Reviews

The Bingo Palace by Louise Erdrich

ththalassocracy's review

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emotional 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

3.0

booksbecreads's review

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2.0

"We're too preoccupied with setting things right to get rich"

I was disappointed in this one, I heard so many things about Louise Erdrich's writing and it just didn't drag me into the story nor flow for me

lizmart88's review

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3.0

This is a sort of sequel to Love Medicine. You can read it as a standalone though.

It always takes me a while to get into her books, but then I absolutely love them once I do. Which is to say, her style of writing is very slow and measured. She sets up the story and the characters deliberately until they feel like friends. And her writing is exquisite.

kelseak96's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

evetoi's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

renatasnacks's review

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3.0

This I didn't like as much as her first three books; I can't really put my finger on why. Perhaps the emphasis on "money doesn't necessarily make you happy!" pushed it closer to being cliche than the other books of hers that I've read?

I still liked it, but I suppose I would not recommend it as wholeheartedly as Love Medicine, the Beet Queen, or Tracks.

blanchak's review

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dark emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

deborama's review

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5.0

Next to The Round House, this goes into my favorite Erdrich books stack. I have now read La Rose, The Round House, and this, and I'm going to count Tracks as read even though I had to skip over big parts of it.

calamity3jane's review

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4.0

If you read Louise Erdritch, her characters tend to overlap, several of her novels take up minor characters and expand on thier story. This is a good example of that tendency, however, her novels are so well written that each stands alone.

careinthelibrary's review

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5.0

4.5 stars

WOW. This book!! I think this book was as good as Tracks which is one of the very best I've read so far this year. And it was the perfect book end of the readalong. I have a review of the Love Medicine series coming later, but for now, let me say this: you want to read these books. The Bingo Palace was all the best elements of Erdrich's contemporary-set novels with the added weight and scope of her historical books.

The Bingo Palace follows one of my favourite characters from Love Medicine, Lipsha. He was such a compelling character in that and he doesn't disappoint in BP. Money and resulting greed, family relationships, blood relations, the power of dance and artistry, death and those who speak beyond death, love triangles and unrequited love, and womanhood.