Rating: 
Summary: Exciting, fascinating, full of twists, turns and surprises.
Review: For a great read, get out your Chopin CDs and settle in for a book filled with twists, turns, and unexpected surprises from a wonderful, descriptive, and energetic writer. From page one you can HEAR, FEEL, and TASTE this book. I couldn't put it down and you wont want to either. Enjoy...don't wait for the paperback!
Rating: 
Summary: Possibly the worst book I ever TRIED to read:
Review: I am an avid reader of many types of books. I rarely don't finish a book that I've started, it is like a mantra of mine. This book now goes to that tiny list - I realized over the weekend that I was avoiding reading because I knew I had to pick up this book and finish it - that is when I knew i had to give it up - Boring, boring, boring about sums it up for me - I can not find a single character that I even remotely like in this book - not one that I am interested in finding out what happened to them- Unrealistic, hard to follow (editing?), underdeveloped characters - you name it, this book has it ( or doesn't "have it" as the case may be) - i just can not think of another book i've disliked this much - this is the first time I've written a review, I just had to warn other readers
Rating: 
Summary: uneven: slow start, solid middle, strong close
Review: I had a lot of varying reactions to this book, but in the end I'd say it's worth a read with a big caveat that you'll need to get through what I found to be a pretty uninteresting and eventually inconsequential beginning. The book follows former nun Agnes as she transforms herself into the deceased (though no one but her is aware of it) Father Damien, newly installed priest at the reservation of the title. The story moves back and forth in time between the start of her transformation and the near-end of it as Damien is being questioned by another priest with regard to possible sainthood for a reservation women. The story also slips aside to offer many digressions and stories within stories involving other characters and the history of the reservation people. The wealth of characters and shifts in time make this a relatively complex read and I 'd recommend reading it in as few sittings as possible so as to remember who is whom and when and where. For those who may find it difficult to read quickly, there is a helpful genealogical chart inside the front cover (or at least, there was in my edition).
While the Agnes/Damien character needs to be set up for us and motivation created for her to take on the role she does, I found this opening section (about 60-70 pages) relatively uninteresting and at times overwrought in its writing (in particular its description of music and sex). I usually give a book 40-50 pages before considering giving it up, and had this not been a book for my wife's book club (we like to co-read and discuss) I'm not sure I would have continued. I'm glad I did, but the story really didn't hold any interest for me until Father Damien appeared on the reservation, and even then it didn't really get compelling until about halfway through. From that point on it steadily strengthened and the last (well, almost last) sections I found utterly beautiful.
Father Damien becomes more and more interesting, more and more human, more and more compelling a character as the story moves on. Several other characters are equally strong--natives Nanapush and Mary, young Lulu, an apprentice priest--but others are too vaguely drawn in relation to their importance to the story; it would have made for a stronger book to have had them drawn a bit more fully.
Stylistically, the book has many beautifully evocative passages, but just as many overwritten passages where the prose goes over the top. Luckily, the best writing comes at the end, drowning out some of the memory of the bad.
There is a nice tight thematic structure to the book I thought, centering around religion and love and sin and obligation, with nearly all the stories, main and side, touching upon those subjects.
While the structure is complex, with its shift in focus and character and time, it isn't overly so and not all that difficult to follow. Though many of the digressions were entertaining and also thematically connected, a few of them seemed out of place in tone and style, almost as if she had a few extra short stories lying around and decided to toss them in. Part of my negative reaction to them may be due to the fact that I have not read Erdich before, and it seems these characters are well known to fans of hers. Perhaps they enjoyed seeing more of them, but I could have done with less.
Overall, the book has some major weaknesses: a very slow quarter and only somewhat better second quarter, some over the top language and metaphor, an unnecessary endnote section (I'd prefer the book ending two chapters earlier), a relatively uninteresting "hanging question" (will the woman be sainted or not, who murdered one of the reservation people years ago). But in the end, the character of Father Damien and Erdich's penultimate section filled with beautiful language and thought redeems the book. Recommended with caveat, and if you find yourself putting it down early, try skipping ahead and trying again.
Rating:
Summary: uneven: slow start, solid middle, strong close
Review: I had a lot of varying reactions to this book, but in the end I'd say it's worth a read with a big caveat that you'll need to get through what I found to be a pretty uninteresting and eventually inconsequential beginning. The book follows former nun Agnes as she transforms herself into the deceased (though no one but her is aware of it) Father Damien, newly installed priest at the reservation of the title. The story moves back and forth in time between the start of her transformation and the near-end of it as Damien is being questioned by another priest with regard to possible sainthood for a reservation women. The story also slips aside to offer many digressions and stories within stories involving other characters and the history of the reservation people. The wealth of characters and shifts in time make this a relatively complex read and I 'd recommend reading it in as few sittings as possible so as to remember who is whom and when and where. For those who may find it difficult to read quickly, there is a helpful genealogical chart inside the front cover (or at least, there was in my edition).
While the Agnes/Damien character needs to be set up for us and motivation created for her to take on the role she does, I found this opening section (about 60-70 pages) relatively uninteresting and at times overwrought in its writing (in particular its description of music and sex). I usually give a book 40-50 pages before considering giving it up, and had this not been a book for my wife's book club (we like to co-read and discuss) I'm not sure I would have continued. I'm glad I did, but the story really didn't hold any interest for me until Father Damien appeared on the reservation, and even then it didn't really get compelling until about halfway through. From that point on it steadily strengthened and the last (well, almost last) sections I found utterly beautiful.
