Reviews

Antelope Woman by Louise Erdrich

imocool's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

uzoma's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

3.25

One thing about Louise Erdrich, she will write a family saga rich in metaphor and absolutely incomprehensible to the casual reader 

dllh's review against another edition

3.0

This one was just so-so for me. I had real trouble getting into it and found some of the more mystical bits (especially early in the book) hard to enjoy. It felt like a series of fragments that might've worked better as parts of a longer and better book.

pine_wulf's review against another edition

emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

The writing is lyrical and beautiful and there were some really emotional scenes. There isn't really an ongoing plot. It's more a character study. Life scenes spanned over several years. It's not really my type of thing, but the writing itself made up for it. And I was a little teary over what happened to Deanna. 

I thought the actual "antelope wife" would have a bigger role considering the back summary says she's at the center, but she felt like a background character to me. 

mbejjani's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Not my favorite of Louise Erdrich’s novels, but beautiful writing as always! A haunting story that weaves through generations

cait_henry56's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I bought this purely because Stephen Graham Jones raved about it, but in the end it wasn't for me. I should've known this, since this book is not horror nor is it marketed as such. Hauntingly beautiful writing, but too slow for me.

sarahglabb's review against another edition

4.0

The book had a super funny moment right towards the end that was perfect. I mean perfect. The theme of the beads and how the people were connected in the novel was good.
I just love anything by Louise Erdrich because there is always crazy people doing crazy things in her books.

lifesarosch's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I don't know if I liked this book or not, but I don't think that matters because this book was not written for me. The prose is stunning.

linda_elaine's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

black_girl_reading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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

What can you even say about Louise Erdrich? She is the author whose work I long to know best, to savour most, and whose canon I dread to finish, because what will be left is a gulf in intimate, human, complex stories about all that is and all that will ever be. Antelope Woman, a story about a kidnapping, about a genocide, about loving again, and about failing harder to avoid accountability, this book had horror, humour, and life. A braided story of intergenerational survival, of quirks and kinks, and of messy abundant life, I can’t talk Erdrich in the way Erdrich deserves. She must be read. Read her.