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battybookworm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
This was a book assigned for my American Lit class. It is probably my second favorite that we read this term. The first half is hard to read, it opens with an assault, so if that's triggering for you this is probably not a great book to read. Following Joe, the son of the woman assaulted, through these life events is something really powerful and there's so much to this book that I could never properly summarize. It has reinvigorated my wish to read everything of Erdrich's cause I get to the end of her novels and am instantly wondering why there aren't a hundred more pages to get through: I just can't get enough of her words and her characters! There's so much to feel and so many people to love in this novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit