Peace Like a River Review...

King Jame Bible Mark 6:4 " A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. "

Davy...
I wonder about Davy. When did he come to his agnostic views? Where did he lose his hope & then his faith. Did his mother pack it in her suit case when she left him? At some point Davy decided that his faith was in himself and he was a very capable and bright young man.

It is easy for me to justify Davy's actions. He's seventeen and he has grown up going to school everyday with Israel Finch. He knows this kid. He remembers, surely what Israel had done to his teacher. Now Finch has tried to rape his girlfriend. He's vandalized Davy's home and kidnapped his sister. "They pulled her out of the house, Ted. Her own home. Threatened her, put their hands on her." And the law, Ted Pullet to be exact, sits in the Land's kitchen drinking coffee with shaking hands and passes this off as just a "those boys were both playing-- kicking around -- had meant no harm." Pullet is afraid of Israel Finch and he's not going to do anything. Israel Finch will be back. Davy knows this and so he decides that rather than wait, wonder and be surprised.. risking further damage to Swede, he'll just make an appointment. I believe in military speak this is called, "preparing the battlefield." And so he vandalized Israel's car and lay in his bed with the Winchester waiting because he knows Israel will come and Tommy will follow. They don't have to, no one is forcing them.. but Davy knows they will come. They come with a bat and they enter the home and when the lights come on I think that Israel had half a seconds decision, but he doesn't make the wise one, "he lifted the bat, the knothead, and Davy fired..."

Many of you know my own story about living in a condominium that was invaded by meth cooks. At a certain point, we considered purchasing a hand gun. I was home alone most of the day. I distinctly remember C asking me, "Tiffany, if someone breaks in here, can you point a gun at them and then shoot until it's empty?"

So why if I can defend Davy, why does his father, Jeremiah, decide to help the law to retrieve Davy? I read over pages 245 and 246 a number of times and Jeremiah doesn't come right out and say, but he does lead Reuben to believe that Davy is in the wrong. Was it that Davy shot Tommy as he was crawling away from the scene?
"'... and while he messed thus Tommy Basca's last moment reappeared to me, and the bafflement in his face as he scrambled bellywise over the floor.
"Okay," I said.
"What?"
"Davy did a wrong thing."'

But as I've told you before, I, Tiffany, don't have a problem justifying Davy's actions. If someone were to break into my home.. the instructions were to empty the gun. And, I would have.

But Jeremiah, still speaking to Reuban, says, "If you like Mr. Andreeson better as an enemy, then keep him one. Maybe that's your job as a boy-- as a brother. My job is different... Because I'm the dad. I have to heed the Lord's instructions." And I don't know, but maybe that just changes everything.

Davy is not a witness. He does not see the miracles that justify his father's action. His father has also acted violently and his face has shown with light. Without faith, Davy is blind to his father's miracles and to his authority? He's curious though. And, later he asks Reuben to relate to him the story of how Jeremiah exchanges his life for Reuben's. "'Breathe," Davy said. 'Let's see you breathe."' Our decisions in life are good informed by conscience and by morality, they are better informed by hope and informed by faith. "... Then I breath deeply, and certainty enters into me like light, like a piece of science, and a curious music seems to hum inside my fingers."

*** Note: I will be posting some questions in the comments section. If you want to participate by answering one of those.. Please do! :) If you want to participate by having me link to your own review.. also let me know it the comments. I hoped you liked the book!

***** Note #2... Book Club at Circe's next time... The Glass Castle May 26th.. can't wait. :)

Circe's Review
Janice's Review
Michelle's Review