Leif Enger

It is rare to find a Christian author that is writing literature. Not to be snobby about it but there is a big difference between "fiction" and "literature." And I get tired of wasting my time on "fiction." Literature is writing that is crafted, timeless, and speaks truth (even through fiction).

So it was with delight that I read Leif Enger's Peace Like a River. I overheard a man talking about it and he was using words that piqued my interest. It was an amazing story set in early 20th century Minnesota. Enger is a Christian writer and his worldview leaks through the pages; but this is not "Christian fiction" by any means. Enger's story is told from the view of the young boy in the story and his siblings (younger sister, older brother) are strong figures. His loving father has handled life's disappointments with faith, and life has been disappointing. The book has a Western feel; the little sister is obsessed with all things Western and is working on an epic poem that develops throughout the story.

Enger's one other work (to date) is So Brave, Young, and Handsome. I just finished that one and had to laugh at the story that begins with a man who has written a bestseller only to find it was a fluke and he has no more writing in him. Following Enger's roughly 8 year break since publishing Peace Like A River, I couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't identifying a bit with "Monty." This one is even more Western and is full of outlaws and cowboys, though ones clinging to a past that is gone.

Enger is a little Zane Grey, a little Flannery O'Connor, and uniquely his own writer. I love him enough that I bought Peace Like a River this week and had it sent to my brother who loves the western genre. I don't (particularly like westerns) but I loved these books.