My current research is focusing on post-9/11 dystopian literature and women’s reproductive agency. So the fact that Louise Erdrich’s new book fits neatly within these categories is highly convenient for me. Thanks, Erdrich! I was delighted to see that her new book appeared to be relevant to my project, so delighted, in fact, that I promptly broke my no-buy rule and bought the hardcover on the day it was released. Because, you know, research. Cedar Songmaker is adopted by two liberal white hippies, and her […]
A Plague of Books
This will be my last review. I am closing out the year the way I began, with a Louise Erdrich novel. This novel is like several of her novels, the story of a town, the story of a family, and representing and recreating a panoply of voices. Taking place in the South Dakota town of Pluto, this novel begins in the town where a horrendous murder leads to a horrendous lynching. The guilty party was never really found, but the white rage that was felt […]
How flattering, I said, meaning the opposite
Hey you. You. I’m talking to you. A human living in the world in 2017 who takes things like The Handmaid’s Tale incredibly personally. A human living in the world in 2017 who is horrified by what has been happening for centuries in a very real, cold-blooded, and methodical way to the Native American community. A human living in the world in 2017 who cannot believe that people don’t believe in science and climate change. A human living in the world in 2017 who still finds […]
Some books I heard while reading the new Brandon Sanderson
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee – 5/5 stars So somehow, Trump ruined this day of all days with his racist remark to Navajo Codetalkers at a White House ceremony. This is also the day I finished this book….it’s like I made it happen by being so clearly reminded of the inhumanity of US history and the sheer resilience and patience with which Native peoples have had to ask for not only basic decency, but for agreements they made to be upheld. And so the […]
LaRose
“LaRose” begins with a tragedy. In an effort to make this tragedy right, Landreaux Irons, architect of the tragedy, offers his son LaRose to the Ravitch family. The Irons and Ravitch families have a long history as Nola Ravitch and Emmaline Irons are half-sisters. Landreaux and Peter Ravitch are hunting buddies. The rest of the novel explores what happens to all of the characters’ lives as a result of this event. I struggled with this book, which isn’t often the case. The writing was done […]
The Birchbark House
I had originally read Louise Erdrich’s The Birchbark House back in June 2014 when I was looking at teaching more literature written by and about Native Americans. I decided to revisit the book because I thought it would work with a new unit I was putting together for my American Literature course. Unfortunately, I read the book too late to make into booklists for this school year. This wasn’t too much of a loss because I’m still torn about whether to actually teach it or […]