Peace Like A River Analysis

Words: 334
Pages: 2

Background On Author
In an interview with Writer&Books Leif Enger explains why he chose the characters. One of the characters, Reuben, was first created when Leif's own son. Reuben was a boy who, like Leif's oldest son, had asthma and had to cope with lowered expectations. Enger first got the idea to write Peace Like A River when he “took time off from writing mysteries with his brother Lin.:(Jody Ewing)

Glimpse of the Book
When Davy Land kills to marauders who have come to harm his family and then whisked away to jail his family is left broken. Set in Minnesota countryside and South Dakota badlands in the early 1960’s.Without Davy in his presence, Reuben is sent into an emotional coma.The story recounts the journey he takes with his father, Jeremiah, and 9-year-old poet sister, Swede, to rescue one of their family members. Reuben has little doubt that miracles abound and suspects his father, a school janitor, “is touched by God and can overturn the laws of nature.” As days slowly turn into nights and nights turn into weeks the family's faith is tested as the group searches for their lost family member.
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As the days in search of Davy Land come to an end and a new day starts the Main Idea of Peace Like A River becomes clear. Without faith and determination nothing can be accomplished. When a member of the Land family is lost, the group needs something to keep them searching. Through Faith and determination the lost family finds their answer.

Passage From Peace Like A River Without Jeremia Lands faith, the Lands would not have made it through their trials and many misfortunes. In Peace Like a River Leif Enger writes. “ And Dad said, Because I was praying this morning; and I prayed Lord, send Davy home to us; or if not, Lord, do this; send us to Davy”(125). That quote is a clear representation of The family's faith and willingness to find