Conversations with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris

by Allan Chavkin (Editor), Nancy Feyl Chavkin (Editor), Louise Erdrich

Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris, the most prominent writers of Native American descent, collaborate on all their works. In these interviews, conducted both separately and jointly, they discuss how their writing moves from conception to completion and how The Beet Queen , Tracks , A Yellow Raft in Blue Water , and The Crown of Columbus have been enhanced by both their artistic and their matrimonial union.

Being of mixed blood and having lived in both white and Native American worlds, they give an original perspective on American society. Sometimes with humor and always with refreshing candor, their discussions undermine the damaging stereotypes of Native Americans. Some of the interviews focus on their nonfiction book, The Broken Cord , which recounts the struggle to solve their adopted son's health problems from fetal alcohol syndrome. Included are two recent interviews published here for the first time. In this collection, Erdrich and Dorris tell why they have chosen to write about many varying subjects and of why they refuse to be imprisoned in a literary ghetto of writers whose only subjects are Native Americans.

Genres: Nonfiction

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Celeste Trimble · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have had a very hard time dealing with the truth and rumors surrounding the Dorris/Erdrich writing relationship and marriage. When I read this book, I was looking for some insight, something to lead me to believe something strongly. However, it was rather dry and told me things I knew already. Was Dorris abusing the children? A friend of mine says no way, he was a friend of her family and no way no way was what I heard. What was the reason behind his suicide when confronted? Is this even the reality of what happened?

These things do not detract in any way from the immeasurable power of the books these two wrote together. They are some of my truest loves in print.

[Jerry Bunin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. The 20 interviews seemed very redundant, seemingly focusing time after time on the somewhat unusual editing relationship between Erdrich and Dorris and not enough about the stories and characters in their books.

The passage of time also made the book less relevant. It portrays an almost idealistic marriage between them and needed to be updated to reflect a newer reality. Just a few short years after this book was published, Dorris was accused of child molesting, the marriage was over, and he committed suicide.

That left the already boring interviews further burdened with having focused on presenting an inaccurate portrait of Erdrich's and Dorris relationship and made all their comments about each other unworthy of attention.

The only interview I found interesting was the last two, conducted with Dorris and Erdrich separately by the book's editors Allan Chavkin and Nancy Feyl Chavkin. They asked questions that I wanted to know as a reader about plot and characters and the novelists opinions.

I had hoped for more, especially since she is such a challenging but interesting writer that such critical works should illuminate and didn't. So I don't recommend this book.

[Bobby Horecka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the books I helped put together while working as a teaching assistant in English Department during my undergraduate years in San Marcos during the early 1990s. It was also one of those projects that instilled in interest in producing books that never left. My work on this book was mostly clerical in nature—transcribing taped interviews, mainly—though I did help craft the index and format a few bibliographies. I appreciate Dr. Chavkin giving me the opportunity.