Father Damien becomes more and more interesting, more and more human, more and more compelling a character as the story moves on. Several other characters are equally strong--natives Nanapush and Mary, young Lulu, an apprentice priest--but others are too vaguely drawn in relation to their importance to the story; it would have made for a stronger book to have had them drawn a bit more fully.
Stylistically, the book has many beautifully evocative passages, but just as many overwritten passages where the prose goes over the top. Luckily, the best writing comes at the end, drowning out some of the memory of the bad.
There is a nice tight thematic structure to the book I thought, centering around religion and love and sin and obligation, with nearly all the stories, main and side, touching upon those subjects.
While the structure is complex, with its shift in focus and character and time, it isn't overly so and not all that difficult to follow. Though many of the digressions were entertaining and also thematically connected, a few of them seemed out of place in tone and style, almost as if she had a few extra short stories lying around and decided to toss them in. Part of my negative reaction to them may be due to the fact that I have not read Erdich before, and it seems these characters are well known to fans of hers. Perhaps they enjoyed seeing more of them, but I could have done with less.
Overall, the book has some major weaknesses: a very slow quarter and only somewhat better second quarter, some over the top language and metaphor, an unnecessary endnote section (I'd prefer the book ending two chapters earlier), a relatively uninteresting "hanging question" (will the woman be sainted or not, who murdered one of the reservation people years ago). But in the end, the character of Father Damien and Erdich's penultimate section filled with beautiful language and thought redeems the book. Recommended with caveat, and if you find yourself putting it down early, try skipping ahead and trying again.
Rating:
Summary: Reporting on the Miracle
Review: I have enjoyed this author since her first book, Love Medicine. That said, I think The Last Report on the Miracles of Little No Horse is one of the best stories in the realm of storydom - an engaging novel about commitment and love. I did not want it to end.We learn in the first pages that Father Damien is a female once called Agnes. Agnes/Father Damien has a passionate life ride and the good fortune to befriend and be friended by many wonderful characters. All of Agnes' loves are intriguing and inform her choices. These include the music of Chopin and a drowned piano. Agnes' respect for the Ojibwe people influences Father Damien's belief that the Four Directions are as sacred as the Trinity and must be incorporated into all blessings. My favorite character, the trickster genius, Nanapush, teaches Father Damien how to survive in practical ways, as in how to make snow shoes and how to unnerve an opponent in a game of chess. Father Damien is generously helped by Nanapush to regain his commitment to the living world in a sacred Ojibwe sweat lodge ceremony. Their discussions about the concept of the Catholic Devil, as opposed to the Ojibwe devils ( some good, some bad), the Ojibwe concept of "not time," and that even a pair of old pants can harbor spirit are wonderful passages to read and read again. Nanapush introduces the Father to a spirituality of wit and compassion and bone deep wisdom that causes his Agnes self to hope in her last breathing moments that she might bypass the devil she fears has conscripted her soul and even bypass the Catholic heaven for the Ojibwe version of the after life that she has learned to prefer as the most hopeful final option. The character most will loathe, Sister Leopolda, the Puyat, is the best literary example of spiritual materialism I have had the good fortune to discover. Save us all from the Leopolda's of this world! And save us all from becoming her!! Let us hope that the canonized saints will not have to recognize her as one of their hierarchy and then be forced to reconsider their own worthiness!!! Leopolda is the product of terrible abuse. Her treacherous nature, however justified, is a great challenge to the harmony Father Damien so valiently strives to maintain. Their encounters are also passages to savor and return to. When Leopolda wants to repent, beware. The irony of confusing material wealth and power over others - or even painting one's nails with a laquer called "Happiness" - in hopes of achieving perfect happiness permeates the novel. Ribald humor and miraculous serendipty are artfully balanced with sobering and historically true natural disasters and crimes of human disregard for our first people and the land. Above all, this is a joyous tale of one tormented soul's journey to beatitude. Thank you Ms. Erdrich.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!!!
Review: I love Louise Erdirch and this book is no exception.
Rating:
Summary: I love it, I want to read it again!
Review: I love Louise Erdrich's work, and this one is no exception! It seems that when I read these books, I'm ready to go back to the beginning and start over. The circular motion of her books, the femininity and the faith work together to produce a wonderful story!
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED this book...
Review: I loved everything about this book, especially the opening sequence of events regarding Agnes, they were so clever and imaginative. From beginning to end, the story was written so well, so fluidly, creating a strong poetic transition to each chapter. This was the first book I have read by Louise Erdich and immediately became an avid fan of her writing style. The characters are well developed, the story is interesting, and the style of her writing is sometimes breathtaking. I find it rare to come across a book that captures my attention so quickly, then most importantly, maintains it. Every moment reading this book was enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite Erdrich books!
Review: I loved this book! My favorite of Erdrich's books is Antelope Wife, but "The Last Report..." ties for second with "Bingo Palace." I would say Last Report is one of her finest works. Great character development, depth, insight, and many doses of humor. Much of the humor in this book seems to be directed at the ways in which people interpret and understand Catholicism, but it also can be seen as an extention of how people understand their own circumstances and make meaning of them. A definite must read. Sort of felt a little like reading the John Powers books (Last Catholic in America, etc.) plus all that we have come to love and respect from Ms. Erdrich.
Rating:
Summary: Sarah
Review: I thought this book was fabulous. The prose is woven of humor, philosophy and wisdom. To me it's an account of a pure feminist... a woman who is motivated by an inherent understanding of her equality to men, a refusal to be thwarted in her life's mission by society's standards, and by her love of humanity. Beautiful, inspirational. A wonderful read.
|
