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ajesq's review against another edition
2.0
On recommendation from Danielle.
Ok, now that I'm finished...it starts out slow, but is worth reading through Part 1 and on to Parts 2 and 3 - they're the better sections.
Ok, now that I'm finished...it starts out slow, but is worth reading through Part 1 and on to Parts 2 and 3 - they're the better sections.
mayalaurent's review against another edition
2.0
I stuck with this book even though I so badly wanted to quit it many times. The story that unfolds within the last 60 pages was wonderful but everything else left me wanting more meat to the story instead of constant description. I love a detailed story in which I can truly feel the story coming to life, however, when that's all the plot seems to be, without a story developing until the end, it becomes hard to read.
amyrhoda's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. No, four. No, 3.5.
The Painted Drum is really three stories joined by one object, an elaborate Ojibwe ceremonial drum which turns up in a New Hampshire attic. The first story is that of the estate appraiser who discovers the drum in the attic; the second is of the man who made the drum; and the third is of a struggling single mother whose daughter is drawn to the drum in a time of desperation.
This is a good book, and an easy read. The characters are rich and interesting, and the relationships among them are vibrant. The plot moves along steadily: lots of stuff happens, there are secrets unveiled and connections made which reward patient and attentive reading. Lots of ideas are explored: identity, poverty, ownership, spirituality.
I am about talking myself into a four-star rating for this book, it's got so much juice in it. I didn't give it four to start with because, while I enjoyed it immensely, it didn't grab me in the gut. But sometimes I wonder how much that kind of visceral reaction has to do with my state of mind when I read a book, rather than the book itself. I think this might be a four-star book for me if I'd read it at a different time.
The Painted Drum is really three stories joined by one object, an elaborate Ojibwe ceremonial drum which turns up in a New Hampshire attic. The first story is that of the estate appraiser who discovers the drum in the attic; the second is of the man who made the drum; and the third is of a struggling single mother whose daughter is drawn to the drum in a time of desperation.
This is a good book, and an easy read. The characters are rich and interesting, and the relationships among them are vibrant. The plot moves along steadily: lots of stuff happens, there are secrets unveiled and connections made which reward patient and attentive reading. Lots of ideas are explored: identity, poverty, ownership, spirituality.
I am about talking myself into a four-star rating for this book, it's got so much juice in it. I didn't give it four to start with because, while I enjoyed it immensely, it didn't grab me in the gut. But sometimes I wonder how much that kind of visceral reaction has to do with my state of mind when I read a book, rather than the book itself. I think this might be a four-star book for me if I'd read it at a different time.
jeagabel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
viveelan's review
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a very powerful story. A story about life, death and grief. How our endless stream of days that seem the same are stitched together, like beads, in intricate patterns. We get through, we get by only with the help of others, our connections to each other, our ancestors and the magic of our rituals and traditions.
messbauer's review against another edition
2.0
“The Painted Drum” is a book that has some potential but can’t seem to find its footing. Erdrich starts things off agonizingly slowly before going on to introduce too many characters and side plots. Many of the characters are unlikeable, boring, or unconvincingly written, and many of the plot threads and intriguing details she takes pains to include go unresolved. A frustrating read.
shelley_pearson's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a long time to get into this one. I liked Faye, and I liked her story about going through the house with all its huge closets full of stuff. But her part was so much about her relationship with Kurt, which I wasn’t as interested in. The story picked up for me when Bernard started narrating. I liked learning about how his grandpa made the drum and how his daughter communicated with him. And then I liked the last part a lot. That stuff about the mother and the kids made the most sense to me, and then the little closing part came back to Faye and brought it all together with the mother/daughter guilt and blame thing. I was glad we came back to Faye, because otherwise I would have felt like there wasn’t really a point to her whole section. Even still, I don’t really get the point of Kurt’s daughter dying, aside from being something that changed Faye’s relationship with Kurt. But then again, what’s the point to reading any story? This one was entertaining enough, and I liked learning about Native American communities in different time periods. It was a cool way to structure the story, following the drum throughout time, learning its rules, and seeing how it was sold and stolen and returned.
catherineofalx's review against another edition
5.0
I love every moment I spend in Louise Erdrich’s world ❤️
nicollemk's review against another edition
4.0
I love Erdrich's writing style. Watching the loss of connection was sad, but it was interesting to see the stories come full circle. Again a great depiction of how the past is not just the past.