Okay, thank you, Mosca. I hadn't looked at it yet, so I'll probably save it until after I finish LOVE MEDICINE or maybe even wait until BEET QUEEN. I ordered one, but will wait until I finish it to order the next. They are all on my wish-list at Amazon--which is growing by the mile!!

Rebbie,

The on-line geneology that I found had a *SPOILER* warning that I agree with.

It reminded me that many of the plot tensions and surprises that arise in the books could be spoiled by knowing in advance some of the information. So I did not read it closely. But I did bookmark the page.

Thank you, Laura, for the heads-up. I didn't realise those family trees were available.

oh cool. I'll check out the online info. Thanks.


Laura wrote: "I second all Mosca said.

Erdrich is one of my all time favorite authors. Start with Love Medicine and then go through the series in order. Almost all her books are interconnected. You'll see c..."

I second all Mosca said.

Erdrich is one of my all time favorite authors. Start with Love Medicine and then go through the series in order. Almost all her books are interconnected. You'll see characters and locations from the series pop up in later books.

There are a lot of characters so it can become easily to lose track of who is who. You can actually find 'family trees' of the characters online.

I did see your comment, Elizabeth, on the other discussion, so thanks for answering my question.
Mosca, I thank you for your wonderful post about Erdrich. I have heard her name before, and I think years ago I picked up a book by her. I don't know why it's taken me so long to appreciate and/or find her, but I'm glad I have. I'll take your recommendations and read the books as you suggest. She's my new favorite author, I think, and her style of writing is helping me with my own writing simply by reading her incredible way of structuring a paragraph.
When something really gets inside me, I dream about it. Last night, I had several dreams about Master Butcher--some disturbing because of the images. To my way of thinking, this says a lot about the power of her writing.
Thanks so much all.

Elizabeth wrote: "Rebbie, I've said elsewhere that this was one of my favorite reads of last year. I haven't read anything else by her, but Mosca has read several and recommends her. In any case, she is now on my li..."

I read this book a couple of years ago on a recommendation from my sister. I enjoyed it, but haven't read anything else by her yet. I might give Love Medicine a try.

Rebby,

I started reading Louise Erdrich more than ten years ago. She is one of my most admired and loved authors. Just this past few weeks I read The Antelope Wife, a very powerful book.

I was first introduced to her by a short story of hers that I read in the Atlantic magazine that made me drop my jaw. I have since discovered that that short story is the first chapter of Tracks. At the time it appeared that "Tracks" was the final book of a trilogy of hers. Her first major book being Love Medicine, the second being The Beet Queen, and the third being "Tracks". I still feel that these three books are the best way to start reading Louise Erdrich. These books are not linear but are very inter-related. And, of course, they are excellent.

Since those first books she has written other books that follow the same extended families she introduced in those books.

I have not read The Master Butchers Singing Club A Novel but I read that it takes place in the fiction town of Argus which, I know, is an important town to some members of those extended families. So I am assuming it continues the narratives she has already established. I have also learned that Last Report On The Miracles At Little No Horse involves at least one character, Father Damian, from those fictional extended families. I have not yet read either of these two books.

I will probably read Last Report On The Miracles At Little No Horse next, since I already have a copy of that book. When I can afford to buy The Master Butchers Singing Club A Novel, I will read it too--probably soon.

Reading Louise Erdrich, for me, requires a purchased book because her stories frequently require going back to earlier books to remember whose parent and whose child is whose. I feel I need to access the very complicated invisible genealogies she weaves.

She is worth the effort. Her stories are powerful, her characters are unforgettable, her prose is beautiful. She leads her characters and her readers through very rough terrain; but you care enough for them and their stories to stay with them.

Louise Erdrich is an american treasure.

Rebbie, I've said elsewhere that this was one of my favorite reads of last year. I haven't read anything else by her, but Mosca has read several and recommends her. In any case, she is now on my list of preferred authors!

Okay, I didn't see this title on the list so I'm going to throw it out there. I LOVED this book, and the reason I loved it was first of all, the author's writing. It kept me glued to the page, but it's a very literary quality, which surprised me because I'm usually drawn to a fast paced mystery. But Louise Erdrich is really talented, obviously, because another of her books was nominated for National Book Award. Has anyone read any other books by her? I want to get one, but not sure which title.