So Brave, Young and Handsome

Enger’s first novel, Peace Like a River, had a fresh voice which made it the book I recommended constantly in 2001. After it appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, it became a popular book discussion group title and was chosen by many libraries for community reads. His fans will not be disappointed in his new novel about a writer who fears he’s lost his talent even as the West is losing its wild, frontier character.

Making up his own version of a “wild west” from 1915 Minnesota, mailman Monte Becket had a surprise runaway bestseller that lured him into quitting his day job. Four years and several failed attempts later, he has just about decided to give up writing as a career when a mysterious boat builder enters his life. Glendon Hale’s mesmerizing storytelling convinces Monte to accompany him back to California to ask forgiveness of the wife he abandoned decades ago. He fails to mention his past with the Hole in the Wall gang and the bounty on his head until an ex-Pinkerton man happens upon Glendon and Monte on their trip. Monte could never have imagined the hilarious and dangerous adventures of life with this elderly bandit on the run.

Filled with humor, memorable characters and adventure, Enger’s characters travel the bumpy road of self discovery as they seek redemption on their picaresque journey across a West in the midst of an identity crisis, shedding its wild ways as it joins the “modern world”.

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