Bought from the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale in San Luis Obispo today.

I admit to going in with the idea that Erdich was a "women's fiction writer". By which I mean a writer of stories about women and women's issues, usually with humor. I don't tend to like those types of books, but I felt it only fair to read before making too many assumptions.

Turns out she's a writer who writes a lot about Native American life today, in a way that should appeal to men and women equally.

I read this several months ago so don't remember details. But I remember some scenes vividly. Geraldine Coutts is attacked, and finds it difficult to adjust to everyday life afterwards. Her withdrawal affects her son Joe and her husband Bazil, a tribal judge. Bazil looks for justice for Geraldine while Joe tries to help in other ways.

The investigation into who attacked Geraldine leads to the Round House, an Ojibwe sacred space. What takes place there is frightening and memorable.

Beyond the individual story we learn of the differences in tribal law and state law, and what needs to change. Well written and compelling.

Reserved for collectorkerri's "first sentences" book box.

Thanks jlautner - this looks really good :)

One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and thirteen-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe's life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill prepared. While his father, who is a tribal judge, endeavors to wrest justice from a situation that defies his efforts, Joe becomes frustrated with the official investigation and sets out with his trusted friends, Cappy, Zack, and Angus, to get some answers of his own. Their quest takes them first to the Round House, a sacred space and place of worship for the Ojibwe. And this is only the beginning. Written with undeniable urgency, and illuminating the harsh realities of contemporary life in a community where Ojibwe and white live uneasily together, The Round House is a brilliant and entertaining novel, a masterpiece of literary fiction. Louise Erdrich embraces tragedy, the comic, a spirit world very much present in the lives of her all-too-human characters, and a tale of injustice that is, unfortunately, an authentic reflection of what happens in our own world today.

Although I enjoyed this book overall, I did think it got bogged down in the second half with all the myths, legends, ghosts, etc.

Finally off to Edwardstreet for the Tag game :)

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel set on a reservation. The book written by a native American woman exposed injustices experienced by woman who are raped. The statistics at the end of the book are scarey.
I really enjoyed this tale of the young boy becoming a man as he seeks justice for his mother. The insight into the experiences and values of his people was rewarding.

I hope the next reader enjoys this as much as I did.

'Caught' this book from a Wellington Bookcrossing meetup on 5 July and been too busy to enter.
Planning to take with me on a short trip to the Gold Coast Australia and will hopefully read it on the plane. Its not very thick and should easily engross me during the flight.
I am sure it will be good - although the author is new to me the topic looks good and previous readers of this edition have reported on it favourably.

Took this book with me recently on a short visit to The Gold Coast and found it quite riveting. Learnt a lot about Native American life from this book and was delighted to have had the chance to read it.
Hope to find more books from this prolific writer well worth reading.

Taking this book with me to a Wellington BookCrossers' meet-up this evening. Either one of our members will be attracted to it or otherwise it will be taken and released somewhere in Wellington City.

Travel safely good book - hope the next reader will enjoy it as much as I did.