The Last Report on the Miracles at Litle Not Horse (Thorndike Large Print Basic Series)

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: 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: 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.

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: Struggled with this one
Review: I have read all of Louise Erdrich's books and have thoroughly enjoyed them and became involved with the characters. However, I labored with this book. Maybe it was too long, maybe the main character, Agnes, was too unbelievable. Erdrich gave her the voice of a wizened educated old man/woman. But her past indicates otherwise. And if you're Catholic, you will definitely have issues with this book. The story jumps around a lot leaving you desperate for her to tell a story, any story so that you can become deeply involved. I would recommend Love Medicine or Beet Queen if you are new to Ms. Erdrich.

Rating:
Summary: Well written...but the plot kind of bored me!
Review: Louise Erdrich creates a fascinating tapestry in her novel The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. The characters are slowly woven in and out of the story until an intricate work of beauty has been created. This is a story of a search for hope and faith that begins in an unusual manner. It begins with Father Damien writing for answers from Rome as he has for many decades. It is revealed that Father Damien is not who many believe him to be, but the question remains, is Father Damien the person that God needed Father Damien to be. The tale then steps back into how Father Damien arrives at Little No Horse, where many people enter into the tale. When Father Jude, arrives to investigate whether Sister Leopolda, a nun at the convent in Little No Horse, really deserves consideration for Sainthood the past is unwrapped layer by layer.
The questions of faith, suffering and sacrifice are examined, when does one supercede the other to elevate each to a higher level of love and true caring.
The story started out very slowly but, halfway through this novel, each page became a gem and when the story had ended it was a wonderful tale.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The main character's transformation from Agnes to Father Damien seemed unrealistic, without explanation of her motivation. Agnes takes on the guise of a priest, apparently on a whim, and maintains that for the rest of her long life. Why would she do this? Perhaps those unfamiliar with transgendered people will believe this is possible. Some readers may be comforted by a character who never gives up her original sex, but maintains a disguise. In real life some people do live as the gender opposite to the one identified at birth, but not without a great deal of thought and effort. Real transgendered or transsexual people struggle with the difficulties of such an experience, no such struggles were reflected in this book. Otherwise the book had a good beginning, was generally well written and had some lovely passages.

Rating:
Summary: The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse
Review: The writing was amazing. Her use of language creates images that remain long after the story is told. I read this book last summer and still think about the conflicts presented and the resolutions that left me speechless. I've been searching ever since for a book that will equal the experience.

Rating:
Summary: SHOULD BE 10 STARS!!!!!
Review: What an incredible book!! Plot was so unusual - so intriquing - so engrossing - I couldn't put it down! I look forward to reading more by this author - but I wonder if anything can top this story. Read it for the ultimate reader's high!