Play Book Tag discussion

My intellectual side said I should have liked this book so much more than I did:

Strong premise - check
Good use of the English language - check
Interesting multicultural details - check
Dark (which I generally like) - check
Character development - check

And yet, I did not like it much at all. The premise is that a father accidentally shoots and kills a young boy, Dusty. Then in the Indian tradition (wondering if this truly is a tradition), the family gives their own son, LaRose, to Dusty's family. Such an intriguing premise. The book follows both families, and we learn about each of the members, plus there's several subplots woven in.

Emotionally, it didn't resonate with me, but worse, it was boring. There were 4-5 dramatic moments, and those moments were truly interesting. But they were punctuated by long periods of nothingness . . .a litany of "telling details" in endless paragraphs. The latter third of the book had almost no chapter breaks which I also find annoying.

The story also jumps around in time and place incessantly which makes it very difficult to attach to the plotline and the characters. Generally, I'm not a fan of this type of structure, but I can appreciate it when it is done well. Here, I felt it only served to distance me from the present day characters . . .

Speaking of characters, they were so flawed, so depressing. With one exception - - Maggie (and perhaps the titular character, LaRose) - I honestly didn't care.at.all what happened to anyone. Really. They could of all died, and I would have yawned.

My patience was just worn thin, and the whole second half of the book, I felt like I was literally counting down the pages until it was done. The few dramatic moments propelled me, and I kept thinking "Ahh, we've turned the corner!". But no.

I like her work, but reading this review convinces me that I should stay away from this one.

Jgrace wrote: "I like her work, but reading this review convinces me that I should stay away from this one."

I am actually willing to try another book by her - - there were elements of her writing that I appreciated. Not sure if I just didn't like this particular book, or if she's a writer I'm just not going to connect with . . .which one of hers did you enjoy most?

The first one I read was because of a PBT tag. It was the longest,but I liked it best: The Master Butchers Singing Club. It follows a more traditional historical fiction story arc. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse was a bit harder to follow but there was a lot of sly humor to balance the ugliness.
I like her best when she's handling historical subjects. Her contemporary characters are so self destructive and unlikeable.

I can't remember if I've read only 1 or if I've read 2 by her. I do plan to read more. Sounds like I should bypass this one, though as you say, Anita, it's a great premise.

The one I really enjoyed was a children's book, though. It reminded me of a Native "Little House on the Prairie", if that's appealing: The Birchbark House

I agree with Jgrace that Master Butchers might be your best bet. Turns out to be the one with least Native American content. For other readers considering LaRose it could be a gamble that you would be bored like Anita with the slow sections or not engage emotionally with the characters. So far 3/4 of my GR friends liked it 4 or more stars. I've read 11 or her books, and this one felt close to a masterpiece for me, a sort of a parable of how children can find a path to heal the cultural trauma to Indians over the generations.

Michael wrote: ".this one felt close to a masterpiece for me, a sort of a parable of how children can find a path to heal the cultural trauma to Indians over the generations. ."

Count on you, Michael, to see things more deeply. I appreciate that nugget of wisdom before my f2f book club meeting. Smart.

Michael wrote: "I agree with Jgrace that Master Butchers might be your best bet. Turns out to be the one with least Native American content. For other readers considering LaRose it could be a gamble that you would..."

Also, others should pay attention to your ratings analysis. I could very well be an anomaly in how I viewed this one . . .maybe because I went in expecting to enjoy it. Sometimes I'm much more forgiving if I'm reading say, a classic, because I go in expecting it might have dull portions, but that the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. But when I pick up contemporary fiction, I honestly expect to be very engaged . . .

LibraryCin wrote: "I can't remember if I've read only 1 or if I've read 2 by her. I do plan to read more. Sounds like I should bypass this one, though as you say, Anita, it's a great premise.

The one I really enjoy..."

Read Michael's review before you opt to bypass. Definitely wasn't my thing, but he makes a great case for it.

I have to admit that I am not hating this. I am about 30% through the audio and I am intrigued. It is definitely bleak and there is little to like about the main characters, but I was mentally prepared for that given what I know about Erdrich's writing. I also admit that I used to work on Native American issues when I worked for Congress, and I find the entire governmental structure to be fascinating, and frustrating at times.*

I do have one question though: (view spoiler)[I think I missed something. Who is the 11-year old girl who has been sold (?) to the settler guys? I think it is a man and his son? I feel like I missed something very important at the start of her story and now I can't figure it out. Is it is a historical story? I have read some reviews that make me think she is the original LaRose? But, I don't think she has a name at this point. Though her mother was Mink? I do find this confusing, mainly because I think I spaced out during critical information. (hide spoiler)]

Also, I would not recommend listening to this one on audio. It swaps perspective pretty quickly and there aren't a lot of audible cues as to when that happens. Also, it is read by the author and I think she should stick to writing....

*Coincidentally, I am reading the new Grisham book, The Whistler, and it is also about Native American issues related to gambling in Florida! I wish the theme this month was Native Americans!

Nicole R wrote: "I have to admit that I am not hating this. I am about 30% through the audio and I am intrigued. It is definitely bleak and there is little to like about the main characters, but I was mentally prep..."

Well you are hitting upon one of the reasons I struggled with this book.

(view spoiler)[ The girl who is sold to the settler is the original LaRose. So yes, you are going back in time. There are very few cues to the reader that this is the case. I had no idea for awhile.

Turns out there will be five LaRoses - - we get the story of some of them. It is not the man and his son, but rather the man and an employee. The employee (Wolfred) takes pity on this girl and basically saves her from the other guy.

Here is a paragraph that is on page 290 that is very explanatory and helpful. I personally don't feel it spoils the book, but you might, so I will just give you the bones of it. I left out some key things that haven't occurred yet. I felt it illuminates the backstory, because I struggled with the same questions you had for AGES.

"There are five LaRoses. First the LaRose who . . .married Wolfred, taught her children the shape of the world and traveled that world as a set of stolen bones. Second, her daughter, LaRose, who went to Carlisle. This LaRose got tuberculosis . . and like the first LaRose fought it off again and again. Lived long enough to become the mother of the third LaRose, who went to Fort Totten and bore the fourth LaRose, who eventually became the mother of Emmaline, the teacher of . . . . The fourth LaRose also became the grandmother of the last LaRose, who was given to the Ravich family by his parents in exchange for a won accidentally killed."

So, you will get the story of the first LaRose and the fourth LaRose and the fifth LaRose.

I never felt quite clear on any of this until I got to this paragraph. On PAGE 290 (hide spoiler)]

Glad you are otherwise enjoying it though! I probably lowered your expectations really well ;)

Nicole R - you just hit on one of the things that bugged me most about it.

Nicole R wrote: "Also, I would not recommend listening to this one on audio. It swaps perspective pretty quickly and there aren't a lot of audible cues as to when that happens. Also, it is read by the author and I think she should stick to writing....
"

I made the decision yesterday to switch from the audio to ebook as soon as I finished my current book. I just found my place in the ebook and will begin reading instead of listening at bedtime. I thought I would enjoy reading it more.

Anita, that was amazingly helpful!! Thank you!

And yes, you and Nikki D lowered my expectations super far which may be why I am pleasantly surprised by it! So, thanks for that too ;)

I'm reading The Round House, which is depressing but I'm not e at Lynne enjoying it because of the subject matter. But I'm intrigued.

The Round House was top book for the year the year I read it. Impactful.