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craftygoat's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this narrative (audiobook was the perfect way to listen to the narrators tell their tales). It's the story of the strong, determined, amazing Fleur Pillager, told from a variety of perspectives. I especially enjoyed getting to hear Margaret's side towards the end of the novel. Satisfying. Definitely will be reading more from Louise Erdrich.
kelseak96's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
em_harring's review against another edition
4.0
[3.75 stars]
I liked this continuation of the characters from Tracks, but I did have two qualms:
* Where, in this entire novel, was Lulu? Did she live with Margaret and Nanapush and just...stay in the woods? I was confused.
* Why, oh why, can't we get POV chapters from Fleur. She's the most interesting character, and we never hear from her. I just wanted to read from her perspective.
I liked this continuation of the characters from Tracks, but I did have two qualms:
* Where, in this entire novel, was Lulu? Did she live with Margaret and Nanapush and just...stay in the woods? I was confused.
* Why, oh why, can't we get POV chapters from Fleur. She's the most interesting character, and we never hear from her. I just wanted to read from her perspective.
half_book_and_co's review against another edition
5.0
4,5
Following the events of "Tracks", Fleur Pillager - taking on the name of her mother, Four Souls - leaves her home and arrives at the doorstep of John James Mauser, the man who has taken her land. It follows a story of righting wrongs, the tremendous steps Four Souls takes to do this, and the toll it takes on her. Like Tracks, this novel is not written from her perspective but told through the eyes of onlookers and participants who have their own stakes and own complex life stories. I find it really astonishing that Tracks was published in 1988 and Four Souls only in 2004 - they do fit so seamlessly. Erdrich is just one of the most enthralling storytellers I know, her craft is so astonishing, her sentences beautiful, and her characters full of life and full of life's complexities. And while she writes about the violence of colonialism, grief, and pain, she also imparts humour, shows tenacity and resistance - and especially in Four Tracks allows her characters to heal. Though this healing does not come easy either.
There are names that go on through the generations with calm persistence. Names that heal a person just for taking them, and names that destroy. Names that travel, names that bring you home, names you only mutter in the deep water of your sleep. Names that bring memory of painful attachments and names lost to time and the reckonings of chance. Names are throwaway treasures. Names hold the sweetness of youth, bring back faces and unsettling resemblances. Names acquire their own life and drag the person on their own path for their own reasons, which we can't know. There are names that gutter out and die and then spring back, distinguished. Names that go on through time and trouble, names to hold on your tongue for luck. Names to fear. Such a name was Four Souls.
Following the events of "Tracks", Fleur Pillager - taking on the name of her mother, Four Souls - leaves her home and arrives at the doorstep of John James Mauser, the man who has taken her land. It follows a story of righting wrongs, the tremendous steps Four Souls takes to do this, and the toll it takes on her. Like Tracks, this novel is not written from her perspective but told through the eyes of onlookers and participants who have their own stakes and own complex life stories. I find it really astonishing that Tracks was published in 1988 and Four Souls only in 2004 - they do fit so seamlessly. Erdrich is just one of the most enthralling storytellers I know, her craft is so astonishing, her sentences beautiful, and her characters full of life and full of life's complexities. And while she writes about the violence of colonialism, grief, and pain, she also imparts humour, shows tenacity and resistance - and especially in Four Tracks allows her characters to heal. Though this healing does not come easy either.
kymme's review against another edition
4.0
A sometimes-haunting, often-lovely book about people losing everything, and some gaining something back. Elizabeth's story is hilarious and continually surprising--the end of her narrative was my favorite part of this book. I was really interested in Fleur's arc most of all, though, so while I enjoyed other threads of the story, I often felt impatient to get back to hers. Erdich rewarded me with Fleur's spectacular poker game scene ever near the end.
Also a few passages I liked in particular:
The hilarious end of the scene where Elizabeth and Fleur meet, and Fleur is instructed to call her "Miss Gheen, not Elizabeth":
"Not Elizabeth," she repeated, looking straight into my eyes. ˆNot Elizabethˆ it was after that.
And this:
"You heal by taking on the pain of others, by going down to argue with death itself, by swallowing the sharp bone and vomiting the sickness out in your own blood. [...] There was nothing--no act, no murder, no betrayal, no agony--that she was not prepared to accomplish in order to save her girl" (52).
And this, from Nanapush:
"In one night, I made up for all of the years of the blood of Christ that I had missed. I drank a whole keg."
