masriazs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rachaelwho's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Excellent. Masterful. And she's one of the few authors who narrates her own book beautifully, I wish I could give another star for that.
I just wonder why she ended the book precisely on that line. I'm not sure I know what it means.
If you liked Beloved, you'll like this. (If you didn't, I don't know what to say...)
I just wonder why she ended the book precisely on that line. I'm not sure I know what it means.
If you liked Beloved, you'll like this. (If you didn't, I don't know what to say...)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Child death, Colonisation, Genocide, Grief, Addiction, Bullying, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, Infidelity, War, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
4.0
What I Liked
I love the character development in this novel. Maggie was my favorite. She is brilliantly broken, borderline psychopathic, but also fierce and strong and loyal. Watching LaRose grieve for his friend and grieve for the life he lost when his parents made the sacrifice to give him to Dusty's family is beautiful. The two mothers and their grief are also stunning, as are the healing stories of both fathers. The villain Romeo is hateable and loveable in the perfect kind of way.
The Native American folklore and culture added so much to this story. I never knew about the tradition of giving one's child to another family who lost their own, but it makes sense in an awful, broken kind of way.
What I Didn't Like
The flashbacks got a little too complex for me! At times, I was lost and would have to go back to try to understand where this snippet of story connected to another.
I know this is Erdrich's style, but quotation marks really, really help.
I love the character development in this novel. Maggie was my favorite. She is brilliantly broken, borderline psychopathic, but also fierce and strong and loyal. Watching LaRose grieve for his friend and grieve for the life he lost when his parents made the sacrifice to give him to Dusty's family is beautiful. The two mothers and their grief are also stunning, as are the healing stories of both fathers. The villain Romeo is hateable and loveable in the perfect kind of way.
The Native American folklore and culture added so much to this story. I never knew about the tradition of giving one's child to another family who lost their own, but it makes sense in an awful, broken kind of way.
What I Didn't Like
The flashbacks got a little too complex for me! At times, I was lost and would have to go back to try to understand where this snippet of story connected to another.
I know this is Erdrich's style, but quotation marks really, really help.
notoriouszoe's review against another edition
3.0
Book Riot’s 2017 Read Harder Challenge: "Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey."
kellyroberson's review against another edition
4.0
Really beautiful. The more I read of her the more I like her writing.
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
Very well written. I was glad to finally read one of her books as she was a favorite of my Dad’s.
orygunn's review against another edition
3.0
I found the lack of quotation marks very difficult to deal with. Also, the jumps between imagery and reality were hard to follow at times. Never was completely drawn into the book.
dllh's review against another edition
4.0
Not my very favorite of hers, but it's classic Erdrich, which is to say that it's really well done, with some memorable characters, effortless and lyrical writing, interplay between past (with a touch of mysticism) and present, and strong but complicated family ties.
annebennett1957's review against another edition
5.0
This book ties up so nicely. It ends on such a nice note of celebration of culture, family, inheritance. I recommend this book highly.