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Shadow Tag

Louise Erdrich

Start date: May 1, 2023

Finish date: May 21, 2023

Discussion: Author's Pick

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Author's Pick

Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country
By Michaela · 1 post · 15 views

last updated Oct 04, 2023 11:14AM

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By Michaela · 4 posts · 22 views

last updated Aug 09, 2023 11:33AM

What Members Thought

Jan 25, 2017 Cheryl rated it liked it

Shelves: women-and-books, the-psyche, fiction

"You have painted me for nearly fifteen years. In that time, I have had secrets. I have let them rest like dragonflies on the surface of my body."

Stencil Painting by CutandDestroy

He notices her, but he doesn't see her. So obsessed he is with her that she becomes his muse. He paints her at each stage of her life, even her "weary softness after giving birth." To him, her portrait is "Age, time. Snow slipping off a tree limb until it crashed whitely down."

He notices something within the "opacity o ...more

26 likes · Like · see review

Jul 04, 2021 Gisela Hafezparast rated it really liked it

This story is about an incredibly toxic marriage between too very selfish, viscous people. Until the end this couple is obsessed with each other, often using their children as a tool to hurt each other. As always the children are settled with an incredible emotional package for their own life. Really made me furious.

Well written and even though none of the adults are in the least likable, very good characterisation, makes you think that she knew what she was talking about.

7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 Booknblues rated it really liked it

Shelves: native-americans

Despite pictures of piney snow forests on the cover this book is far from cheery and bright and far from the close family pictured in Master Butchers. A marriage deception, a marriage of deception, a marriage of possession, a marriage construction, a marriage deconstruction. Irene, the painted and Gil, the painter:

Irene was an undisciplined reader and kept a mess of half-read books beside her bed, as well as on the coffee tables and in the bathrooms. She rarely had the patience to read one book ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 10, 2010 Lisa rated it it was ok

Shadow Tag is the story of a marriage and a family. Gil is a successful painter. His wife Irene is his model. As she becomes more and more detached and alienated, his paintings become more and more violent and border on the pornographic. Even as a social worker who has done some marital counseling, I have never seen a family that can be this sick. Maybe it's because I don't work with enough artists and geniuses or perhaps I lack the imagination. Nevertheless, the way she can never fully extricat ...more

1 like · Like · see review