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checkplease's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
This is my third book by Louise Erdrich, and the first in her justice trilogy, which I look forward to continuing to read. “The Plague of Doves” captures how a community is composed of individuals who share common experiences and whose lives intersect, but who nevertheless each have their own particular story. I kept being reminded of how, if you throw pebbles into a lake you will see their ripples emanate out, colliding and intersecting while remaining distinct.
Erdrich’s writing, as always, is exquisite. Each character’s story has its own tone and style. The continuum runs from whimsical childhood machinations that reminded me of the wonder of To Kill a Mockingbird, to stories of love and desire, to those that capture the weight of longing and grief, to ones that explore a particular kind of darkness bordering on sadomasochism. This shifting structure is both the delight and the challenge of the book.
In an interview at the end of the paperback, Erdrich said she was intentionally trying to connect events from the past to their impact on characters in the present. I’m not sure I was able to track that so clearly. However, a second read with knowledge of the whole landscape of the town and its inhabitants would probably unlock my understanding.
There were many sharply observed moments and dazzling sentences that I paused to reread. There are also two stunning scenes of nonhuman collectives enacting a kind of violence upon the characters: the titular “plague of doves” and another arresting moment at a pivotal point. And the ending was so good that it made me question my impatience while reading earlier parts of the book. Readers who can savor the writing and surrender to not always knowing how all the pieces connect are best positioned to take in this complex and rewarding book.
This is my third book by Louise Erdrich, and the first in her justice trilogy, which I look forward to continuing to read. “The Plague of Doves” captures how a community is composed of individuals who share common experiences and whose lives intersect, but who nevertheless each have their own particular story. I kept being reminded of how, if you throw pebbles into a lake you will see their ripples emanate out, colliding and intersecting while remaining distinct.
Erdrich’s writing, as always, is exquisite. Each character’s story has its own tone and style. The continuum runs from whimsical childhood machinations that reminded me of the wonder of To Kill a Mockingbird, to stories of love and desire, to those that capture the weight of longing and grief, to ones that explore a particular kind of darkness bordering on sadomasochism. This shifting structure is both the delight and the challenge of the book.
In an interview at the end of the paperback, Erdrich said she was intentionally trying to connect events from the past to their impact on characters in the present. I’m not sure I was able to track that so clearly. However, a second read with knowledge of the whole landscape of the town and its inhabitants would probably unlock my understanding.
There were many sharply observed moments and dazzling sentences that I paused to reread. There are also two stunning scenes of nonhuman collectives enacting a kind of violence upon the characters: the titular “plague of doves” and another arresting moment at a pivotal point. And the ending was so good that it made me question my impatience while reading earlier parts of the book. Readers who can savor the writing and surrender to not always knowing how all the pieces connect are best positioned to take in this complex and rewarding book.
hayley_s's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sushi_747's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Amazing
gbeckner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
A farm family was murdered in small town North Dakota. Vigilante justice prevailed. Erdrich tells the stories of several people, both white and native, who's lives were altered by the crime and the subsequent retribution. The reader gets a good sense of a small town in the upper midwest and the people who inhabit such places.
luvandkiwi's review against another edition
1.0
I put this book down after chapter three. I just couldn't get into it at all. Wondering if anyone else had the same issues.
elaba25's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
tlctbr's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant and beautifully written. I liked it even better than The Master Butcher's Singing Club. To me, this book really seemed like a collection of short stories that fit perfectly together into a novel, but unlike Olive Kitteridge, it didn't feel at all like a gimmick. Definitely a book I will revisit.