Also a few passages I liked in particular:
The hilarious end of the scene where Elizabeth and Fleur meet, and Fleur is instructed to call her "Miss Gheen, not Elizabeth":
"Not Elizabeth," she repeated, looking straight into my eyes. ˆNot Elizabethˆ it was after that.
And this:
"You heal by taking on the pain of others, by going down to argue with death itself, by swallowing the sharp bone and vomiting the sickness out in your own blood. [...] There was nothing--no act, no murder, no betrayal, no agony--that she was not prepared to accomplish in order to save her girl" (52).
And this, from Nanapush:
"In one night, I made up for all of the years of the blood of Christ that I had missed. I drank a whole keg."
han_reads_13579's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
3.75
gorecki's review against another edition
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.
jamiesbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
There were a lot of good things about this book. I really liked the writing style and the way the story was told. I believe the author has a great grasp of her characters and the lives they live. That made the book feel more life like and interesting.
With that said, I can't recommend this book. This story wanders around more than a dog on a hike.
It is clear on Story Graph that this book is part of a series or ongoing universe of characters. But on my copy there is no indication that it is anything other than a stand alone. It just says "A Novel" and lists some of the authors other works.
There are some references to the plot points of other stories. A hint at a history between two characters. While it was annoying that I didn't have the full background, it didn't make it that hard to read.
My issue is that like 40% of the book is not about the main story. This is advertised as "Fleur's revenge", that's all that is talked about on the back cover, that's what the discussion section at the end of the book says.
The three longest chapters are about Nanapush chasing after his wife because he thinks she's cheating? And then he steals her dress and runs around acting silly?? It felt farcical!! The very serious story of revenge stopped to play out a comedy of errors.
I like the framing devise of Nanapush and Polly Elizabeth telling Fleur's story. I even liked Polly Elizabeth. I didn't like that she had a random chapter where she suddenly is in love with a guy she's hated the whole time. And that is literally the last time we see her.
Fleur comes back in the story for the last few chapters. It was interesting to see a return to the plot, Fleur getting her land back. But at the point I felt she was a stranger. I had no idea who she was as a character and what her plan of action might be.
Maybe it would make more sense if I had read the previous books. There seems to be a history with her family name. I'm not faulting the book for bringing up things that are definitely from other books in the series (like Fluer's relationship with her daughter). That's on me for not reading those books first.
But it seems a bit wrong to advertise this as Fluer's story. To name the book after her. To call this her "revenge" plot. When she is not mentioned for a good chunk of the book.
All in all, good writing style. Beautiful story telling. I would definitely read more from the author. I was just disappointed that this book seemed to be two half stories pretending to be one whole book.
With that said, I can't recommend this book. This story wanders around more than a dog on a hike.
It is clear on Story Graph that this book is part of a series or ongoing universe of characters. But on my copy there is no indication that it is anything other than a stand alone. It just says "A Novel" and lists some of the authors other works.
There are some references to the plot points of other stories. A hint at a history between two characters. While it was annoying that I didn't have the full background, it didn't make it that hard to read.
My issue is that like 40% of the book is not about the main story. This is advertised as "Fleur's revenge", that's all that is talked about on the back cover, that's what the discussion section at the end of the book says.
The three longest chapters are about Nanapush chasing after his wife because he thinks she's cheating? And then he steals her dress and runs around acting silly?? It felt farcical!! The very serious story of revenge stopped to play out a comedy of errors.
I like the framing devise of Nanapush and Polly Elizabeth telling Fleur's story. I even liked Polly Elizabeth. I didn't like that she had a random chapter where she suddenly is in love with a guy she's hated the whole time. And that is literally the last time we see her.
Fleur comes back in the story for the last few chapters. It was interesting to see a return to the plot, Fleur getting her land back. But at the point I felt she was a stranger. I had no idea who she was as a character and what her plan of action might be.
Maybe it would make more sense if I had read the previous books. There seems to be a history with her family name. I'm not faulting the book for bringing up things that are definitely from other books in the series (like Fluer's relationship with her daughter). That's on me for not reading those books first.
But it seems a bit wrong to advertise this as Fluer's story. To name the book after her. To call this her "revenge" plot. When she is not mentioned for a good chunk of the book.
All in all, good writing style. Beautiful story telling. I would definitely read more from the author. I was just disappointed that this book seemed to be two half stories pretending to be one whole book.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
This is a follow-up novel to Tracks. In Four Souls, Fleur Pillager leaves North Dakota and moves to Minneapolis after the theft of her ancestral tribal land. She plans on finding the land baron who now owns her land and kill him. However, Fleur finds out that revenge is more complex than she anticipated.