Book Review
Sep. 17th, 2017 07:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariLaRose
by Louise Erdrich
The plot of this book, which takes place in small-town North Dakota, is set in motion when Landreaux Iron accidentally kills his neighbors' 5 year old son in a tragic hunting accident. To atone for this act, he and his wife Emmeline decide to follow an old tribal tradition and give their own 5 year old son, LaRose, to their neighbors, the Raviches. LaRose is able to integrate himself into his new family, forging important bonds with his new mother Nola and new sister Maggie. After some time, LaRose is able to start having visits with his original family and this shared custody gradually heals the two grieving families. However, this fragile peace is jeopardized by the actions of a man seeking retribution upon Landreaux for events of their youth.
While not a cheerful read, LaRose was entirely engrossing and lovely. Erdrich delves into the dynamics of grief and guilt with great sensitivity and depth. Even when the plot takes on themes of vengeance and retribution, Erdrich eschews melodrama, instead opting to look deeply into the way events, complex relationships, and their consequences unfold. The reconciliation between the two families is instead built up gradually, through individual moments and actions, small gestures, and individual decisions. Through it all, she also weaves the tales of the Iron family's forbears and a strand of mysticism that adds extra resonance to the story.
Overall LaRose is a wonderful novel of redemption that does not take the easy, sentimental route. Instead, Erdrich treats her themes with great subtlety and complexity, preferring gradual development over sweeping gestures.
by Louise Erdrich
The plot of this book, which takes place in small-town North Dakota, is set in motion when Landreaux Iron accidentally kills his neighbors' 5 year old son in a tragic hunting accident. To atone for this act, he and his wife Emmeline decide to follow an old tribal tradition and give their own 5 year old son, LaRose, to their neighbors, the Raviches. LaRose is able to integrate himself into his new family, forging important bonds with his new mother Nola and new sister Maggie. After some time, LaRose is able to start having visits with his original family and this shared custody gradually heals the two grieving families. However, this fragile peace is jeopardized by the actions of a man seeking retribution upon Landreaux for events of their youth.
While not a cheerful read, LaRose was entirely engrossing and lovely. Erdrich delves into the dynamics of grief and guilt with great sensitivity and depth. Even when the plot takes on themes of vengeance and retribution, Erdrich eschews melodrama, instead opting to look deeply into the way events, complex relationships, and their consequences unfold. The reconciliation between the two families is instead built up gradually, through individual moments and actions, small gestures, and individual decisions. Through it all, she also weaves the tales of the Iron family's forbears and a strand of mysticism that adds extra resonance to the story.
Overall LaRose is a wonderful novel of redemption that does not take the easy, sentimental route. Instead, Erdrich treats her themes with great subtlety and complexity, preferring gradual development over sweeping gestures.
