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 to marauders who have come to harm the family. The morning of his sentencing, ...
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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 to 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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Add this copy of Peace Like a River to cart. $5.50, good condition, Sold by The Yard Sale Store rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Narrowsburg, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Harperaudio.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Audio Book 7 AUDIO CASSETTES tested for your satisfaction for a worthwhile set, in the original printed box. Some shelf wear to the box. The audio cassettes are in individual slots, sturdy and reliable. Enjoy this Audio Cassette performance.
This author hit a home run with his story AND writing on this. I've read it before, lost my copy, and ordered two more so I could have and donate one to my small-town library. Yes, it's that good!
David C
Jun 6, 2013
Feel the rhythm
I am re-reading Peace Like a River just to enjoy the rhythm of Leif Enger's writing.
To borrow a line from the book, it lopes along "champing and snorting and kicking up clover".
COVER2COVER
Jan 23, 2010
This is great story and very original. I love reading books where you cannot predict or see the end coming. This is a story about Jeremiah Land, a devout man of faith and principle, and his three children. First is Davy, the oldest and very self confident. Second is Reuben, severely asthmatic, and also the narrator of the story, and third is the nine year old sister, Swede, who is apparently something of a genius and budding writer/poet. When Davy is being charged with murder for killing a pair of intruders, he manages to escape from jail. The family starts out on a quest to find him, and various federal and state investigators are on their trail hoping to be led to the fugitive. Miracles seem to be common occurances for the praying Jeremiah, and when the angels aren't fighting for the Lands, Reuben and Swede try to take up the slack, for better or worse, and sometimes hilariously. As other reviewers have said, this story manages to be told without either bad language or sex. It is a wonderful story and completely refreshing.Dont miss this one!!
Veraqd
Jan 21, 2010
I ordered this book for my husband for Christmas. He loved it!! He said it was one of the best books he has ever read.
maygiles
Sep 10, 2009
GREAT book!
I loved this book. Parts of it are hysterical, others poignant. Enger's description of the people and the environment are vivid.
I bought this book shortly after it was published, read it, and gave it to a friend to read (and return). It got passed on to another friend and I never got it back. So, I had to buy another copy because I want to read it again.
There aren't very many books out there that can tell an intriguing story without using swear words. It's a beautiful book that uses clean language only. I respect Engel for this.
