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What's Carla Reading?
“Peace Like a River,” by Leif Enger (2001) Today’s review is written by Bradley Mariska, a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, where we met him. Last spring, he earned his master’s degree in music from the University of Maryland. He is now teaching instrumental music in Pine City in his home state of Minnesota. Brad reads almost as much as I do, and I always respect his insights on books. – Carla Offenburger Two weeks ago, I was flying to Oregon for a conference. The woman in the seat next to me saw that I was reading “Peace Like a River” and quietly said, “That’s a Christian book, isn’t it?” I quickly replied, “No,” but then paused to reconsider. I told the woman that the book was certainly spiritual, but even in saying that, I felt uncomfortable. One of the main characters in the book, Jeremiah Land, is an extremely religious individual who spends hours a day reading the Bible and praying. Moreover, one of the most central themes and plotlines of the book involves Jeremiah Land performing miracles – indeed, from the very first page. Yet the book is written in such a way that it does not feel “Christian.” Nor is it generically New Age in its spirituality. While some may criticize the author for this sort of abstract religiosity, I found this to be one of the most successful aspects of Enger’s prose – his ability to make the reader connect on a personal level with characters and situations, which from a distance may bear little resemblance to reality. I first learned about “Peace Like a River” on the Offenburger.com website, when Christie Vilsack wrote an article about the book and its honor of being the inaugural selection for the “All Iowa Reads” program in 2003. www.offenburger.com/bwpaper.asp?link=20030309 Several months ago, the town where I now teach announced the “Pine City Reads” program and the first book in the annual program, “Peace Like a River.” Though I had not read the book, I found it intriguing that two separate community reading programs would choose this book as their initial selection. “Peace Like a River” is the first novel by Minnesota author Leif Enger. It became a bestseller soon after its initial release and was heralded by critics as one of the best books of 2001. And after only a few pages, it was easy to see why so many people had fallen in love with Enger’s book.
First, some background. The book is written through the eyes of Reuben Land, age 11. Reuben’s family consists of his father, the aforementioned Jeremiah Land; his sister, Swede, age 8; and his older brother, Davy, 17. The book takes place in Minnesota and North Dakota during the 1960s. By using young Reuben and his sister Swede as the two primary characters in the book, Enger forces the reader to suspend reality somewhat, since the book is clearly not written or spoken through the voice of an average 11-year-old. What is amazing, however, is that I never questioned the authenticity or sincerity of the narrator’s words (or the epic poem that Swede constructs as a fictional parallel to the events unfolding in the novel). Indeed, this is the great achievement of the book as a whole – that Enger can take fantastic, extraordinary situations and somehow make them believable. Part of this is through Reuben’s casual observations. The final line of the book simply reads, “Make of it what you will.” Lines like this are peppered throughout the novel and perhaps what compelled me to tell the woman on the airplane that this was, in fact, not really a Christian book. You could read it as such, but then again you might not. The reader is left to make his/her own judgments at nearly every important point in the book. That is not to say, however, that the book wanders aimlessly or leaves characters or stories undeveloped – just the opposite is true. For example, when Davy is accused of murder, the reader must apply his or her own values to determine whether the teenager is a cold-blooded killer or if he acted in self-defense. This heightens the drama and makes the reader more invested in the work. In a typical murder mystery, the accused is either clearly guilty, wrongly accused, or the suspense involves trying to figure out which is true. In “Peace Like a River,” the events of the crime are duly noted up front. But even with all the facts in front of us, the reader still struggles with the concept of where innocence ends and guilt begins – and we see the characters wrestling with these same issues. Overall this is one extremely well-crafted work. Though not plot-driven, the book never wanders aimlessly or leaves characters or situations undeveloped. Every person or chapter plays a special role in bolstering the primary themes or storylines of the novel. Enger achieves true sophistication in his ability to delicately and skillfully wrestle with the ideas of love, loyalty and justice. The very strength of the book, however, is what makes it a somewhat troubling selection for a program like “Pine City Reads.” Pardon the metaphor, but I think many reluctant readers will drown quickly in this “River.” The story, as beautifully as it is presented, does not hinge on dramatic action sequences. The book unfolds at its own patient pace. Even I, smitten as I was with the prose, began to wonder on about page 100 if there was really a story at all to be told. As it is with such novels, the significance of the book and a complete appreciation for the story does not come until the very end. But what a remarkable feeling it is! And despite the loftier aims of the book, it was also refreshing to read the sequences in the book in which Reuben and Swede (in the face of their tumultuous ordeal) still acted like children. The vividness of childhood imagination is captured with great success Enger and his references to authors like Robert Louis Stevenson and Mark Twain even prompted me to dig out my copy of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and re-read it through new eyes. I anxiously await Enger’s next book. – Bradley Mariska Carla Offenburger is now reading“The Gift of the Deer,” by Helen Hoover (1966). Most recently read and reviewed “The Only Dance In Iowa: A History of Six-Player Girls’ Basketball,” by Max McElwain (2004). The author knows the game well, as a native Iowan and former sportswriter. Now a professor, this book comes from his doctoral dissertation, and he is guilty of using what our reviewer calls “academic gobbledygook” -- excessive wordiness. But his indepth research and thoughtful analysis make it worthwhile reading, especially now at state tourney time! “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini (2003). Hosseini pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until you’ve felt all the pain of his characters, until you’ve read every word he has written, until you wish you hadn’t picked up “The Kite Runner” at all. It’s beyond heart wrenching, really. Trust me, you’ll want to put the book down a thousand times because it is so haunting and painful and sad. But you won’t. “Christ’s Passion – The Way of the Cross: Prayerful Reflections,” by Mary Beth Young, with original artwork by Mark Barone (2004). This is a book to be used, as well as read. And while it would be powerful anytime, it is especially so during the Lenten season. “Divining Women,” by Kaye Gibbons (2004). It’s a slow starter, and the story is often depressing and oppressive but hang in with it. The well-developed characters will carry you to a very satisfying outcome. So much so, this book rivals author Gibbons’ best work “Charms for the Easy Life.” “Invisible Acts of Power: Personal Choices That Create Miracles,” by Caroline Myss (2004). It is rare when a book actually changes my life. “Invisible Acts of Power” will be one that does. Comments from you readers Kathy Kapitan, Buena Vista University faculty member whom I worked with in Storm Lake, after I mentioned last week’s review that I’ve now read three books on high school girls’ basketball: “If I have any Iowa women’s basketball questions, I will give you a call!” Send your book comments to carla@Offenburger.com You can e-mail today's guest reviewer Bradley Mariska at musicmanbrad@yahoo.com
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