Recently, I went deep into the Leif Enger catalog—consigning myself to a near-steady diet of Enger, which I kicked off by revisiting his masterful 2001 debut novel, Peace Like a River, and then followed with inaugural readings of So Brave, Young and Handsome
Diana, thank you for introducing me to this author. I’m in line for “I Cheerfully Refuse“ at our local library, although I may have to go down to Eagle Harbor bookstore and purchase it. I don’t know if I can wait to borrow it.
I saw this on Bluesky today.
“Everything is dumb and terrible. And it’s going to be dumb and terrible for a while. It’s important that you do what you can to make it less dumb and terrible and it’s important to find a way to make some contentment for yourself in spite of everything being so dumb and terrible.”
Thank you for reading and commenting—and for sharing that quote! YES. Exactly. And…I’ll drop my copy of I Cheerfully Refuse by your place later today. D
I loved "Peace Like a River" and also want to read me some more Leif Enger, but this one sounds hard! So much budding dystopia in America right now, I don't think I can take it. Maybe after November ;)
Virgil Wander, Barb. That's where you should go next....I love the quirky imperfection of his characters...the way they are by and large--ordinary people just trying to get by, who manage to find hope in everyday blessings....
Gotta keep sowing those seeds, Diana. Don’t we? Thanks for sharing your take on Enger’s latest. It’s not going to make it to my reading list, but I really enjoyed your review.
I hope writing this piece provided the exorcism you were hoping for. Despite the creepy bits of this dystopian novel, you have managed to find the only antidote we can rely on. Thanks for doing that.
Thanks, Andrew. Your comments always put a spring in my writerly step. And yes--writing the review DID help exorcise those little literary demons--it's funny--while the "spreading seeds" sounds like it might have been a bit too "on the nose" (because of Enger's skill, it wasn't) -I honestly didn't fully make the connection until I wrote the review--so I guess we could say: Mission Accomplished. Thx again for reading and commenting.
Diana, thank you for introducing me to this author. I’m in line for “I Cheerfully Refuse“ at our local library, although I may have to go down to Eagle Harbor bookstore and purchase it. I don’t know if I can wait to borrow it.
I saw this on Bluesky today.
“Everything is dumb and terrible. And it’s going to be dumb and terrible for a while. It’s important that you do what you can to make it less dumb and terrible and it’s important to find a way to make some contentment for yourself in spite of everything being so dumb and terrible.”
Thank you for reading and commenting—and for sharing that quote! YES. Exactly. And…I’ll drop my copy of I Cheerfully Refuse by your place later today. D
You're a doll!
ordinary people just trying to get by, who manage to find hope in everyday blessings....exactly! Virgil Wander is on the list.
I loved "Peace Like a River" and also want to read me some more Leif Enger, but this one sounds hard! So much budding dystopia in America right now, I don't think I can take it. Maybe after November ;)
Virgil Wander, Barb. That's where you should go next....I love the quirky imperfection of his characters...the way they are by and large--ordinary people just trying to get by, who manage to find hope in everyday blessings....
Gotta keep sowing those seeds, Diana. Don’t we? Thanks for sharing your take on Enger’s latest. It’s not going to make it to my reading list, but I really enjoyed your review.
I hope writing this piece provided the exorcism you were hoping for. Despite the creepy bits of this dystopian novel, you have managed to find the only antidote we can rely on. Thanks for doing that.
Thanks, Andrew. Your comments always put a spring in my writerly step. And yes--writing the review DID help exorcise those little literary demons--it's funny--while the "spreading seeds" sounds like it might have been a bit too "on the nose" (because of Enger's skill, it wasn't) -I honestly didn't fully make the connection until I wrote the review--so I guess we could say: Mission Accomplished. Thx again for reading and commenting.