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So Brave, Young and Handsome

April 14, 2009 by Lisa

Okay, so I’ve been trying to write this review for like two days. Maybe longer than that because, well, I finished the novel last week sometime. What’s my problem? In short, I loved the book and, for some weird reason, I find it harder to write reviews for the books that I love than for the books I only like.

Weird, huh?

Anyway, I loved Leif Enger’s novel Peace Like a River (though that isn’t the title under review here) and jumped at the opportunity to read and review his most recent novel (now in paperback) So Brave, Young, and Handsome. I read it and, as I said above, I loved it.

End of review.

Okay, not.

Let’s see, what do I love about it? It’s a really good book, really well written, with a really interesting story of redemption and forgiveness and discovering inspiration and meaning. It’s aging train robbers and wanna be cowboys. It’s a writer who’s lost his muse. It’s a pursuer unwilling to give up the chase. It’s the Old West and the fading of her former glory. It intrigues. It surprises.

It’s good.

I think what I love most about both Enger’s novels is the telling, the beauty of the words themselves. I read somewhere of prose that “sings” and his does indeed. The man is a true wordsmith, no doubt about it. I also love how the story lingers long after the last page is turned, making me forget—just for a moment, mind you—that it was a story and only a story, though a really good one at that.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….

Filed Under: 5 Star Reads, Fiction, Lisa

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth says

    April 14, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    Well, you made me want to go right out and find this book! In fact, when I’m done surfing some book suggestion sites (like i NEED more suggestions! I’m drowning now!) I’m going to find it at my library site and put it on hold. I’m currently reading/reveling in two recent books. I’m in the middle of a PD James book, “The Lighthouse.” Never read James before and am really enjoying it. Unfortunately, I’m supposed to be done by tomorrow for book club and I don’t think I’m going to make it. And that’s because of my spending time reading “bipolar bare,” a fabulous memoir on living with mental illness. the author has lived it and still lives with it, along with all the accompanying struggles with drug addiction and sexual deviation. This is just an incredible memoir on the subject of bipolar disorder.

    And now, on to finding your book… Thanks for the suggestion.

  2. Heather G. says

    April 14, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    I finished this book last night and loved it. Adored it. Don’t tell anyone, but I enjoyed it even more than Peace Like a River. I entered into this novel more than his debut.
    And I understand what you mean about having a harder time writing a review of a book you loved. I think it’s because it becomes part of me, and how do you review that?

  3. Amy says

    April 14, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    I felt the same way about Peace Like a River! Here’s my review of it—>http://hopeistheword.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/book-review-peace-like-a-river-by-leif-enger/

    I plan to get to So Young, Brave, and Handsome some time soon! (If you read my review, ignore the fact that I say that I just checked it out from the library–I’m forever checking out books I don’t get to!)

  4. Jean M. says

    April 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    I’m with you about reviewing a book that I absolutely love. I hate to tell to much of the story and want to gush on and on about why I love it.
    I will add this one to be to read pile. Peace Like A River was good and this one sounds even better.

  5. Angela Nazworth says

    April 14, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    These sound wonderful, Lisa!

  6. edj says

    April 15, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    I LOVED “Peace Like a River” and I want to read this one so badly! This review intensified it.

  7. Jennifer, Snapshot (and 5M4B) says

    April 17, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    I think that I’ve said this before, but I just didn’t get into Peace Like a River like every other book-loving blogger I know.

    Anyone else with me???

  8. Deanna says

    April 19, 2009 at 6:39 am

    While I liked this book, I did not love it. I saw many good things about the story but there was something missing for me…
    Here are my thoughts about So Brave, Young and Handsome (if you are curious):
    http://ibeeeg.blogspot.com/2008/10/so-brave-young-and-handsome.html

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