Fiction
2001 Harper Perennial (first published in 1984)
Read in January 2001
Rating: 1/5 (Meh)
Publisher's Blurb:
The first book in Louise Erdrich's highly acclaimed "Native American" trilogy that includes "The Beet Queen," "Tracks," and "The Bingo Palace," re-sequenced and expanded to include never-before-published chapters.Set on and around a North Dakota Ojibwe reservation, Love Medicine is the epic story about the intertwined fates of two families: the Kashpaws and the Lamartines.
With astonishing virtuosity, each chapter draws on a range of voices to limn its tales. Black humor mingles with magic, injustice bleeds into betrayal, and through it all, bonds of love and family marry the elements into a tightly woven whole that pulses with the drama of life.
Filled with humor, magic, injustice and betrayal, Erdrich blends family love and loyalty in a stunning work of dramatic fiction.
My Original Thoughts (2001):
If it weren't for a book club selection, I never would have finished this book. I thought it was terribly confusing (even with family trees - my own attempt) and dull! I felt no connection to any of the characters.
My Current Thoughts:
I know Erdrich is a beloved author of many readers, and I have a couple of her more recent novels in my TBR stacks, but this one was a big miss. Maybe I'll give a second read sometime after reading some of her other books, but it was not a good introduction to her writing.
I have not tried her early novels, but after the Night Watchman I might like to try her new one The Sentence since part of it is about a bookstore. I don't think her books are for everyone ... but she's a fairly good reader of her audiobooks so I'd plan to try another.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I will definitely give her more recent novels a chance. I have La Rose and The Rounding House on my TBR shelf.
DeleteI have Erdich on my TBR as well. I haven't read her yet - I don't think I will start with this one though. Lol.
ReplyDeleteErin, I plan to read the two books of hers that are on my TBR shelf (La Rose and The Rounding House). I hope I enjoy them better than I did this one!
DeleteThat should read The Round House!
DeleteI tend to love this author but, haven't read this one so - no need too I gather. Her latest book is --very very different but, I liked it a lot.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I know a lot of my friends love her books and I plan to read either La Rose or The Round House.
DeleteI've enjoyed a few of her later novels and plan to read The Sentence sometime this year. Thought I'd go back and try her early stuff, but maybe I'll wait a while longer. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, have you read La Rose or The Round House? Which would you recommend?
DeleteLes - I started La Rose on audio, but stopped listening. Planned to get back to it, but never did. I have not read The Round House either. I enjoyed her short stories in The Red Convertible and also the novel Shadow Tag, which I think was a change of pace for her.
DeleteJoAnn, I have those two books in print, but thanks for your comment about the audio of La Rose. I still plan to give them a try... eventually. I'll also look for the other two you mentioned.
DeleteVicki, there are probably more by Erdrich that are much more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI always want to like Erdrich's novels, but I had trouble with one I read years ago and haven't gone back to read her others.
ReplyDeleteHelen, I'm willing to give her another chance, especially since this one was her debut. Maybe her writing is more accessible now?
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