Reviews

The Painted Drum Lp by Louise Erdrich

juanitamfm's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5

Overall I really loved parts of this book. The second and third parts were a lot more interesting…Unfortunately the author started and ended the story with the two less interesting (in my opinion) characters. But the storytelling was like a completely different book when it was coming from Bernard’s point of view. And also Ira’s and her kids story was so sad…I could’ve used some closure there as well…like I would’ve loved to hear the baby made a quick and full recovery. I would’ve liked to know if Ira actually did choose Morris, and how the girls were doing after they left the hospital. I thought there was going to be a lot more about the lady with the lip scar…also some family trees would’ve been super helpful in this book! 
I also wanted to see if there was going to be any consequences to  Faye stealing the drum that was never supposed to be stolen or sold”.  Her story was kind of boring…like I couldn’t get why she didn’t want to be with Krahe…and I thought there was going to be more about her sister’s story. Like after she finally got up off the ground…what happened at the hospital. How did her mom find out. Stuff like that. 

surlymanor's review against another edition

5.0

“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could.”

meghayes11's review against another edition

Did not finish

kamckim's review against another edition

3.0

This is a 2005 book by Erdrich. The writing is strong, but I didn't relate to the "bookends" of the story that begin with Faye and her mother. As the reviews state, they live in New Hampshire and find a drum that connects them to their Ojibwe past on a reservation in North Dakota. The story didn't come alive until part two, "North of Hoopdance." These are the stories told about the drum from Bernard, to whom they deliver the drum. Bernard's are the compelling stories in the novel. I think Erdrich does much better with characterization and storytelling when she directly (re)creates the Native peoples (although I like Father Travis in her later novels). This story was a bit open-ended and didn't really speak to me existentially the way some of her other novels do. However, it did end on a hopeful note about new beginnings and possibilities. The good news is, Erdrich's novels have intertextuality that allows a reader to enter a world unto itself. If you've read many of her novels, you start to feel like you know everyone on the reservation. Don't let that stop you, though, because each novel stands alone as a single story as well. This one is just not my favourite, and I think her later novels are better than her earlier work.

revdeb54's review against another edition

4.0

I usually do not like Erdrich's writing. This book is captivating. I'm not sure what makes it different, but I am enjoying the plot, character development and writing style.

pattydsf's review against another edition

3.0

Absolutely amazing; I didn't think I liked Erdrich - this was just fascinating. Can't wait to talk about this at the book group.

tschonfeld's review against another edition

4.0

I love this author. I always learn something important about life when I read her work.

mnboyer's review against another edition

5.0

Bring on the mother-daughter issues!

I have to first and foremost tell you that I wrote about this novel in my Master's Thesis and actually think that is probably the second best Erdrich book to date (outdone only by [b: The Round House|13602426|The Round House|Louise Erdrich|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352999408s/13602426.jpg|19195697]). This story weaves the traditional past and the contemporary through a tribal drum that the protagonist, Faye Travers, brings back to the Ojibwe reservation.

There are clearly mother-daughter issues throughout this book. In fact, much of this novel is about mothering and motherhood and the ways in which mothers sometimes let their children down. In turn, the question is whether or not the children can every forgive their mother for her misdeeds.

Some of the flashbacks are phenomenal! Again, if you're going to read one of Erdrich's novels I really think this is one that you need to try. Erdrich is not for everyone, admittedly, but this is one of her best novels. You don't even have to read the others to follow this storyline.

lrcartee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

4.0

lindageorge's review against another edition

4.0

I guess this is one of those rare books that you want to give up on but then you don't...and you are glad you didn't. This book is rich in many ways. If you enjoy the story-telling of Native Americans, like to read about the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, and have ever felt the pangs of love and death, this book may be for you.