Barbara (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS!)'s Reviews > LaRose

Author Louise Erdrich captures the plight of the Native American culture within the culture of current American life. The Reservations are embedded in America, with their own civilization rules, traditions, and social mores. Erdrich encapsulates the quiet nuances of Reservation life.

In this novel, a major character, Landreaux Irons accidently shoots his neighbor’s five-year-old son while Deer hunting. The boy Landreaux shot, Dusty Ravich, was best friends with Landreaux’s own five-year-old son, LaRose. The neighbors have always been friendly, enjoying each others company frequently.

Landreaux and his wife Emmaline turn to an ancient tradition of going into the Sweat Lodge for instruction. What comes to Landreaux is that he must give LaRose to the Ravich family. The Ravich family takes the boy, and the story unfolds of the consequences.

LaRose is the 4th generation LaRose in Emmaline’s family. Erdrich captures the Shamanism in the Native American culture beautifully. LaRose, like his previous namesakes, possesses mystic abilities that he’s slowing discovering through the novel. Erdich tells her tale with historical references of the previous LaRoses.

This is a stunning story of redemption. The basic question is, can a person still be loved after committing an unspeakable act? All the characters are fully developed, even the children. The children provide humor to what could be a maudlin tale. The adults are complex each character has his inner demons and struggles through life, as the human condition obliges. One character, in particular, Romeo has a long time grudge against Landreaux. Everyone knows a “Romeo” in his or her life. I was amazed at Erdich’s ability to make Romeo real and complicated. He’s the person we all run from the minute you see him….evil surrounds him.

If you haven’t read a novel by Louise Erdrich, give this one a shot. All her novels are literary works. All provide the reader with knowledge of the inner workings of American Reservations. She handles her subjects with grace. She’s one of the best American Authors of our time.