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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Really 3.5. Not for the faint of heart. Erdrich’s book reads both as a warning and an obituary to life as we know it. I think Part III has some problems with continuity and straining even willful suspension of disbelief, but overall, I was riveted and always enjoy Erdrich’s prose.
A dystopian novel that in some ways made me think of Atwood's Handmaid's Tale: women were valued for their reproductive abilities and controlled/imprisoned. Because "reverse evolution" is occurring, pregnant women are kept under observation and babies disappear mysteriously. In this context, Cedar, a Native American woman who has been adopted by hippie type whites, seeks her birth family to learn genetic information about herself for the sake of her unborn child. The novel is about he attempt to save her baby and herself.
The structure of the novel is as a diary written to the unborn child. As such it allows readers into Cedar's thoughts and insights (and lack of knowledge at times). Cedar's 5 month attempt to evade authorities remains interesting throughout, varied enough to avoid monotony.
I will admit to not "getting" the religious references. Perhaps on another reading.
The structure of the novel is as a diary written to the unborn child. As such it allows readers into Cedar's thoughts and insights (and lack of knowledge at times). Cedar's 5 month attempt to evade authorities remains interesting throughout, varied enough to avoid monotony.
I will admit to not "getting" the religious references. Perhaps on another reading.
I had such high hopes for this one. The premise is stellar but the delivery lacked something. It felt somewhat scattered and the cadence did not seem to match what was happening with the plot.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this as research for a book I am plotting and it was very helpful in that regard, plus written very well. It is highly scary and depressing though!
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
This book was even better than I thought it would be. The topic was engaging, the future world was believable, even if the evolution stuff was a bit pseudosciency. And despite the dystopian bent of the novel, it didn't get overly bogged down in world-building and stayed focused on the human stories and relationships which really won me over.
emotional
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:
Complicated
Exquisite and painful, but full of hope. I devoured this book, and suspect I will think about it for a very long time.