The Round House - Louise Erdrich

The Round House

By Louise Erdrich

  • Release Date: 2012-10-02
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4
4
From 1,354 Ratings

Description

Winner of the National Book Award • Washington Post Best Book of the Year • A New York Times Notable Book

From one of the most revered novelists of our time, an exquisitely told story of a boy on the cusp of manhood who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a terrible crime that upends and forever transforms his family.

One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface because Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and thirteen-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe's life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill prepared.

While his father, a tribal judge, endeavors to wrest justice from a situation that defies his efforts, Joe becomes frustrated with the official investigation and sets out with his trusted friends, Cappy, Zack, and Angus, to get some answers of his own. Their quest takes them first to the Round House, a sacred space and place of worship for the Ojibwe. And this is only the beginning.

The Round House is a page-turning masterpiece—at once a powerful coming-of-age story, a mystery, and a tender, moving novel of family, history, and culture.

Reviews

  • Excellent books

    4
    By knitnut1
    Well written!
  • Riveting

    5
    By Flamidwyfe
    I couldn’t put this book down! The author brings you into the head space of teenage Joe and shakes you to your core.
  • 18+

    1
    By Blade of Renown
    Inappropriate, strong language, poorly constructed, and hard to follow let alone stay interested. I had to read this book for college and I must say, this is the worst assigned book I have ever had to read.
  • So close to perfect

    4
    By Mad_Mooly
    I'm giving this book 4 stars for the believable characters, the story line that makes you feel the potent injustices the Native American people live with, the incredibly beautiful language, and the authentic portrayals of life within a family, a community, and a self-serving government. However. The ending confuses and frustrates me greatly, as it did to the members of my book club. We all agreed that we liked the book a great deal, but felt cheated by the ending, which almost almost felt as if it belonged to another book. I still recommend you read it, but you should probably check it out at the library before buying.
  • The Round House

    5
    By Gideon N
    Perfect!
  • Compelling

    5
    By Shanah Tovah
    The Round House is compelling and moving. I learned so much about the miscarriage of justice our nation has committed against Native Americans, and learned, also, about the culture of the characters. I miss them already, having finished the book, and will find myself thinking about them over the coming weeks.
  • Amazing

    5
    By Vanessa Chalmers Rivera
    Been a long time since I read something this captivating. Louise E is a genius storyteller, unfolding details in the most creative way, engaging my attention the whole way through. Her characters in this story are lifelike and charming, I finished the story feeling like I'd made some new friends for life. Bought it as an ebook while I had the flu and read the whole thing in 3 days. Amazing!
  • The Round House

    5
    By StelleNH
    This was recommended by a good friend and I honor her judgements on books. Loved this and had no idea of the real life tragedies of these Indian women! These are women that should have been protected and fought for. We're Americans ...all of us, Shame on us! Shame! on! us!!!!!!!
  • The round house

    3
    By Marciav
    It was ok.
  • The Round House

    5
    By ConstantReader2
    Hated to have it end. The emotional story made me so sad & also laugh out loud. Great characters and a realistic human story.

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