Small town cinema owner, Virgil Wander, is recovering from an "accident" that sent him and his car off a cliff into Lake Superior. He's recovering, but seems to be looking at his hometown in a different light. When a kite-flying newcomer comes to town looking for his long lost son, things start to change in this small quiet town.

This is a wonderful book. It's not action-packed, but rather a quiet, lovely look at relationships and life in the midwest US. I couldn't stop reading, anxious to see what happened next. Virgil and the rest are wonderful characters and I became increasingly attached to every one of them. There are so many touching moments of quiet conversation, deep introspection, and beautiful descriptions of nature. I doubt this book will attract a wide audience, but if you want a peek into life in a small town, this is the book for you.

In the beginning, I was really enjoying the story of Virgil. It was interesting to meet the people and see how things unfolded through Virgil's eyes. There was humor and the story was interesting, but it just went pretty much nowhere. I wanted a purpose and some reason for the book, but there really didn't seem to be any. I was underwhelmed at best and felt that I can't get those hours reading this book back. No, I won't say it was badly written, because it wasn't, but going nowhere - it just was disappointing.

Sorry - this book is just not for me.

I enjoyed reading this book I just never got around to writing a review. I will continue to read works by this author

This book’s cover beckoned me during pandemic. The story is a close up look at the pain and beauty of lives lived simply. Something we all not by choice had to do since 2020. Even more poignant as we watch Virgil try to revive his theater, our world witnessed theaters and so many businesses close. Fiction such as this reminds us what is truly important and to love the people around you despite their quirks and frailties. This will become a classic.

Really strong Minnesota vibes in this book that showed daily lives amongst the town. It has a simple magic in this way.

I’m afraid that this book wasn’t for me. I did manage to make it to the end but I found it extremely boring. If you like reading about fishing and kite flying in a nondescript little town full of very bland people you might like this more than I did. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I tried several times to get into this Virgil Wander, but after a few attempts putting it down and picking it back up, I just could not stay engaged with it. I give it three stars, because I do believe at another time, in another mood, with a different level of focus, I could enjoy it and I definitely see how others would. Some books just require more patience and persistence while you can recognize the talent that drives them. I have felt this way reading some great authors like Virginia Woolf, sometimes you need to put it down and come back when you are ready to give a book the chance it deserves. Skip it (for now) if you looking for a cohesive storyline and a well-paced plot. Pick it up when you're in the mood for thoughtful quiet, original and incisive. I will come back to it, but right now it's feeling forced to continue.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Leif Enger's book Virgil Wander isn't one to rush through. Set in a small town where everyone knows their neighbor. After an accident changes everything for Virgil, he is left with trying to figure out who he is. The journey he takes is like the ripple in a lake - slow but far reaching. It's a book to absorb and sit with - you will not be sorry!

This book captures some of the quirkiness that goes with those 'up north' folks that Virgil finds himself trying to rebuild and re remember his life after an accident.

Virgil Wander is a humorous, gentle story about the quirky characters in an all-but forgotten Minnesota town. The characters make the community charming, and the novel will leave you satisfied.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

True to form with Enger, this is a slow, meditative read with layered, deeply human characters and a look at life in small town Western US, away from the flash and throb of city life. Enger balances questions of memory and the consequences of choice with a gentle humor and bits of whimsy that particularly appeal in such a heavy year as this. For Enger fans, this title doesn't quite reach the level of Peace Like a River in its punch, but it surpasses So Brave, Young, and Handsome. Recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Thank you netgalley for my advanced copy. This book has great characters that the reader will love rand shake their head at. They are quirky and multi- dimensional. It’s an imaginative, lovely story and I highly recommend.

It was okay, nothing I would want to own and reread over and over again, like I do most of my favorites. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Virgil survives the car accident, but his memory is altered as is his language. This is a quirky book that was a joy to read.

I really enjoyed this book, it's charming characters and unhurried pace. Just what I needed. This book is beautifully written, but it won't be for everyone. Too many people need face paced and hurry to the next twist. Virgil Wander tells the story of a small northern town and all the quirky characters by the title character who, after his car goes into Lake Superior, starts having trouble with his memory. I'll highly recommend this to the right reader.

Thank you the the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a strong effort by Enger. Fans of Enger's earlier fiction will certainly be interested in this novel.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you came back from the dead to your life that you lived before? Me too. I. Virgil Wander it is like that but so much different. Virgil car crashes into Lake Superior, he survives - goodness he is one lucky duck! However, he is not the man he was before, because his memory and language are affected by the crash, he landed in Lake Superior and neither is his midwestern town.
What ripples on from there is one of the best books i have read in a long time. Enger is a masterful writer and i hope after Virgil Wander he doesn’t wait again another 10 years to give us another deeply rich and entertaining view into lives we may never experience.

5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley, Leif Enger and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read Virgil Wander in lieu of my honest review. I’m just sorry it took me so long to get to the book.

Loved Virgil Wander - such wonderful characters and so beautifully written. I listened to this one and the reader was great. This would make a great Bookclub choice.

A lovely novel ostensibly about a man finding himself after a major accident, but really about the lives of the people in his small Midwestern town. Leif Enger's beautiful prose and portrait of life make the 10-year wait completely worth it.