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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was one of my least favorite Louise Erdrich books, which is a bummer because she's normally spot on in terms of my favorite literary style. It's possible that I reacted to it so badly because I'm reading this in the middle of the coronavirus, but honestly, I just wasn't that interested or committed to the characters. I really liked Ed, but that was the only character I felt any affection for.
I should also probably say that I'm not a big fan of apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction. I thought maybe this would be different because I love Erdrich's writing so much, but I think her voice just didn't work as well in this story. And somehow the ending was enormously unsatisfying.
Anyway, not my favorite.
I should also probably say that I'm not a big fan of apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction. I thought maybe this would be different because I love Erdrich's writing so much, but I think her voice just didn't work as well in this story. And somehow the ending was enormously unsatisfying.
Anyway, not my favorite.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While the main character felt a bit flat, this story struck a sense of fear in me. The fast-paced nature and confusion really reflected how this type of situation might go down in real life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
L. Erdrich has really accomplished another milestone, which is crossing her genre into another. Not that this is uncharted journey, (c McCarthy’s the road…etc) the ease in which her storytelling adapts to dystopia (also how close we were to a dystopian future under our own narcissist president). I flew through this novel, in a spell of the author’s wit, absorbed into the cold Minnesota future, & now I want to read another book.
About the end of the novel, well, it’s heartbreaking, and I cried. This is a book I will recommend for years.
About the end of the novel, well, it’s heartbreaking, and I cried. This is a book I will recommend for years.
I liked the concept of the apocalypse going and and was intrigued by the descriptive and beautiful writing. I found the story too vague about what all was going on in the world and although I realise it's probably really how it would be in a situation like that, not knowing what is going on most of the time, I found it too difficult to keep track of what I knew and how it all fitted in the story. Also the mentioning of angels and the way religion was fit in didn't really apeal to me. I did like the way the story ends.
nah brah: meandering thoughts on philosophy and religion are not my thing
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Despite the sci-fi aspect of evolution going backwards, in many ways this feels like the most realistic apocalyptic vision for how society will eventually collapse/change. Scary, sad, and beautiful.