Rating: 
Summary: Almost speechless with delight - what a precious find!
Review: This will be short. Here we have America's newest Puplitzer contender. This lyrical book will inspire you, and, if you are old enough, bring you to tears again and again. Such glowing characters, living in a real world of sorrow and glory, burst upon you as the narrator, eleven-year-old Reuben, calmly and steadfastly tells his story. His personal battle with debilitating asthma will leave you as breathless as he becomes. Do not be mistaken, miracles do happen - Reuben knows. Read this book and pray, as I am doing, that Leif Enger quickly produces another novel, and another, and another.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps not so wonderful for all
Review: I believe I was well into the second page when I got a keen urge to read *To Kill a Mockingbird*--the taste of it was on my tongue, I guess you could say. Perhaps it was because the child narrator, Rube, put me in a Scout state of mind. Or, perhaps, as I read on it was because there was a father of strong morals, a trial, an accused man breaking free. It seemed to me that Enger took a page from Lee's classic novel. Now, this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if the new novel were able to stand up on its own. But, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure if *Peace Like a River* was able to pull that off.The children, I suppose, are what bothered me first. One expects a certain level of irrationality even in a child whose wisdom seems to exceed any notion of age. After all, he/she is still a kid. And yet, as I read, irrationality was a rare thing to find in young Swede and Rube--what's worse, when it was present, it was more than a little, well, annoying. And not in the way that irrationality tends to be, either. You end up thinking, if they could handle other circumstances so incredibly well, why aren't they following suit now? Swede, with a talent that some published writers don't seem to possess, and brother Rube hardly seemed to be children at all. And, when they do revert, it seems so grossly out of character that it's rather hard to sympathize with them. The heavy religious theme, as well, sat a little uneasily. It seemed contrived. A way to fix things in plot that would have otherwise been fairly sticky. And, what's worse, the very first consideration of miracles was so beautiful that I was disappointed when those miracles became overused. I'm giving this novel four stars because the writing is quite nice and often there is a thought there that you feel the better for having read. I don't doubt there are readers that would absolutely love this book--I can see its appeal, even if it doesn't appeal completely to me. However, it would probably be a good thing to read a few chapters before investing too much time in it. You may find that it's for you, but then, you may find that it isn't.
Rating: 
Summary: A reader from Denver
Review: I was given this book as a gift by a friend who is an avid reader and who I respect greatly. Thus, I was greatly disappointed by the "rambling" style of the author. The beginning few pages interested me and I had high hopes for the rest of the book, however, I quickly became bored with the incredible intelligence (??) of eight year old Swede and, as previously stated, just a rambling, boring read. I did notice in reading the reviews that most of the five stars were women and the lower ratings were men. As a woman, this both surprised and disappointed me.
Rating:
Summary: Miracles and Murder
Review: Reading more like a story of the 30's than the 60's, this story dried up half way down the course. A father who performs miracles, a son who becomes an escaped murderer and the North Dakota landscape, are not enough to hold interest. Detailed prologue to climaxes, that lack detail and are no more than summaries of action, dilute an interesting effort.
Rating:
Summary: Every reader should give Leif Enger a hug for this book!
Review: Is it a copout to simply say that this book is perfectly written? It seems trite to say that, and yet this is as close to perfection as writing gets. I confess that I often worry, when I am in the early pages of a good book, that the author will eventually commit a fatal error - be it an ill-advised plot twist, an illogical character development, a stylistic lapse - and the book will fall to the realm of mediocrity. After all, the fact that an author produces 100 pages of exceptional work is no guarantee that the next 100 pages will be equally as good. But Peace Like A River was so masterfully written that it seemed guaranteed from the first page to fulfill its promise. Absorbed in Lief Enger's prose, I felt as safe as a newborn in his mother's arms. Chosen as this year's Book Sense Book of the Year, yet inexplicably overlooked by more prestigious literary awards, this is certainly one of the best first novels every written. Set against a beautifully painted backdrop of the badlands of North Dakota, it is the story of the Land family and their search for moral redemption. Jeremiah, the father, performer of frequent inexplicable miracles and good deeds; Reuben, the 11-year-old narrator, whose chronic lung problems make the simple act of breathing a central task in his life; Swede, the 9-year-old daughter, prolific writer of epic poetry; and Davy, the independent, confident 16-year-old who is jailed for a crime for which the moral justification is easy to accept. When Davy escapes from jail, his family journeys in search of him. Each, in his own way, struggles with the painful dilemma of whether to protect their fugitive loved one or help the authorities track him down. It is a powerful tell of love and of the seemingly infinite gray area between right and wrong. Lief Enger deserves more than just a prize for this novel. He deserves a heartfelt hug from every reader who is captured by the power, beauty, and feeling of human redemption that he has produced.
Rating:
Summary: Warm like a hand made quilt on a cold snowy night
Review: Only three quarters of the way through this book, and I absolutely love it. The archaic use of language hits just the right note amongst all the references to beloved bits of mainly 19th century literature - and it's contagious, too! Swede and Reuben are a fine pair of book-besotted kids, and Jeremiah is a dad like no other I've ever encountered in fiction. Their quirky twist on the classic road trip/ mythic quest/ outlaw journey is a wonder and a nerve-wracking delight to follow. I'm just biting my nails that no tragedy befall any of them, so fond have I become of this memorable family. I'm reading it slowly, savoring every phrase and passage. It's that good. I'd give it seven stars for the astronomical reference alone, but Amazon will only let you go up to five.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining but flawed
Review: This book had its moments, but too many events or characters stretched credibility past the point that kept me engaged. I had too many "why did he write that?" moments that ruined other moving passages or great turns of phrase. Swede, for example, could have been one of the great characters of recent times. But precocious understandings and hilarious utterings were too often followed by ones that were way past the possible talents of a child her age. As far as Western coming-of-age novels, Larry Watson's Montana 1948 is far superior. It is a timeless tale, whereas this one seems to be a product of the here-and-now Marketing hype. Another book to read instead is Salt Water by Charles Simmons. Set on the water rather than the plains, but by far a better, more moving story.
Rating:
Summary: Too much hype
Review: Being from Minnesota, I thought from all the hype that I would like this book, but I quit after three chapters. Comments about this book were very misleading and are one of the worst examples of the growing tendency for editors and promoters to write in this forum. The book is weak on plot and weak on characterization (Reuben's sister Swede is a sad example). The promoters--or the author, who may have written many of the comments from internet cafes--should let readers decide about the quality of his book.
Rating:
Summary: Peace Like a River, A great read!
Review: If I were to review this novel I wouldn't have one bad thing to say about it. It is easy to read, it hold your attention and the characters are unforgettable. This book is one of the best that I have ever read and almost impossible to put down, once started. The characters are so rich and intriguing, you just want to learn as much as you possibly can about them. While reading you feel as if you too belong in the Land family and anything emotional that happens to them happens to you as well. The connection that the reader makes with the Land family is a deep one, you are not reading about this family you are feeling with them. You feel their happiness, laughter, sadness and pain just as they do. All in all this novel is an unforgettable one.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Wonderful
Review: I read this book straight through to the end and I wished it did not have to end. I loved the characters as much as the story itself. It is simple, yet it contains the unexpected. Also, horse lovers will find something special in the adventure.
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