danargaray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book was phenomenal until the ending. I loved the book all the way through, but the characters became almost cartoonish versions of themselves. Overall though, I loved this book so much and couldn't put it down. It's a slow pace, but the characters make it worth it.
jolynne's review against another edition
5.0
Louise White Elk and Baptiste Yellow Knife, beautiful, strong and courageous lovers hell-bent on self-destruction. Both wanting only to survive brutality and prejudice.
bookishcori's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Death, Colonisation, Blood, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Murder
danihope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
clem's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yosiabiy's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a rough read. The writing was beautiful and the story was heartbreaking. It follows a young Native American woman, Louise White Elk, on a reservation in Montana as she’s basically just trying to survive in a world where everything is stacked against her. A big part of the story is her relationships with all the men who try and “court” her, and lets just say I’m definitely adding this to my “men are trash” book list. The book occasionally switches to the perspective of one of these men, Charlie Kicking Woman, and it’s crazy how different their perspectives of the relationship are.
I will admit I sometimes found it hard to follow the story or the context, and honestly I’m not even sure what time period it is. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Earned an easy 4 stars from me.
I will admit I sometimes found it hard to follow the story or the context, and honestly I’m not even sure what time period it is. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Earned an easy 4 stars from me.
oakmoses's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful, poetic writing, brutal storyline, some gorgeous set peices, but it never congeals into a compelling whole.
lindapatin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amyw2's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautifully written with a captivating story. Haunting and memorable.
I suspect that some of the lower ratings may be from those for whom the book was assigned reading.
I suspect that some of the lower ratings may be from those for whom the book was assigned reading.
drgus_7's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this book but struggled with it. Part of it is the content, and part of it is the writing style. The themes are familiar because I've read Erdrich, Hogan, Silko, Alexie, Momaday, and Welch (to name a few), so it's a familiar story of what happens to a community because of all the ugly consequences of colonization. There is just something about the storytelling that I struggled with, and I almost gave up on it a couple of times- too many simple sentences, which gives it a choppy flow, and too much telling rather than showing. It doesn't resonate as much as stories by the other authors I listed above.