2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss The Round House by Louise Erdrich.

Pages: 323 pages

Length: 1 month (July)

Participants: Rebecca, Valerie, Lorraine, Lulo

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Planning to start this at the weekend. I read her book The Sentence last year and really enjoyed it.

I should start beginning of next week. My first book from her.

Read the first two chapters today and am impressed by her writing so far.
I particularly appreciate how (view spoiler)[ she is able to convey the sheer horror of the attack without resorting to graphic detail. I literally shuddered at the mention of the dropped book of matches. (hide spoiler)]
I like how she explores the complexities of both the range of characters and the context of their lives.
I’m wondering (view spoiler)[ if Geraldine knew her attacker and the significance of Randall’s vision (hide spoiler)]

Hi!
I probably gonna start reading this July 15th, or so.
Didn't read anything from her.

End of chapter 6. She’s certainly a good storyteller. Interesting to see how things weave together. Lots of interesting and complex characters.
I really like (view spoiler)[ the way she depicts the relationship between the teenage friends. Reminds me of the film ‘Stand by me’. (hide spoiler)]
I’m wondering (view spoiler)[ why Geraldine was at the round house and what the mysterious file contains (hide spoiler)]
Now that we can rule out (view spoiler)[ the priest, is Linden the suspect? Or is that another false trail? (hide spoiler)]

I am also at the end of Chapter 6 and agree with you that is a very good storyteller. I also agree that the author was able(view spoiler)[ to convey the horror of the rape and yes, the matches, without too many graphic details, which are in fact unnecessary when you think about it. (hide spoiler)]
Questions: (view spoiler)[ Why is no one asking Geraldine who called her before she went to the Round House and why did she go? Her reaction to her son questions makes this suspicious…Is she having an affair that turns ugly?
Linden: I For now the story does not say if Geraldine knows him or not. So it could be a rapist but maybe not the one that assaulted Geraldine. (hide spoiler)]

Lulo wrote: "Hi!
I probably gonna start reading this July 15th, or so.
Didn't read anything from her."

Welcome Lulo.

Thank you!

Lorraine wrote: "I am also at the end of Chapter 6 and agree with you that is a very good storyteller. I also agree that the author was able[spoilers removed]
Questions: Why is no one asking Geraldine who called h..."
I agree that (view spoiler)[ the phone call is key to this and that something is being hidden (hide spoiler)]

Caution: Do not read spoiler if you haven’t finished the book! Loved the book (view spoiler)[ even though I am a bit uncomfortable with the ending. Not sure I liked that Joe and Cappy takes justice into their hands. But I do understand why Joe feels he have to protect his mother when justice cannot do it. The sad part is that he will have to live with himself and what he did for many years… (hide spoiler)] I will certainly read other books from her.

End of chapter 9. Events certainly moved on quickly with the main plot.
Now we understand (view spoiler)[ Geraldine’s reason for withholding information in order to protect the child. Still waiting to find out what was in the file and how this links to Lark and the Governor. And then there’s the money, how does that fit in? Still plenty of mystery to unravel (hide spoiler)]
Not surprised (view spoiler)[ that Lark is currently set free. I feel he will end up dead but that remains to be seen (hide spoiler)]
Can imagine quite a lot of different posible endings.

Wow that was quite some ending.
(view spoiler)[ the idea of taking the law into your own hands is controversial but Lark definitely deserved what he got. Just a shame it had to be the kids responsibility- the law in this case is certainly shameful (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[ I was lulled into expecting a different kind of ending so Cappy’s death came as a shock (hide spoiler)]
I thought this book was a really skilful blending of crime novel, social commentary and exploration of coming of age. Definitely going to read more of her books.

Ended Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[I agree that the rape description is very good and guting without the need of to much detail.
So far, don't think that Geraldine was having and affaire, but I do think she went to the round house trying to fix something or do something behind his husband's back, and feel that she knew her attacker.
Also, I suspect that the role of the priest in the story is not over, and he will reappear for something good. (hide spoiler)]

Oohhh…this was such a great book, IMO!!