Virgil Wander
by Leif Enger
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Pub Date Oct 02 2018 | Archive Date Oct 12 2018
Grove Atlantic | Grove Press
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Description
Midwestern movie house owner Virgil Wander is “cruising along at medium altitude” when his car flies off the road into icy Lake Superior. Virgil survives but his language and memory are altered and he emerges into a world no longer familiar to him. Awakening in this new life, Virgil begins to piece together his personal history and the lore of his broken town, with the help of a cast of affable and curious locals—from Rune, a twinkling, pipe-smoking, kite-flying stranger investigating the mystery of his disappeared son; to Nadine, the reserved, enchanting wife of the vanished man, to Tom, a journalist and Virgil’s oldest friend; and various members of the Pea family who must confront tragedies of their own. Into this community returns a shimmering prodigal son who may hold the key to reviving their town.
With intelligent humor and captivating whimsy, Leif Enger conjures a remarkable portrait of a region and its residents, who, for reasons of choice or circumstance, never made it out of their defunct industrial district. Carried aloft by quotidian pleasures including movies, fishing, necking in parked cars, playing baseball and falling in love, Virgil Wander is a swift, full journey into the heart and heartache of an often overlooked American Upper Midwest by a “formidably gifted” (Chicago Tribune) master storyteller.
Advance Praise
“Incredible and improbable, and totally wonderful. I love this book.”—Sally Wizik Wills, Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery
“A fateful encounter with Lake Superior sets in motion a lovely tale that unfolds, the story of Virgil Wander that is Virgil Wander. He and the people who inhabit this small town make it an earnestly, if occasionally wayward, lived in place. It all comes off with a grace refreshing to behold.”—Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Company
“This magical story set in the Midwest is on my very short list for favorite books of 2018! Leif Enger’s first book, Peace Like a River established him as a gifted storyteller. In “Virgil Wander” he continues to demonstrate his ability to weave an exceptional story out of ordinary people and places. He imbues his cast of flawed characters with a sweetness and optimism that is believable and refreshing. Even the dark moments shine with hope, faith, and a belief that doing what’s right is always the best choice despite the potential for failure and loss.”—Adrian Newell, Warwick’s
“A raft of booksellers have stolen my thunder in praising Virgil Wander, so I’ll just add a personal note: thanks, Leif, for reminding me that my native but long-abandoned Midwest is not populated by cardboard cutouts wearing MAGA hats but human beings of life, blood, and oh-so-much character.”—Ezra Goldstein, Community Bookstore
“Leif Enger’s dazzling new novel, Virgil Wander, has that perfect blend of a wonderful sense of place (our very own Minnesota!), quirky characters, and a delightful story. Our Midwestern readers are the perfect audience for this book, and I can’t wait to put it personally in their hands this fall.”—David Enyeart, Common Good Books
“A beautifully written slice of life with memorable characters. Worth the wait for another book by Enger.”—Sherry Fritzsche, Bank Square Books
“Virgil Wander, the title character of Leif Enger’s evocative new novel, drives his car off a cliff and into Lake Superior outside the Minnesota town he’s always called home. Shaken and unbalanced after being rescued, he re-engages with life differently than his former self, the “previous tenant,” would have. Then, when a gentle old kite-flying man appears looking for a long-lost prodigal son, a chain of events both charming and tragic unspools in this hard-luck town. A shaggy movie palace, a giant sturgeon, lots of strange kites, artisanal neon signs, and a downcast yet endearing supporting cast all populate Enger’s wonderful, heartwarming novel.”—Danny Caine, The Raven Bookstore
“Virgil Wander is one of those rare books that tells you a serious story – sad, even – while creating a delightful reading experience. Every single character, every scene, every moment is perfectly drawn in language that’s down-to-earth but exuberantly literate. I just adored it and didn’t want it to end.” –Christie Olson Day, Gallery Bookshop
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780802128782 |
| PRICE | $27.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 352 |
Featured Reviews
Susan B, Librarian
A charming story of lives and loves, lost and found in a hard luck Midwestern town. With endearing characters and beautiful, unhurried writing, this novel, the author's first in ten years, is well worth the wait.
Teresa Y, Reviewer
Some books are page turners just to get to the end, some are just so good you can’t wait to get back to them, and then the mysteries you hurry to find the answers, but some are the special ones that you just need to sit back, relax, enjoy and take it in. This is that special kind of book by Leif Enger, it’s a wonderful ride to a little Midwestern town. We get to meet Virgil Wander, he’s had a life changing event, and then we meet a whole bunch of other characters that all have special stories that touch us. It’s like coming home to your home town. Everyone knows everyone else and they all get along for better or worse.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the writing is excellent, the storyline draws you in and you come to care about almost all of the characters. The descriptions are great, you can picture the Buick down in the bottom of the lake, the bicycle that has replaced it, the Audi that is dragging the ground and the movie theatre.
If you want a fast paced murder mystery this book is not for you, but if you want a story that will stay with you and you just want to actually sit back and read a well written novel to remind us of why we read in the first place, this one is for you. I loved it. Another great book by Leif Enger.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Grove Atlantic/Grove Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets 5*****’s. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reviewer 238609
This is a beautiful book that tells the story of a small town and the people in it. I loved it and hope the author doesn't wait another ten years to write a book.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review of it.
Pamela J, Reviewer
Well, now i know the book I am buying everyone for Christmas! VIRGIL WANDER is lovely, rich and multi-layered. It's like eating the perfect sandwich; not fancy, but so delicious your never want it to end. Leif Enger brings the imaginary town of Greenstone to life and captures the atmosphere along the shores of Lake Superior beautifully. But what really makes this such a unique and magical tale are the fascinating characters Enger creates. They are so unusual and so well-drawn that you will wish you knew them. and this book will definitely make you want to go fly a kite! And if you haven't read Enger's earlier work, PEACE LIKE A RIVER, get it immediately - it's just as good as VIRGIL WANDER!
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