So Brave, Young and Handsome: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Leif Enger
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.00
Buy New: $13.51
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Avg. Customer Rating:  73 reviews
Sales Rank: 8969
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0871139855
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780871139856
ASIN: 0871139855
Publication Date: April 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080725212931T
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Amazon.com
Amazon Significant Seven, April 2008: A gritty western couched in the easy storytelling style of a folk ballad (think 3:10 to Yuma as sung by the Kingston Trio), Leif Enger's highly anticipated second novel (his first was Peace Like a River) tells the story of outlaw Glendon Hale's quest to right his past, as seen through the eyes of his unlikely companion Monte Becket. So Brave, Young, and Handsome begins with Becket, a struggling novelist bewildered by the success of his first book, who has pledged to his wife, son, and publisher to "write one thousand words a day until another book is finished." Four years and six unfinished novels later, Becket sits on the porch of his Minnesota farmhouse about to give up on number seven, when he spies a man standing up in his boat "rowing upstream through the ropy mists of the Cannon River." Eager to set aside his waning tale about handsome ranch hand Dan Roscoe, Becket calls out to the mysterious white-haired boatman and his life changes forever. At turns merry and wistful, romantic and tragic, So Brave, Young, and Handsome is as absorbing as a campfire tale, full of winking outlaws and relentless villains--the sort of story to keep you on the edge of your seat with hope in your heart. --Daphne Durham
Product Description
A stunning successor to his best selling novel Peace Like a River, Leif Enger’s new work is a rugged and nimble story about an aging train robber on a quest to reconcile the claims of love and judgment on his life, and the failed writer who goes with him.
In 1915 Minnesota, novelist Monte Becket has lost his sense of purpose. His only success long behind him, Monte lives simply with his wife and son. But when he befriends outlaw Glendon Hale, a new world of opportunity and experience presents itself. Glendon has spent years in obscurity, but the guilt he harbors for abandoning his wife, Blue, over two decades ago, has lured him from hiding. As the modern age marches swiftly forward, Glendon aims to travel back to his past--heading to California to seek Blue’s forgiveness. Beguiled and inspired, Monte soon finds himself leaving behind his own family to embark for the unruly West with his fugitive guide. As they desperately flee from the relentless Charles Siringo, an ex-Pinkerton who’s been hunting Glendon for years, Monte falls ever further from his family and the law, to be tempered by a fiery adventure from which he may never get home.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 68 more reviews...
 Mr. Enger does it again! July 21, 2008
Leif Enger has created another wonderful read in So Brave, Young and Handsome: A Novel. Though I ranked his 1st book, Peace Like a River, among my top 5, I also found the new story to be compelling and well-charactered.
 Disappointing July 20, 2008
I loved Peace Like a River and so was anxious to read this new release, but I was very disappointed by it. I had a hard time liking or respecting most of the choices the main character made, and found the book pretty flat in places. Hope Enger's next book is back up to par.
Great Reading! July 12, 2008
There are many reasons to love this book. The narrator is a complex character who I simultaneously loved and hated. I tend to enjoy novels where the protagonist struggles with his/her inner deamons, self doubts, etc. Monte Becket is the kind of character that you admire for his willingness to stand up for his values, but at the same time seems to lack any semblance of courage or moxie when needed. The ending has a bit of a twist to it. Some people may have seen it coming, I didn't, but after it happened I realized it was foreshadowed on more than one occasion. I could not put this down and will quickly purchase Enger's first novel.
So Beautiful July 12, 2008
This book sings, it has so much imagery and character that the reader feels like they are being pursued by the Pinkertons. Leif has the voice of times gone by, My great grandfather would talk of the old west and I felt at times I was touching his life in this book.
I loved it almost as much as Peace like a River and of course it is not fair to compare loved ones.
Gilead Meets Huckleberry Finn July 10, 2008
Monte Beckett used to be a postman. Now he's an author, with one famous adventure novel behind him and seven stalled sophomore attempts balled up and dead at various stages. His plan seemed wise: one thousand words a day, no matter what. The page count is dwindling though; so is the Beckett's money.
What does not wane is the faith of Beckett's beautiful artist wife, the curiosity of his young son, Redstart or the intrigue of Glendon Hale, the strange neighbor who rows his boat standing up. When Redstart befriends Hale and invites him to dinner, Beckett is drawn to the man too. A boat maker by trade, Hale has some secrets of his own and a nagging guilt about leaving his wife, Blue, years before. This guilt and the consent of Beckett's loving wife, set the two men off on an adventure that will change everything--but not as quickly as they hope.
Once on the train, Hale is recognized by the porter as a train robber. Beckett's new friend recommends the author return home and he jumps off the train. An unlikely adventurer, Beckett finds himself under the eyes of the law and an aging Pinkerton agent, Charles Siringo. When his path crosses with Glendon again, Beckett leaves his clothes and for a time his life to commit totally to a journey of redemption with a man who has spent his life running from justice.
Beckett meets up with a brave turtle, wily outlaws, a wannabe cowboy, a dead actor, a flooded horseranch, kidnap by an old man in a rackety Packard, pursuit of a young outlaw en route to catch an old one and the shaking of his faith in everything noble and good. In the end though, a community is birthed from his efforts and justice and beauty bring what he'd forgotten to expect--one beautiful sentence from his pen.
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