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valentina_legge's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-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
lindsayb's review
4.0
Holy cow--I just counted up and found this is the 13th book of Louise Erdrich's I've read. Lucky 13, eh? I will say that the pacing was kind of clunky and it wasn't as seamlessly nuanced as some of her other books, but I also kind of didn't care. This still got me smiling and laughing and holding my breath in parts. This is Fleur's story--or more of it--but it's easy to lose sight of it. Nanapush and Margaret still reign supreme, and in a way, their moments felt like a little extension from The Last Report..., which I absolutely welcomed. That end, though. *low whistle*
clem's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Grief, and Medical content
Ethnocide, colonial traumaspeculativebecky's review
5.0
Erdrich is a masterful storyteller, I feel privileged to be able to get back into these characters' stories.
gorecki's review
5.0
She threw out one soul and it came back hungry.
With the fascination I have for Louise Erdrich and the reservation world she has created in her work, I am most probably a biased reader. There simply isn't a book of Erdrich's I haven't enjoyed and loved so far. For those who've read Four Souls without reading any of her earlier books, it might be hard to understand what the fuss is all about. For those who have already read some of her previous work (especially Tracks) this book might resonate very strongly. If you would like to start reading her novels now, I can only recommend to start at the beginning so you can fully enjoy this Ojibwe world.
Four Souls is the continuation of Fleur Pillager's story from where it was last left off in Tracks. After losing her land and after all the trees on it have been cut down, Fleur picks up the bones of her ancestors, changes her name to Four Souls (her mother's spirit name), and goes out into the city to seek revenge. The book merits and builds up on the stories of other characters as well - Nanapush, Margaret Kashpaw, and Polly Elizabeth are all part of the narration, and with their own personal stories they help build up Fleur's tale of loss, revenge, and acceptance.
What always hits home for me in Erdrich's writing is her ability to narrate two or three separate stories, which usually seem not to have any connection with each other at all. Like the loose ends of different colored threads while weaving a carpet - one goes this way, another goes that way, until in the end they meet and create a perfect pattern. This is also true for all of her novels - taken separately they each go in a different direction, but together they are all connected and show a perfect world full of people and the connections between them. In her work, Louise Erdrich has created an array of characters and places you get to know better and better when reading her work. After meeting with them so many times in so many of her novels, I've grown to know them and become fond of them. Nanapush with his constant tricks, jokes, and jealousy. Mary Kashpaw with her quick temper and religiousness. Fleur with her knowledge of the spirit world, quiet and observant personality, and love for gambling. I feel as if they are real people I've always known, with their own personality and character. With Fleur being my favorite one, I was more than thrilled to see how her story continues and what happens to her after losing her land, and I must say that in showing me that, Four Souls took me through anger, sadness, and acceptance.
This was a brilliantly narrated story (as always), told with an incredible understanding of the soul. Of all four souls.
With the fascination I have for Louise Erdrich and the reservation world she has created in her work, I am most probably a biased reader. There simply isn't a book of Erdrich's I haven't enjoyed and loved so far. For those who've read Four Souls without reading any of her earlier books, it might be hard to understand what the fuss is all about. For those who have already read some of her previous work (especially Tracks) this book might resonate very strongly. If you would like to start reading her novels now, I can only recommend to start at the beginning so you can fully enjoy this Ojibwe world.
Four Souls is the continuation of Fleur Pillager's story from where it was last left off in Tracks. After losing her land and after all the trees on it have been cut down, Fleur picks up the bones of her ancestors, changes her name to Four Souls (her mother's spirit name), and goes out into the city to seek revenge. The book merits and builds up on the stories of other characters as well - Nanapush, Margaret Kashpaw, and Polly Elizabeth are all part of the narration, and with their own personal stories they help build up Fleur's tale of loss, revenge, and acceptance.
What always hits home for me in Erdrich's writing is her ability to narrate two or three separate stories, which usually seem not to have any connection with each other at all. Like the loose ends of different colored threads while weaving a carpet - one goes this way, another goes that way, until in the end they meet and create a perfect pattern. This is also true for all of her novels - taken separately they each go in a different direction, but together they are all connected and show a perfect world full of people and the connections between them. In her work, Louise Erdrich has created an array of characters and places you get to know better and better when reading her work. After meeting with them so many times in so many of her novels, I've grown to know them and become fond of them. Nanapush with his constant tricks, jokes, and jealousy. Mary Kashpaw with her quick temper and religiousness. Fleur with her knowledge of the spirit world, quiet and observant personality, and love for gambling. I feel as if they are real people I've always known, with their own personality and character. With Fleur being my favorite one, I was more than thrilled to see how her story continues and what happens to her after losing her land, and I must say that in showing me that, Four Souls took me through anger, sadness, and acceptance.
This was a brilliantly narrated story (as always), told with an incredible understanding of the soul. Of all four souls.
_anna_banana_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sadieruin's review against another edition
4.0
I think this book really has an interesting dual narrative going between a traditional First Nations/Native American and a colonizer. The themes of revenge and how they take a toll on a person in all ways, and the jarring disconnection of attempts at self assimilation are beautifully written.
martha_g's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
literaryinfatuation's review against another edition
4.0
“Time is like water in which we live, and we breathe it like fish. It’s hard to swim against the current.” - Louise Erdrich, Four Souls.
In “Four Souls”, Erdrich picks up where she left Nanapush, Margaret and Fleur after Tracks. Told through the voices of Nanapush, Polly Elizabeth (sister-in-law to the man who took the Pillagers’ land) and Margaret, we learn of the characters thirst for revenge. I loved not only the amazing plot, but the duplicity of Erdrich’s characters. Nanapush is wise and foolish; Fleur is powerful and powerless and Margaret is both a practical woman and a dreamer, loving and distant. This sequel made me love Nanapush even more and showed a more human side to Fleur. The only BUT is that I didn’t like how Polly Elizabeth ended up. But you be the judge.
In “Four Souls”, Erdrich picks up where she left Nanapush, Margaret and Fleur after Tracks. Told through the voices of Nanapush, Polly Elizabeth (sister-in-law to the man who took the Pillagers’ land) and Margaret, we learn of the characters thirst for revenge. I loved not only the amazing plot, but the duplicity of Erdrich’s characters. Nanapush is wise and foolish; Fleur is powerful and powerless and Margaret is both a practical woman and a dreamer, loving and distant. This sequel made me love Nanapush even more and showed a more human side to Fleur. The only BUT is that I didn’t like how Polly Elizabeth ended up. But you be the judge.
agadbois's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning is rough, but the last 30 pages contain some of the most beautiful storytelling I've ever read. Louise Erdrich is a masterful author.