Rating: 
Summary: Louise Erdrich Creates Magic Again
Review: "The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse" is Erdrich at her best. While I find all her works amusing and entertaining, works to be savored and not just read, Little No Horse pulls together the best elements of her talent. There is passion, death, humor (both subtle and blatant), excellent characterization, and a plot that is tightly bound from beginning to end while loosely juggled between various character points of view. Her characters, whether central or peripheral, are believeable, understandable, and in some ways ordinary while carving out a niche in the extraordinary or mysterious. There are wonderful tales within the larger story. Tales that are crafted well in themselves but always work towards enlightening the pathway of plot or character development. The book begins where "Tales of Burning Love" left off, but quickly moves back to 1912 so that those with little or no experience in Erdrich's novels need not worry about being left out. "Little No Horse" is both prequel and sequel. Entertaining on a surface level, but it also brings to light many issues worthy of reflecting on long after you are done reading. A true work of art.
Rating:
Summary: Louise Erdrich Creates Magic Again
Review: "The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse" is Erdrich at her best. While I find all her works amusing and entertaining, works to be savored and not just read, Little No Horse pulls together the best elements of her talent. There is passion, death, humor (both subtle and blatant), excellent characterization, and a plot that is tightly bound from beginning to end while loosely juggled between various character points of view. Her characters, whether central or peripheral, are believeable, understandable, and in some ways ordinary while carving out a niche in the extraordinary or mysterious. There are wonderful tales within the larger story. Tales that are crafted well in themselves but always work towards enlightening the pathway of plot or character development. The book begins where "Tales of Burning Love" left off, but quickly moves back to 1912 so that those with little or no experience in Erdrich's novels need not worry about being left out. "Little No Horse" is both prequel and sequel. Entertaining on a surface level, but it also brings to light many issues worthy of reflecting on long after you are done reading. A true work of art.
Rating: 
Summary: A little more action
Review: ...and a little less intricacy would make this a much more worthwhile read. The unsolved murder is easily solved, the coincidental events too convenient and the secret identities force one to suspend disbelief. However Erdrich weaves some wonderful characters into the story line. I wanted to learn so much more about them. I yearned for their thoughts and feelings, especially during the third quarter of the book when it seemed that nothing eventful would ever happen and I was anxious to bring this novel to a close.
Rating: 
Summary: A miracle in itself
Review: A fantastic (in every sense of the word) tale of gender identity, spirituality, race relations, culture clashes, & a deception that allows the deepest honesty.Erdrich has created a world that pulled me in & wouldn't let me go. Superb.
Rating:
Summary: Great depth and beauty
Review: A rich life is one that recognizes the complexity in everything, yet does not get overwhelmed by it, but rather operates from a center of passion and compassion. The main character of Erdrich's novel lives a rich life, and by sharing that life with others, and by letting others so readily share theirs, we see the blossoming of a person who is rare, gifted and increasingly wise. But secrets haunt this person's life and those around. What a beautify integration Erdrich has acheived: an unfolding mystery of a spiritual dimension with carnal vitality. Her writing style verges on the poetic. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Great depth and beauty
Review: A rich life is one that recognizes the complexity in everything, yet does not get overwhelmed by it, but rather operates from a center of passion and compassion. The main character of Erdrich's novel lives a rich life, and by sharing that life with others, and by letting others so readily share theirs, we see the blossoming of a person who is rare, gifted and increasingly wise. But secrets haunt this person's life and those around. What a beautify integration Erdrich has acheived: an unfolding mystery of a spiritual dimension with carnal vitality. Her writing style verges on the poetic. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read this year
Review: Although I have long been an Erdrich fan, I have to say that this book stands alone as one of the most beautifully written novels I have read in a long time. From a bear baptism to an ugly Virgin Mary to a death by flatulence, this book is alternately funny and poignant. Louis Erdrich continues her tradition of intelligent, respectful and captivating writing with this book. Rather than elaborate on the specifics of characters and background in this novel, I will just say that this book gave me an overall sense of a writer who has found peace and come to appreciate life's joys.
Rating:
Summary: Unusual story of an unusual priest on a native reserve
Review: An unusual life journey - that of Agnes Dewitt originally from rural Wisconsin, briefly a nun, then a passionate affair with Bernt, hostage in a bank robbery and then, after assuming the identity of the deceased Father Damien Modeste, a priest living on an Ojibwe reserve. This is a many layered reading experience with much about the lives of native Americans in the twentieth century, comic scenes to make you laugh out loud, moments of intense passion, and spiritual theme throughout reconciling Ojibwe spirituality with Catholicism. The novel begins with Father Damien at an ancient age being visited by the younger Father Jude Miller who has been sent to interview him about the possible sainthood of a nun from the reserve, Sister Leopolda, finally Father Damien is compelled to revisit events of the past and to tell his story.
At times Erdrich's writing is more like poetry than prose, though the different stories were beautifully told it was all somewhat disjointed for a novel, hard to keep track of the characters. What really held my attention was the idea of someone living as the other sex for an entire lifetime, this is what makes this book unique and unforgettable for me. I was curious all the way through as to what would happen when the "Father" died, that kept me turning the pages and was pleased by way the end finally came for Agnes.
Rating:
Summary: My Report on The Last Report
Review: Another reviewer has likened the Erdrich oeuvre to one vast novel. The epic in this portion spans most of the 20th century with the Anishinaabeg & chimookomanag on the fictional Little No Horse Reservation in North Dakota. I found myself wishing that I remembered more of the people's stories from the other books, as it would have been an even richer experience. But rich it still is. Not as laugh-out-loud funny as "Bingo Palace," "Last Report" does have its moments: death by fertile Red River farm mud; the jesting wars of NoDo Catholics v. Lutherans: after going somewhat daft at the loss of her companion and being seen naked by neighboring farm children whilst feeding the chickens: "That episode with the chickens made the gossip table rounds. People put it off to Berndt's death and an unstringing of her nerves. Still, she lost only a Lutheran (piano) student or two. She continued playing the organ for Mass ...; " and how, through a series of misadventures along the processional route of the Feast of the Virgin , the statue of the Blessed Virgin comes flying "into the house of seven of the most notorious drunks in Little No Horse, who lay groaning at that very moment for whiskey. ... Of course, the drinkers all knelt, blessed themselves, wept in astonishment and converted - not to Catholicism, but at least to a much less potent form of alcohol : to wine. "
Rating: 
Summary: The language and images are compelling
Review: But I couldn't finish this book. This is not the sort of book I'd normally choose to read but it was assigned by my book club. I savored the lovely images and have a great respect for the originality of the story, but ultimately I didn't care enough about the characters or the plot to continue with this lengthy read. Loved the opening chapter and was really pulled in with it, but then I got bored.
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