Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful prose and a lovely journey
Review: I really conected with this book and the characters. The children reminded me so much of my own in their conection with each other and individuality. The believability of the miracles or the daughter's abilities was not an issue for me. Reading this book is like listening to beautiful music, its the journey not the reality that speaks to this mother's soul
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing!
Review: I LOVED this book! Certainly the daughter was super-precocious and while possibly unrealistic, who knows? What I really enjoyed was the genuine feel of the miracles. Miracles do not happen "on demand" and in the situations WE think they should...that is why they ring true. I loved the model of the caring, albeit imperfect father, who actually prays for his children. I loved the miracle of healing the face of the man who is in the process of being less-than-kind - isn't that just a beautiful picture of grace? And, I loved the author's courage in defining faith as a position of strength, unbelief is the weakness. Great story, likeable characters, inspiring hope!
I can't wait until the author writes another.
Rating:
Summary: this book touched my heart... perhaps even my soul
Review: Love it or hate it? Only you will know, if you decide to read it. I strongly recommend this book for its lyrical writing, humor, insights, and ultimately, the way it drew me in and wove a compelling fabric that snared my heart, made me care about the characters and their story as it unfolded. Perhaps those not touched by tragedy or redemption in their own lives cannot relate to such a story, but I found it irresistible... it touched my heart and provided much food for thought, long after the book was finished. I'm not particularly "Christian", but miracles can and do happen, and I've witnessed several in my life. As the main character often says, "Make of it what you will."
Rating:
Summary: Blown away
Review: I'm not a religious guy nor do I particularly believe in miracles. What I do believe in is the characters and prose created by Mr. Enger. What a truly talented author. How some of the obviously cynical, negative reviewers can cast aside the absolute joy brought about by Swede and her family is beyond me. OF COURSE it's not believable. It's a FICTION novel--and a book about insurmountable faith. For the sheer joy of reading, I easily place it in the top 20 books I have ever read. It brings to mind "The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint", another brillian first novel with engrossing characters, often involved in situations that stretch the limits of believability--one of the joys of fiction and storytelling. If you want to get lost in a beautiful, tragic, and tender novel, I encourage you to buy this book. If you would prefer nuts and bolts realism, stick with non-fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Believability is not criteria for a great book
Review: A book such as this serves two great purposes to two kinds of audiences. To those of us who can already believe in the miracles that take place, just as we can believe in the types of miracles that God performs in the Bible and in every day life, this book is an entertaining and joyful experience. To those non-believers, in both miracles and possibly more, this can serve as an eye-opening experience that touches the heart and perhaps leads one to the joys found in a relationship with God. Unfortunately some are just too hardened to experience such joy, or to even allow themselves to enjoy a great novel because they find it unbelievable. No doubt these same hardened folks can find believable such inane theories as the Big Bang, in which we are to believe that all that exists once was compacted into something the size of a thumb nail. Accept first God as Creator, and then see the joy and wonderment you can experience in life. (You can experience similar reading joy with my first novel, "Living Dead Man," or my soon to be released novel, "Soulless Me," both available on Amazon or at my website, www.mbernier.com.)
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, at best
Review: I read this book as a result of Mayor Hickenlooper's "one book" program for Denver. From the beginning, it was a substantial disappointment.Overall, I found _Peace Like a River_ dull and not at all engaging. I did not find myself caring about the characters or what happened to them. Instead, I was mostly annoyed by them. The narrator, Reuben, is an inconsistent voice. It is clear from the beginning that the perspective is one of an adult looking back on his childhood, but that perspective is not maintained throughout the book. Also, I got very tired of Reuben saying "If Swede (his sister) were present, she would have had words enough to describe it," or some variation thereof. Every time this was said, I kept thinking, "so why isn't Swede narrating the book?" Speaking of Swede, I found her not believable for a 9-year-old (she makes a Christmas dinner most adults couldn't make, she writes like an adult, and her vocabulary is way too advanced, especially considering her upbringing and background) and somewhat irritating. The character (and its creator) seemed very self-satisfied. To sum up, many of the characters were archetypes with no surprises or variations. The story itself was intriguing, but the way the author and characters approached it made it boring. I was able to anticipate the surprises and plot twists. There were spurts of decent writing, but mostly it was dull and common. I also found the book's fantastical/magical component unbelievable and uninteresting. Unlike talented magical realists such as Garcia Marquez, Enger does not make the out-of-the-ordinary seem wonderful or acceptable. The reader is almost hounded with miracles and faith instead of being intrigued by them. I especially found the final miracle to be desperate rather than amazing. The ending is perfect for this book: it is just as disappointing. There are a bunch of very unsurprising, smarmy-sweet events that tie things up, some of which don't even make sense, such as the romance that comes out of nowhere and how Swede's life turns out. In other words, everything is just SO perfect. I will say, however, that I enjoyed the Sunny Sundown epic, although even that grew tiresome and less skilled as the book wore on. Like other reviewers, I am astounded that so many reputable publications/establishments, even the City of Denver, adored this book.
Rating:
Summary: a great read
Review: I particularly appreciated that the asthma character was not disposable as they so often are.
Rating: 
Summary: I really tried...
Review: Since purchasing this book, I have tried reading it 3 different times. I'm glad to see that I am not the only reader who doesn't understand all the hoopla about this novel. Tedious is not even the word for it. Peace Like a River is painstakingly boring.
Rating:
Summary: Who cares whether or not it's believable?
Review: A number of reviewers have panned this novel as unbelievable. Who cares whether or not it's believable? If that was my primary criterion for reading, I wouldn't read fantasy or science fiction or horror. Peace Like a River is a remarkable novel irregardless of its believability. The characters are well-wrought and compelling. The story is both tragic and uplifting. There are a few slow spots, but the quality of the writing makes even these areas worth poring over. Thank you, Leif Enger. Please write another.
Rating: 
Summary: A spiritual read
Review: Reuben Land, an 11 year old asthmatic is our storyteller. He relates how his life changed after his brother, Davy gunned down two hooligans in cold blood. Rube's sister, Swede is a writer and throughout the novel we are treated to her writings of westerns and outlaws, which is a parallel to the fact that her brother Davy escaped the law, and is on the lam. The spiritual side of this story lies with Rebuen's Dad, Jerimiah Land. Small miracles occur when Mr. Land is around; and we the reader, can witness his faith, and his link to God. I don't want to give away any plot or ending, but the further I read into this story, the more I liked it. It brought me comfort and aroused my own faith. Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
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