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jesassa's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written, a bit eerie at points, and certainly remarkable.
mellowbry's review against another edition
4.0
Pauline reminds me too much of Daisy from The Great Gatsby. Why? Because I tried to like them at first but then they did terrible things and now I hate them. ✨
dfoley614's review against another edition
3.0
I wish they had a 3.5 stars button. I enjoyed the book, especially from Nanapush's perspective. Pauline's sections, however, were very confusing because it was difficult to know what was fact or fiction
rosetea12345's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mnboyer's review against another edition
3.0
Tracks offers us the backstory of several characters found in Erdrich's extended storylines. Narrated in part by Pauline and in part by Nanapush, the story follows mostly the story of Lulu (Nanapush's granddaughter, to whom he is telling many of these stories). Lulu is the daughter of Fleur Pillager, who does not seem to be interested in mothering. She ends up sending Lulu away to a government run school in order to be rid of her. As one can imagine, Lulu resents her mother and does not want to have anything to do with her. A true elder figure, Nanapush attempts to reunite the two by telling the backstory of Fleur's life--hoping that Lulu will understand why things ended up the way they did. Pauline comes into the story because, as she is learning to be a healer, she ends up helping Fleur give birth to Lulu.
It is helpful to know that Nanapush is somewhat of a trickster figure. Pauline, on the other hand, has to carefully weave traditional Ojibwe information with more contemporary Christian doctrines--creating a story that at times threatens traditional knowledge and ways of life. Particularly interesting are the moments of birthing that are discussed in the novel. Fleur clearly does not seem to want to have Lulu, but her reasoning is often justified through her own trauma.
One of Erdrich's well-known novels, and one that offers good backstory and insight to many characters, but compared to other works this seems to be in the middle (3-star range) in terms of writing, plot, etc.
It is helpful to know that Nanapush is somewhat of a trickster figure. Pauline, on the other hand, has to carefully weave traditional Ojibwe information with more contemporary Christian doctrines--creating a story that at times threatens traditional knowledge and ways of life. Particularly interesting are the moments of birthing that are discussed in the novel. Fleur clearly does not seem to want to have Lulu, but her reasoning is often justified through her own trauma.
One of Erdrich's well-known novels, and one that offers good backstory and insight to many characters, but compared to other works this seems to be in the middle (3-star range) in terms of writing, plot, etc.
themarinaraera's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. Erdrich’s language is stunning, captivating, terrifying, and emotive. I’ve never felt so scared yet empowered by a character as with Fleur Pillager. This novel is intense, yet soft and tender all at once. It’s a rollercoaster.
bilingworm's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I blazed through this masterpiece. The author captures the grief of a native tribe’s numbered survivors after waves of illness claim 90% of their family members, and then goes on to detail all the myriad ways they engaged with the colonizers’ society. It is an intricate, informative, and eye-opening narrative, peppered with humor and all the best parts of love and life just as it is imbued with sadness and loss.
kenzwils's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really liked the second half of this! I had a difficult time continuing to pick it up during the first half - I was afraid it was going to be one of those books that's more a series of vignettes that are loosely connected. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. There's interesting stuff in here about the end of a people and their way of life, christianity and it's conquest of native life, and - of course - nature. It's almost dreamlike in how the plot unfolds. Sometimes you're not entirely sure how you got to a certain point, but it makes sense within the story as a whole. Overall I didn't love it, but I am interested in picking up more Erdrich and I'm glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, and Child death
dreadpirateroberts's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0