I'm posting this a day early, as promised, since I'll be away from computer and internet over the weekend. I was packing and doing laundry when I remembered I needed to get this posted.
Reuben was really slipping into the end of his life. It was just so sad. You hate to see kids get really sick like that. He seemed resigned to it though. What really tore me up, and him too, was Swede's attitude toward him. It wasn't until she realized that he was actually going that she decided to really forgive him.
I was so glad to see Jeremiah and Roxanna tie the knot. I agree with Ruth that Jeremiah was very sweet about courting her. What a shock for her, losing him so soon after marrying.
Walzer was everything we had feared. Poor Andreeson never stood a chance against him. On the one hand I was glad that Davy came home and Sara was saved, but on the other you just knew something bad was going to happen. I was crushed when Jeremiah was hit but even moreso when Reuben went down.
So, Reuben saw the promised land? The description was similar to others I've read. I wasn't surprised to see Jeremiah there since we knew he had been injured. I was really glad to see that final miracle but still felt sort of cheated that Jeremiah didn't come back too. It makes sense that he didn't come back but I just really wanted him to be happy with Roxanna.
Tell me what you thought of the book. Like I said earlier, what I really love about the book is the beautiful language. I love the words he chooses, the way he phrases things, the poetry... just all the language. I also like the mystery and tension in the story. The characters are all well-done too. We never really know all that much about Davy but in the end we see that it makes sense because Reuben never really knew much about Davy either, even though they were able to meet again.
I hope you all enjoyed Peace Like a River and I'm looking forward to the next one.
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7 comments:
I absolutely loved this book, but I'll honestly say that the ending was a bit predictable once I realized that both Reuben and Jeremiah had been shot. I actually got a bit impatient with the description of what Reuben saw in the promised land, just because I wanted to know what happened to him. Jeremiah is such a selfless person, it makes sense that he would sacrifice himself willingly for his son, and I knew Davy would get Sara out of her predicament. I wish they'd saved Andreeson and caught Waltzer, as he deserved to be hanged, or whatever punishment he'd go to. Davy, in the end, was a much more guarded person than I would have expected, he loved and looked after his brother and sister, but he didn't really allow them to love or be close to him, and he definitely didn't want them to worry on his account. He's reminiscent of the stereotype of the mysterious cowboy who rides into town, haunted by some secret trouble, saves the day, and rides out again without connecting much with anyone, just hints when they peek under the veil. (If you can't tell, my grandpa watches a lot of Western movies, though I find them tedious.) He did a dirty job that he felt was the right thing to do, even if everyone else didn't see it that way, and was fully prepared to live the life it forced on him.
I finished the book midweek last week, but it's taken me this long to sort through my thoughts. You know it's a well written book when it makes you think for days afterward upon finishing it.
At first, I thought the book was about finding Davy. They set out to find him, afterall. But, throughout the reading and especially at the conclusion, I think the book is really about Reuben finding himself and about his own journey. From that perspective, the book is very satisfying. I was happy that Reuben was finally healed, and I think that the self-discovery that he had on this journey with his family prepared him to appreciate his healing all the more.
From the perspective of finding Davy, the book is not satisfying at all for me. We never really get to know him. He's a very elusive character. What little we have seen of his character frustrates me, and I feel that ultimately, he is a very selfish individual. In my mind, I think he felt that he was above the law, and as such, that he didn't have to pay for any of the consequences (except for exile, which didn't seem to bother him all that much). I think that what bothered me most that was as his family lay dying on the ground from Waltzer's attack, he took to the car and drove off. Maybe he hoped that he'd lead Waltzer off after him, but the damage had been done. That action really bothered me, and since I don't know Davy at all, I can't know with any confidence what he was thinking at that moment.
I'm a mixed bag about the conclusion. I was okay with Jeremiah sacrificing his life. He has been very symbolic of Christ throughout the entire novel - turning the other cheek, serving, healing, following God's will and not his own... What disappointed me as how quickly his death was glossed over. I felt like he deserved a little more time for the grieving. He was so central in his children's lives, but it seemed rushed at the end. I know that Enger probably didn't want to drag the conclusion, but I felt like his death was more of a by the way mention than a "we really loved his man, and now he's gone from us." The other issue I had was Sara and Reuben's relationship. It just felt thrown in. It's nice to wrap it all up with a bow like that, but it felt a little too convenient for me. Just my opinion, of course.
This book was beautiful, a real treat to read for all the language. I've thought a lot about the title and it's connection to the story. I'm not sure what Enger was alluding to with his title, but I imagine a lot of things. There's the river that flows upstream in that other land that Reuben saw of course. But, what I've thought about with this book, is that the story itself is very much like a river. It winds and turns as it tells us the story of this family. There are times when the flow is slow and smooth and other times when it's a little turbulent. Even in turbulent times, the family was able to find peace. That's what I like to think about with the title.
Thank you for recommending this book, Debra. :)
I'm glad you both enjoyed it.
I also wondered what Davy was thinking when he escaped in the car but it's actually not clear just when he left. Waltzer could have stopped firing and Davy could have left after that, relying on the Lord to take care of things I suppose. I was a little surprised that Reuben and Sara got together. I just expected Sara and Davy to but she would have had to be on the run her whole life and that wouldn't be fair to her either.
Istari I think your description of Davy as the mysterious cowboy is perfect. It fits the story so well.
Kate I was also wondering about where the title came from. There's an old camp song that I know with that title but Enger never references it. Your description of the way the river runs through the lives of the family is very beautiful.
The title actually reminds me of a song we sing in church, the first verse being "Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out of you and me, flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free." Peace is followed by love and a couple other words, I forget, but I started to think about Jeremiah, the epitome of peace, love, faith, and trust, flowing into the desert where Davy, Waltzer and Sara were hiding, and how Sara became free more or less by the hands of him and his family. I dunno how much that works, but it came to my mind as I considered it.
I totally enjoyed this book. I'll probably give it as a Christmas present to my sister-in-law (the David's wife). It's our tradition to give books we enjoy, since we hardly know each other.
Anyway.
I wish I could had more than that, but everyone else has said everything so well, and I'm so late at writing this, that I really have nothing else to say. Sorry to be so boring.
I'd be willing to head up the next book, Seven Daughters and Seven Sons, in a couple weeks. It wouldn't really work out for me to start anytime before mid-September. How would September 18th sound?
If no one has read this and replied within the next week, I'll email Kate about it and see what she thinks.
Glad to hear from you, Ruth! Also glad that you enjoyed Peace Like a River. Kate said you might not feel up to the next book yet, since you have a lot going on, so Ellen said she'd be willing to do Watership Down next, and as far as I know she's due to post her reading schedule by the end of this week. Hope that's ok. Let us know what you think.
Hi Ruth! I'm glad you enjoyed this book, too. I think it was a great one to discuss.
Sorry I didn't get in touch with you. I told Angela I would, but obviously, I fell through on that. When Angela and I were discussing what book to read next, I expressed concern about not wanting to overload you since you've got the new little one. I just went off of how I would feel, and I felt overwhelmed a couple months ago, so I didn't want you to feel that way with a book discussion to lead on top of it all. I should have consulted with you first. I'm sorry about that. Let's definitely plan on your book for the next one.
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