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fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a weird story. To me, it comes down to a fork in the road and a lot of questions stations with, “What if it never forked?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Infidelity, Abandonment, Child death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, War, Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Suicide
chelregel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
orangepeaches's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It's a great narrative following a family in a creative and interesting way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, and Grief
minty's review against another edition
1.0
I am simply NOT into this book at all. I suddenly was struck with the urge to check out a new book from the library in anticipation of this one ending, checked how much time I had left on this, saw it was 5 HOURS (I was 53% done) and said "life is too short." Like all Erdrich's books, it's beautifully written, but here it's about people I do not care about.
amathison's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The ending is unsatisfying. What happens with Jude? Other things are left unsettled
sungmemoonstruck's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
A meditation on jealousy, obsession, and love, a portrait of a town's transformation, and a look at the complexities of inter-generational relationships and the scars family can leave. I especially enjoyed the vivid depiction of North Dakota small-town life and the changes wrought by industrial agriculture--there's a specificity to every single detail that makes the book feel so grounded and present, even though it's set in the past. This doesn't feel as tremendous or captivating as some of Erdrich's other works, especially after rereading Love Medicine earlier this year but the quality and clarity of her writing and the complexity of her characters is remarkable as always.
catforister's review against another edition
2.0
biggest red herring of a title ever. there was nowhere in this book where i knew where it was going. it was distinctly irritating.
cardun's review against another edition
3.0
It was really well written. Her characters were all kind of terrible people but they were all set up for a life of hardship that caused them to constantly want to do the right thing but in turn do the exact opposite.
hmfl's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0