Today I finished reading So Brave, Young, and Handsome by Leif Enger for the first time. I also finished Peace like a River by Leif Enger for the millionth time. My take: So Brave just can't compare to Peace. It really can't.
Some highlights from Peace: "He was like a small, hot, talkative planet."
"Fog inquires first at wrists and ankles."
From So Brave: "In the meantime Siringo was a living hero, rising from the smoke like a leathery old god out of Homer."
It wasn't as bad as reading I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak after reading The Book Thief. That was an all-out let-down, a complete disappointment.
I am not even condemning So Brave, Young, and Handsome. It's just ... those who have read Peace like a River know what Enger is capable of, an envy-inducing piece of literature, glorious imagery, and hilarious characters. While I read So Brave, I missed Swede. :-)
Ah, Swede. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for I am the Messenger, I feel like I would have liked it a lot better if I hadn't known it was by Zusak. Know what I mean? I mean, it certainly didn't feel like the same author. And I should have known The Book Thief would be hard to top!
I feel that way about So Brave ... like I would have liked it better had I not known it was Enger.
ReplyDeleteI am the Messenger ... for me, there was no rescue for that book. :-(