LoveReading Says
May 2013 Book of the Month.
Hailed in the US as a Native American To Kill A Mockingbird and winner of the 2012 US National Book Award, this is a masterclass in compelling, emotional and magical storytelling. After an horrific rape Joe’s mother shuts herself away and even though his father is a tribal judge he is unable to uncover the culprit. Frustrated, Joe sets our with his best friends to find the truth. This literary mystery, full of stunning language will have a lasting impression on any reader.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for The Round House a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'Read this book! The Round House is an incredible, rewarding and emotional whirlwind of a read' - Phyl Smithson. Scroll down to read more reviews.
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The Round House Synopsis
One of The Atlantic's Great American Novels
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.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780062065254 |
| Publication date: |
24th September 2013 |
| Author: |
Louise Erdrich |
| Publisher: |
Harper Perennial an imprint of HarperCollins |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
336 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Family Drama
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Louise Erdrich Press Reviews
We have asked a select number of members and browsers to review The Round House. You can read their reviews below.
Lynn Curtis - 'This is a book that works effortlessly on many different levels, fusing a contemporary American outlook with the timeless spirit-centred beliefs of Native Americans living on a reservation in North Dakota...Loved all the stand-out characters, love this book! It deserved to win America’s NBA.' Click here to read the full review.
Megan Olwen Williams - 'The Round House by Louise Erdrich is a powerful novel that is so deeply affecting it will not be forgotten quickly...It is a magnificent novel that should be read and enjoyed by the masses, each one of its readers will undoubtedly take away something meaningful from this tale.' Click here to read the full review.
Rebecca Kirkby - 'What a beautiful book. The descriptions were gorgeous, the storyline was engaging and I truly cared about the characters.' Click here to read the full review.
Lynda DeFreitas - 'She captures the intricacies and intimacies of family life – the fears and joys, the wants and needs, as Joe tries to right wrongs in an unjust world.' Click here to read the full review.
J B Johnston - 'Louise Erdrich has written a book that lends the reader a glimpse into life on a reservation and the conflict of tribal law versus federal law and the complexities of jurisdiction... A great read!' Click here to read the full review.
Phyl Smithson - 'Read this book! The Round House is an incredible, rewarding and emotional whirlwind of a read...To repeat myself, READ THIS BOOK.' Click here to read the full review.
Kath Martin - 'This is a brilliant book! I read it in two sittings and was captivated from page one...A coming of age tale which is truly remarkable.' Click here to read the full review.
Teresa Majury - 'It can be read on many different levels as, on the surface, it's a coming of age story but look a little deeper and there are insights into the nature of justice, cultural identity and family relationships...You get a glimpse of Native American culture via a cast of vibrant, engaging characters.' Click here to read the full review.
Nicola Cooper - 'There were many different storylines to this book with some interesting characters in the village and the tribe and also a strength of community spirit...Although a bit slow at times, it was an enjoyable read.' Click here to read the full review.
Sue Broom - 'This is by no means a gloomy book. There is an element of mystery, the action is fast paced and keeps the reader engaged...Joe is an appealing narrator...A personality and a story that I’ll not easily forget.' Click here to read the full review.
Glynis Elliott - 'On first starting The Round House I thought, "this is going to be a great read". I have always been fascinated by the Native American culture which is what attracted me in the first place...' Click here to read the full review.
Susan Walsh - 'This is a book for our times. Taking you back to the Native American families & what many families had to endure. Wonderfully touching. Of innocence, family & life. Expertly written, this will touch your soul.
Sarah Tilley - 'It was well written and full of interesting facts about Native Indians, but after a while they began to blur.' Click here to read the full review.
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Praise for The Round House:
'The Round House showcases [Erdrich's] extraordinary ability to delineate the ties of love, resentment, need, duty and sympathy that bind families together...[a] powerful novel.' New York Times
'Emotionally compelling...Joe is an incredibly endearing narrator, full of urgency and radiant candor...the story he tells transforms a sad, isolated crime into a revelation about how maturity alters our relationship with our parents, delivering us into new kinds of love and pain.' Washington Post
'The Round House is filled with stunning language that recalls shades of Faulkner, Garcia Marquez and Toni Morrison. Deeply moving, this novel ranks among Erdrich's best work, and it is impossible to forget.' USA Today
'A gripping mystery with a moral twist: revenge might be the harshest punishment, but only for the victims.' Entertainment Weekly
'Erdrich threads a gripping mystery and multilayered portrait of a community through a deeply affecting coming-of-age novel' O, the Oprah Magazine
About Louise Erdrich
Louise Erdrich is the author of twelve novels as well as volumes of poetry, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Her debut novel, Love Medicine, won the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her most recent novel, The Plague of Doves was a New York Times bestseller. Louise Erdrich lives in Minnesota with her daughters and is the owner of Birchbark Books, a small independent bookstore.
Author photo © Paul Emmell
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