Peace Like a River has been on my TBR “shelf” for 5 years. It was recommended to me by a friend, and for some reason, I’ve never gotten around to reading it. Finally, this was the month, and after completing it my thoughts are, “what took me so long?”
It is a story that is a surprising mix of heroic quest, cowboy romance and moral fable. Reuben's older brother Davy gets caught up in an escalating feud with two small-town bullies, is charged and tried for murdering them, and when the verdict seems about to go against him, escapes on horseback for parts unknown. Reuben, his father and his younger sister Swede set out in their Airstream trailer to find the outlaw Davy Land, and along the way, Reuben learns more than most of us about sacrifice, redemption and faith.
Reuben is an 11 yr old who worships his brother and is willing to do anything to bring him home. Swede is a lexiconic wunderkind, who weaves tales about out-laws and cowboys. Father Jeremiah is one step short of Prophet.
It’s a glorious, painful, tragic, and healing novel. One full of miracles and prayers. Enger is a master storyteller. Truly a gift.