October Book: Peace Like a River
2009 September 30
I wrote down each book suggested on a separate index card, shuffled them, pulled one and this was it! Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
I’ve read this one before. And am happy to read it again. I’ll have to pick up another copy because I donated the first one. But I recall it was a terrific read so don’t mind getting it again. Maybe I’ll check it out from the library this time.
Thanks, Poola, for the great suggestion.
Start reading! And when you’re ready, leave your comments here. And any recipes you want to share with your fellow book readers!
p.s. I drew the name (from two) for my copy of Buffalo Lockjaw (and a surprise) and it goes to Marna. Way to go Marna! I’ll get it in the mail by this weekend.
Just reserved my copy from the library. Should be reading by next week. Thanks!
Wow- I never win anything. I am actually a little excited:) Thanks!
I think everybody will like this one. Written by a nice guy from Minnesota too!
I’m so glad you picked this one, Poola. I loved it and am looking forward to a second go at it!
Was a notification sent out for this? It’s a good thing I remembered to check the page or I would have missed out!
I making note of it on my blog now Stephanie! Get to reading! Well, after you pick up the book. I’ve read this one but am reading it again because it’s so good!
I had to order it. Hope it comes quickly!
Just received mine from Amazon; excited to start it, just have to finish the last hundred pages in Lost Symbol first…
Becky
What did you think of Lost Symbol, Becky?
I haven’t responded until now, because I’ve been trying to wrap my head around what I actually thought about the Lost Symbol. I really did enjoy it – and I love the way that Dan Brown bounces from narrator to narrator – but I feel a little let down. I was anticipating this book for 5 years and think that I had unrealistic expectations of grandeur. I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t read it, but there was one sentence in the last hundred pages that made my jaw drop and made me exclaim ‘of course!’ That one sentence has me anticipating the next book…
I did read the book, and my opinion is pretty much the same as yours except I don’t remember having a draw-dropping moment… ?
Oops – that should be a JAW-dropping moment. Sheesh.
Without saying too much for others that might read this… It’s at the bottom of page 447 and yes, I remember the page number! It completely came out of left field for me – but completely made sense!
I’m baffled. I just checked, but can’t find anything on page 447 that would cause me to anticipate the next book. You’ve made me very curious, so, if’ it’s not too much of an imposition, please email me at wildeyez9@hotmail.com. Thanks!
I’m only halfway through the novel, but wanted to drop by and leave this month’s recipe before I get to the book review.
Crabbies:
2 (6 pkg.) English muffins
2 sticks butter, softened
4 tbsp. mayonnaise
2 jars Kraft Old English cheese spread
2 cans crab meat
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp salt
Beat all ingredients except crab meat together. After ingredients are smooth, fold in crab meat and spread over the English muffins. Bake on cookie sheet at 400 degrees until golden and bubbly. Cut into quarters. Note: They may be kept frozen for weeks before baking.
I have got to try this one!
Good idea Stephanie! We’ll get the table filled and ready for our guests!
I just opened the book last night. I’m reading it for the second time. I think I read it when it first came out. I loved it then, and I know I’m going to love it again!
Here’s my dish to share:
Hot Artichoke Dip
1 can artichoke hearts (I use two cans myself)
2-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Drain artichoke hearts and cut into eighths. Mix all ingredients and put in a 2 qt. Casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly brown on top. Serve with French bread slices or crackers.
And *I* have got to try THIS. Yum!
Okay, I finished the book and I liked it a lot. While not exactly a gripping page-turner (in other words, I wasn’t dying to know what happened next), it was a very enjoyable and satisfying read. The writing was superb, and I loved the major characters, except for Davy. I can’t put my figure on what me feel indifferent about him. It certainly didn’t have anything to do with him killing those two creeps… Maybe there just wasn’t enough character development… Swede, Reuben, their father and Roxanna, on the other hands are gems. I’m glad to have read this novel.
Ahem… What I meant was ” I can’t put my FINGER on what MADE me feel indifferent about him.”
What is wrong with my brain???
I’m way behind on my reading these days but I still intend on getting to this month’s novel. Sorry. I just wanted to weigh in so you don’t think that I’ve forgotten.
No worries Lori! That’s the beauty of this book club – you can read a book and comment about it at any time!
Thanks Kathy. Just finished Ted Kennedy’s True Compass and Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer – I’ve been on a non-fiction reading binge. I could really use some light storytelling right now and, while I don’t think this book is it, here I go!
I am wading through this book and it’s a bedtime reading book. It has a nice feel. Nothing griping – but I didn’t like Davy. Not at all.
There was something about the writer’s descriptions that gave me such vivid images that I loved this book!
I love love loved this book. I found it a really engaging book, maybe not “gripping” in the sense that a crime drama is, but I didn’t really want to put it down. I enjoyed how the father kept experiencing miracles sent by God, but that it wasn’t a novel that beat you over the head with Christian values. I didn’t *not* like Davy, but his story line didn’t really pull me in; I didn’t really care about whether he was caught or not, except how it would affect Reuben. The little sister was a very enjoyable character, reminded me of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, but I did find it a little unrealistic that she would be able to write so well at just eight years old. Regardless, I love this book and gave it 5 stars over at Goodreads. Thanks so much for the recommendation!! (And I will look for a recipe to post today.)
PS — Thank you SO MUCH for starting this book club, Kathy. I am reading books I have never even heard about, and enjoying them immensely.
Thanks Karyl! I love reading books that others are reading and I’m looking forward to many more. Make sure and put any books you want to share in the Books Suggestions page, found on the header, so that I can put them on next month’s poll for our December book!
This is not a gripping book – it’s a piece of art. I am enchanted with all of the characters – even Davy. Swede is amazing. Just amazing. I love this book!
I was thinking how much it’s like poetry. But I don’t like poetry and I like this book. So it’s more like Sneaky Poetry!
A Rachael Ray appetizer:
12 marinated mushrooms
12 pieces marinated artichoke
12 1-inch wide strips of roasted red peppers
12 small pepperoncini (optional)
1 slab 1-inch thick provolone cheese, cut into 12 cubes
1 slab 1-inch thick Genoa salami from the deli, cubed into 12 bite-size pieces
12 bamboo skewers (8 inches)
Make an assembly line of all the ingredients by lining them up in piles in a row on a work surface. The red pepper strips should be rolled up so that they can fit on the bamboo skewers.
Stack the ingredients onto the bamboo skewers in this order: mushroom, artichoke, rolled red pepper strip, pepperoncini (if desired), cheese, salami.
Sort of a buffet on a stick!
I liked the book. I was a bit disappointed in the ending – I was really hoping for a completely happy ending – but it made sense in the context of the book. I especially liked Swede’s poetry and would have loved to have seen the full saga as an appendix to the book.
An interesting aside per Wikipedia:
Peace Like a River (2001) is a best-selling novel by Leif Enger, who took the title from the lyrics of the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”, which was performed at his wedding. Enger wrote the novel to amuse his family, taking story suggestions from his children and giving the lead character asthma to encourage one of his sons, who also has asthma.
A film version written by Kathy McWorter is scheduled for release in 2009.
Oh, that’s cool. While I was reading the book, I kept thinking that this would make a good movie. I hope the filmmakers do it justice!