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What Members Thought
Brother, I said, what made you come to the overlook?
I was always there, said Cappy. Every morning. I always had your back.
I thought so, I said. And then we slept.
This is a case of a really great book that I just didn't love. I'm not sure why exactly I didn't love it, I think there were quite a few small reasons that all added up.
Part of it is that I don't love magical realism, and I have little patience with ghosts.
Part of it is that I'm not overly fond of coming-of-age stories.
Part of it ...more
This book was phenomenal. I couldn't put it down - it's a mystery/thriller, but it's really good so usually people class it as literary fiction, it seems (that's a rant for another time).
Erdrich is skillful at weaving social issues and cultural traditions of Native peoples (in this case, Anishinaabe/Chippewa), near constantly, into the story in a way that doesn't seem contrived. The subtlety with which she does so creates a strong sense of place, and for me, that always makes a novel better. Th ...more
Erdrich is skillful at weaving social issues and cultural traditions of Native peoples (in this case, Anishinaabe/Chippewa), near constantly, into the story in a way that doesn't seem contrived. The subtlety with which she does so creates a strong sense of place, and for me, that always makes a novel better. Th ...more
Part powerful coming of age story, part portrait of life on the Rez in the 80s, part illumination of the struggles between the forces of native, state, and federal law enforcement and the particular issue of violence against native women, this is a lovely novel. Once again I strongly disagree with the reviewers who hate on the book for its structure, it's interweaving of Native American history, cultural identities, familial relationships and the plot that gives the book it's through-line. This
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I really want to call this the Anishinaabe or Chippewa version of To Kill a Mockingbird, but I think that undersells it. I do think this book could credibly replace or supplement To Kill a Mockingbird whereever that book is required reading however. It started off hard and I was skeptical; definitely needs a trigger warning for sexual violence and injustice. I knew nothing about it, and that first chapter drove me away for a bit, but when I came back to it, I loved parts of it. The depiction of
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I want to re-read this before I can write a review, because I want to dig into this much more and really think about how Erdrich does what she does, so very well. It is rich and heart-breaking and wonderful.
An unsettling read, with lots of twists and turns. Told as retrospective but in a way that vibrates with currency. I remember Erdrich from high school- this is not a school book, but a raw investigation into reality. Very much enjoyed it, if you can enjoy the shattering of innocence and a world where the law precludes justice.
Even though Joe, the main character/narrator, references/gives away one of the final events early on, the ending of this literary mystery is an emotional stunner. I was hooked all the way through by a plot that was unrushed yet compelling and by writing that makes you forget there's an author. No wonder "The Roundhouse" won a National Book Award.
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Nov 12, 2012
Julianne Dunn
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2016-read-harder
Jan 05, 2019
Christina MOVED TO STORYGRAPH Perucci
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own
Mar 15, 2014
Kristina
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned-but-neglected,
read-my-own-damn-books
Jul 27, 2016
CoCo
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
award-wine-ing-book-club,
own
