Tracks

by Louise Erdrich | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0805008950 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Tarna of Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on 6/8/2012
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Tarna from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Friday, June 8, 2012
First edition. Henry Holt and Company, New York 1988. Hardback, 227 pages.
Jacket design by Gun Larson. Jacket illustration, Bear Dancer, is by Frank LaPena, a member of the Wintu tribe, who lives in Sacramento, California.

From the front and back flap:
Tracks is the stunning new novel by Louise Erdrich, who in the past five years has emerged as one of America's most respected novelists.
Set in North Dakota at a time in this century when Indian tribes were struggling to keep what little remained of their lands, Tracks is a tale of passion and deep unrest. Told in the alternating voices of a wise, astute leader of the tribe, and a young, increasingly embittered mixed-blood woman, the novel chronicles the drama of daily lives overshadowed by the clash of cultures and mythologies. The first voice is that of Nanapush, three times a widower, saved from epidemic and despair by his wit and art of storytelling. Counterpoint to him is Pauline, torn by the fervent conflicts of ancient Chippewa beliefs and Christianity. At the center of the storm is Fleur Pillager: witch, lover, wife, mother, and avenger.
Over the course of ten crucial years, as tribal land and the trust between people erode ceaselessly, men and women are pushed to the brink of their endurance-yet their pride and humor prohibit surrender.
Tracks is set earliest in time within the cycle of extraordinary books that includes Louise Erdrich's prize-winning and bestselling Love Medicine and The Beet Queen. Readers familiar with the author's previous novels will meet again in these pages the young Lulu Lamartine, Sister Leopolda, Nectör and Eli Kashpaw, and Marie Lazarre. Those who enter this fictional world for the first time will experience the shock of pure pleasure in encountering a group of characters as compelling and rich as any in contemporary literature in their vigor, clarity, and indomitable vitality.

Louise Erdrich was born in 1954 and grew up in North Dakota. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband/collaborator, Michael Dorris, also a novelist, and their five children. In addition to her three novels, Ms. Erdrich has published a volume of poems entitled Jacklight.

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According to the inscription, Kelly got this book from John in December 1990. Unfortunately, I can't remember how the book ended up with me. Whenever, wherever it was, I must have felt I simply must have this book. The first novel by Louise Erdrich I've ever read was Jäljet, the Finnish translation of Tracks. And I loved it so. I still think it's the best novel Erdrich has written so far. Well, at least among the ones I've read.

Louise Erdrich at Wikipedia
Louise Erdrich at Native American Authors
Tracks at Wikipedia

Journal Entry 2 by Tarna at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Friday, June 8, 2012
I admit the revised edition of Love Medicine is much better than the original one. I like it very much. But I still prefer Tracks. It tells about the times when Native Americans and First nations still could, at least in theory, choose between the Western and their traditional way of living. I think that's the main thing I love in Tracks.
And because the time period in Tracks is so much different than the one in Love Medicine, by releasing this book I participate Amynita's Erilaiset kulttuurit (Different Cultures) Challenge. Tracks represents, of course, Chippewa culture.

Journal Entry 3 by Tarna at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Friday, June 8, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (6/9/2012 UTC) at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland

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Surprise! Enjoy the Summer meet-up in Tampere and have a wonderful summer.

Journal Entry 4 by AspenYard at Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, June 11, 2012
Thank you very much for this wishlist book! Happy summer!

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