I Cheerfully Refuse

I Cheerfully Refuse (2024) is the fourth novel by Leif Enger, a speculative, dystopian novel that examines present-day issues like wealth disparity and climate change. Drawing on the Greek myth of Orpheus, the novel follows Rainy, who embarks on a journey across Lake Superior, hoping to somehow reunite with his recently murdered wife, Lark. Along the way, he meets many people, saves a young girl, and resists a terrifying antagonist who works for the ultra-rich. Set in the near future on the waters and shores of Lake Superior (a place that Enger—who lives in Duluth, Minnesota—knows well and uses as inspiration), the novel explores themes related to grief, music, and navigating a dystopian world.

This guide uses the first edition hardcover, published by Grove Atlantic in 2024.

Content Warning: This guide includes moments of and references to suicide, addiction, abuse, and domestic violence.

Plot Summary

Rainier, or Rainy, and his wife, Lark, live in Icebridge, on Lake Superior. Rainy is a bass guitarist. Lark runs a local bookshop named Bread. They rent out their spare room to travelers and fleeing laborers. Icebridge is peaceful, but the world around it is crumbling. The wealthy increasingly hoard money and resources.