This 1995 book is a memoir that combines Native American novelist Louise Erdrich's experiences carrying, giving birth to and caring for her first three infant daughters. At the time I read it, I was deeply depressed so it didn't seem so heavy to me. Others have noted that Erdrich may have been suffering post-partum depression. The writing is lovely and touching. For a long time I was a little frightened of this book. Soon after it came out Erdrich's husband, Michael Dorris, the father of the three daughters of these pages, committed suicide. There were apparently deep troubles in the marriage. Still Erdrich and Dorris produced some fine writing and both were devoted parents. For an early motherhood memoir Erdrich's Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country is probably a better choice. At 47 she gave birth to a fourth daughter. That experience and her deepening relationship with her Native American roots are described in this more mature memoir. It gave me the confidence to return to Erdrich's writing again.

RELEASE NOTES:

I left this at David's Produce on my way out of town for a holiday journey. I wanted to leave a basket of books as an anonymous present for my community. This is a very nice copy of this book. I offered it twice on bookcrossing before making the decision to just wild release it. May it have a good journey.