Reviews

Four Souls by Louise Erdrich

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

4.0

Another wonderful book in the Love Medicine series by Louise Erdrich. I thoroughly enjoyed my read of this. Four Souls dealt more with culture clashes, syncretism, and strategic code-switching and those are some of favourite themes for novels. Although I did really race through Four Souls, I have some hesitation arises from how this novel doesn't seem to stand up as a standalone. I'm not sure how you could read this book and find it rich in character development without having previously read Tracks. So I recommend first reading Tracks if you're interested in picking up this series. That being said, I did read Tracks, so I loved revisiting familiar faces. Nanapush, Margaret, Fleur. Seeing where they are further down the path of life. How they have changed since the loss of their land. Fleur was definitely a compelling character in Four Souls, but I missed her true perspective. I felt we were seeing her actions through the eyes of another for the majority of the novel. I wanted to be inside her head and understand her motivations and anxieties and I missed that intimate character study. However, the portions of the novel narrated by Nanapush were even more witty and sly than his portion in Tracks. He had me laughing out loud as his craftiness unfolding. Ultimately, whether or not this stands on its own two feet without Tracks, it was enjoyable for me and I am so glad I started reading this series.

anoraborealis's review

funny reflective 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? Yes

5.0

I love Louise Erdrich and her varied narratives, all the different character perspectives and storylines and Fleur is such a. fascinating character. 

eunicek82's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

4.0

Love the perspectives of Nanapush and Polly Elizabeth. Love learning more about Fleur. 

juliamascioli's review

4.0

I had a little trouble getting into this book, but it ended up being well worth the time. I read this because I'd read (and loved) Tracks, and wanted to know what happens next. So if you haven't read Tracks, remedy that as soon as possible.

Both books center around Fleur Pillager, though neither is told from her perspective. Both books are told in alternating POV chapters from Nanapush and another character. In Tracks, they're all directly involved in the action though, whereas Four Souls takes a little while to get going because the narrative feels rather distant and un-urgent (what's the word for that?). Around the halfway mark though, one of the POV characters developed his own storyline independent of Fleur and became very wrapped up in that. I was unsure how things would come together (or if they would) but the end was quite lovely and satisfying.

mrjess_bhs's review

5.0

It took a second to get into Erdrich’s style and flow, but once I did, I really enjoyed this book. Every character has such beautiful duality: courage and cowardice, vengeance and love, wisdom and folly. This is steeped in some deeply painful history of land theft and cultural genocide experienced by the Ojibwe people and yet the book has resonant hope. 

eyeudall's review

inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.0

msmoodyreader's review

emotional funny reflective fast-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

5.0

kiddisafailure's review

challenging hopeful inspiring relaxing 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

4.25

ldubuque's review

5.0

I love that when I travel I know that any Louise Erdrich novel is the perfect find. Four Souls gave another look into the lives of several excellent characters from previous novels.

rachelsmall's review

reflective 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

2.75