Peace Like a River Audiobook By Leif Enger cover art

Peace Like a River

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Peace Like a River

By: Leif Enger
Narrated by: Chad Lowe
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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 1960s midwestern life of the Lands is upended when Reuben's brother, Davy, kills two 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 even more extraordinary than 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.

©2001 Leif Enger (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers Coming of Age Genre Fiction Sagas Small Town & Rural Inspiring

Critic reviews

"Actor Chad Lowe reads with a warm, deliberative voice perfectly suited to Leif Enger's meditative and melodic story of a family's search throughout the West for its outlaw son. Lowe doesn't attempt any verbal flourishes, nor does he try to give specific voices to different characters. Instead, he simply and beautifully reads aloud - slowly enough for Enger's evocative prose to shine and with just enough emotion to magnify this tale of the redemptive power of love." (AudioFile)
Beautiful Writing • Poetic Prose • Soothing Voice • Captivating Characters • Emotional Depth • Spiritual Elements
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Rates as one of my all time favorites. A truly wonderful reading and/or listening experience. I was initially disappointed with the reader (Chad Lowe) but as the story unfolded I grew to appreciate why he was chosen.

A true literary treasure

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I've loved this book for years, and hearing it here only made me love it more. 💜

Didn't disappoint

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This was a beautifully written book. I loved the character development (every character came alive and played before me so clearly) and the artful descriptiveness of both story and setting. To truly enjoy and appreciate this book, don't be distracted. I was too often distracted and feel like I was robbed of the complete experience. It needs to be soaked up and reflected upon. I loved the faith promoting and spiritual undertones throughout.

Artful descriptiveness!

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A beautiful worded tale of courage and faith. Leif Enger's prose is amazing. would highly recommend to anyone, especially Christians.

Leif Enger's prose is amazing.

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Excellent read with engaging dialogue and content, read by a skilful story teller. Must Read!

Must Read

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Well written book and well read audio. Delightful and warm, yet awakening deep thoughts about life's meaning and the impact of our choices; an enticing glimpse of an unseen country and an unseen hand in our world.

Amazingly Good Storytelling

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The author has amazing knowledge and insight. There is reality of the human condition. But it falls short And even misleads When it portrays redeeming faith apart from a knowledge in the person and work of Christ. Strangely, his name never shows up. You would think that a book that references faith and religion and the Bible frequently, the hope of forgiveness in the cross would show up somewhere.

Superb but in the end falls short

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The beginning of the story was a bit slow. The narrator lacked some energy or enthusiasm... just not my favorite reader. But the story got better and better - I'm thankful I "read" it

The last 3 chapters were fabulous

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Everyone else has said it better but this is one of my very favorite audible listens. I have over 400 books in my Audible library and this one is in one of my top five. I loved the story and the language, the reader was amazing.

One of my favorite audible listens

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a story that seems humble and earnest but epic. it resonates with faith that eludes a way to simply sit down and talk about it. how do you talk about the things that hold all of life together but are just beyond sight and words? you tell a story. thank you mr enger.

Gibson Solomons

my favorite book

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