At the recommendation of Mrs. B. I read "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger over the last few days.
If this book had been 299 pages, I would have given it a very high rating, thinking the only thing that need be adjusted in it is the age of one of the characters.
The story is well written and the characters well described and built, except that one isn't believable based solely on their age. Had the 9 year old been 17, the book would be excellent...at least for 299 pages.
The book happens to be 311 pages though, and the last 12 were easily my least favorite. The ending seemed abrupt and to not fit with the general pace and progression of the story. Unfortunate for the masterpiece that could have been.
I still enjoyed the story, and liked the book overall, but it could have been so much better if the ending were as well crafted as the rest of the story.
Don't know when I'll read my next novel, as I've got a bunch of books for work still lined up, but it was a nice break.
I'm glad you saw the beauty in the writing.
ReplyDeleteI agree a bit about the ending. It seemed hurried and "let's wrap this up."
I did like the 'glimpse' into heaven though. I thought that was pretty neat.
The issue of Swede: I think she was a genius. A literary, child genius and if you look at it that way it is much more believable.
Don't know about you but I've met some pretty stinkin' amazing 9 year olds.
That book is definitely one of my favorites though. :)