I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

Once again, things are not all quiet on the Midwestern front in Leif Enger’s latest, set in the near future. The country is now ruled by billionaires and an escapee from a work camp pierces the peaceful bubble of Rainy and Lark’s lives, leaving the former to embark on a treacherous journey, both to escape those who hunt him, and to reunite with the love of his life. Dark much? Yes. But, those familiar with Enger’s oeuvre know that he imbues his stories with so much humanity and heart that, like Rainy, you never lose hope. This harrowing, but beautifully told, tale is a sly paean to books, language, love, and the transformative power of receiving and extending kindness.