Reuben's growth toward adulthood. Emotion is generated through sentimentality in which the author takes advantage of the reader's sympathy for the innocent and the sick to make his point. The problem with sentimentality is that at its heart it is a cheap shot and is manipulative and false. The popularity of this novel indicates the willingness of many to believe in an artificial world with no semblance of reality because it represents what they would like to believe is true. This is a "G" rated novel, so wholesome that it won't even say the word "rape" and its most negative language is "ratfink"! All in all the book has a very childish feel. All the Pretty Horses provides a good contrast to this novel--much more realistic and adult, a coming of age story in which the main character gets a real dose of reality and is profoundly changed by the experience. Peace Like a River is mind candy, a Disneyfied vision that can't be taken seriously by lovers of serious fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Did I miss something?
Review: Why did this book seem so hokey to me and not to others? Is it because I'm not from farm country, not religious, not wholesome? If Norman Rockwell had been a novelist, he might have written this book. That being said, some of the writing is truly striking, and a character who appears toward the end of the book -- Jape something -- is unique and creepily convincing, something out of a David Lynch movie.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing: could not see it through
Review: At first, I was touched by the beautiful writing and the brother-sister relationship. The Western poetry is an admirable twist. But in the long run, I just could not finish this book. The pieces did not gel together for me. I didn't care enough about the characters to care how they wound up. A MUCH better book with a similar brother-sister relationship is THE BOTTOMS by Joe Landsdale. That title won an Edgar but never received the press it deserved. If you insist on trying Peace Like a River, go for it, but purchase a copy of THE BOTTOMS as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Pass it around
Review: I absolutely loved this book, I bought before a flight from Denver to DC and it made the flight very short. I have also passed it on to several people where I work and they all liked it as well.
Rating: 
Summary: A HUGE disappointment!
Review: I thought I would LOVE this book. Why would I think otherwise, given the rave reviews posted here and also included on several pages of my paperback edition? I was wrong, wrong, wrong. This novel is tedious, cliche, boring, and worse, entirely full of itself. The writing is like Garrison Keillor gone awry--instead of being naturally charming and funny and insightful, we see the author TRYING to be charming and funny and insightful. Trying way too hard and not at all succeeding. The characters were stock, the story was unbelievable, Swede was utterly insufferable in my opinion--with her ridiculously advanced (and hideous) epic poem--and Rube was right behind her in the insufferability department. We see the good guys, the bad guys, and nothing in between and we also see how God is only on the good guys side (that's really Christian, huh?). I don't mean to be negative. I love more than anything to come on here and recommend a good book, but I really have to be honest. In my opinion, readers of good literary fiction are not going to like this book. I was so disappointed in this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!
Review: I LOVE the way Mr. Enger puts words together!! He is not verbose but acquaints one thoroughly with each character and place. It is a thoughtful, beautifully written book. I had no trouble with the miracles because I believe anything is possible--why put a limit on a universal energy we can all tap into? It was spiritually uplifting and Jeremiah Land is someone we would all do well to emulate. I am from North Dakota originally and thoroughly enjoyed the trip across the state to the Badlands. I can't say enough good things about this book. If you want lots of warm fuzzies and sweet, gentle humor, read this one!
Rating:
Summary: mawkish
Review: silly, mawkish, trite, stereotypical. So many adjectives to apply to this poor novel. Was there a plot? I couldn't find it. I couldn't finish it either.
Rating:
Summary: Like a river that's a song
Review: What a wonderful, beautifully written and crafted book! I can't believe I didn't hear more about it when it was first published, but rather came upon it in its paperback edition. Amazon is right that the narrator's voice ranks with the likes of Huck or Scout. And the lyricism of the writing is manifest in the voices of each distinct and very memorable character. I swear, even if there were no plot (and this one is very good and artful), I would read the book just to savor the poetry in each character's voice. And I can't forget the poem of Sundance, which was a perfect foil and even a metaphor for separate attributes of each character: Rube, Swede, Davy, their father, etc. The magical realism isn't something you often find in American literature, but it makes a lot of sense weaved into a tale of a family in America's heartland. After reading this, I realized my Christmas shopping for the year is done!
Rating:
Summary: Peace Like a River
Review: My favorite book of all times is Catcher in the Rye. This book rivaled my enjoyment of Salinger's classic. One of the greatest compliments I can give a book -- is that I miss the characters when I am finished reading it. I have thought about Rube and this story so much that I even listened to the book tape to further study the character development. Leif Enger's Peace Like a River is outstanding.
Rating:
Summary: PLeeeeze
Review: I've had enough of books with miracles and dead people looking down from heaven. Give me books like Atonement,No Great Mischief, and Exteriors. Let us think!
| 
