A review by siria
The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich

3.0

Its deftly calibrated prose and well-sketched characters are the real joys of The Painted Drum. Erdrich has a skill at writing about deep emotions, yet modulating them with a perspective and a wry humour which ensures that they don't become over-bearing or maudlin. Her view of the world is realistic, but hopeful. The book is probably best seen as three linked novellas rather than one novel, though, and for me its weakness was that just as I was becoming truly engaged with a character, Erdrich was moving on to the next one; I also felt that the last one was a little rushed, but perhaps that was a function of me finishing the novel while waiting to donate blood. *g* Still, well worth the read.