The Round House

I can't remember the last time I read a book that opened me to so many worlds, and the amazingly human people who live - or lived - in them. This is a brilliant work. I'll need a couple weeks before I can move on. This is my second Louise Erdrich book. There will be plenty more.

This was a very moving book, characters were crafted so well. The trauma of the events so excellently portrayed through each characters eyes.

Louise Erdrich is one of my favorite authors. She never fails to give me things to think about, to laugh about, to feel indignation about. Her characters are three dimensional, their good traits and flaws create a rich conduit for a thought provoking plot. This book fills that bill.The narrator of the story is thirteen year old, Joe, who lives on the Chippewa reservation in 1988. His father is a tribal judge, his mother something of an archivist of native families and their familial connections. He has had a happy family life and holds a deep love for his parents. But the story opens on a particularly violent rape of his mother. She is so emotionally destroyed she is not able to even give any information to police. Gradually, the story comes out. But there are complications.This family's world is upended, and the boy, almost a man, is struggling to come to grips with it. As with most of her books, the families on the reservation are deeply entwined and the connections run deep.Ms Erdrich educates us on life on a reservation and the importance of those deep connections of family, traditional customs and beliefs. The reader learns about the uneven justice system and shaky ground of their conflicts with white Justice systems. The reader sees the effect of the White criminal treatment of the indigenous peoples on their daily lives.At the same time, she shares the beauty and tenacity of these people, their humor, their stoicism, their generosity, their ties to their past.I don't want to give you too much of the plot. You should read the book for that, but I will say this is something of a coming of age story for Joe, his entrance into adult pain and his sense of fair and just consequences. We see how such acts of violence changes everyone and the effect of it on his whole life.The "old" stories are wonderful. The grandfather's birthday party is priceless.Read it. It is a very good book

The Round House follows the story of a thirteen-year off the boy and his family and his pursuit for justice after his mother has been raped. Personally, I really enjoyed the book. I think it was written very well. I liked how it was written from the point of view of a thirteen-year-old, as it really gave insight into how this tragedy affected him and his family. In addition, the narration allowed the reader to watch as Joe grew and had to step up. This story is truly a coming-of-age story that follows Joe’s decisions and friendship in order to show the dramatic growth that occurs from the beginning to the end of the story. The book also goes into depth about loyalty to friends, family, and culture while discussing how many things can get in the way. The book kept me interested. Edrich did an amazing job at speaking on subjects such as colonialism and legal jurisdiction on Indian reservations without making the story boring. The way she shed light on life in the 1980s on the reservation was brilliant. She also did a great job at intertwining humor within the story despite the terrible circumstances. The book was a constant crescendo as it ended in the most abrupt way, which made me want to continue reading. Though I believe the boys went on many different tangents that took away and disconnected the reader from the true deep-rooted story. I think many things weren't necessary to tell a great story but otherwise, that would be my only complaint. Erdrich truly has a talent for storytelling that engages and keeps the reader on their toes. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It tells of a boy about to enter manhood. One moment his life was carefree then tragedy strikes.The story is narrated by Joe Coutts, age thirteen. The setting is in North Dakota and the Ojibwe Indian reservation.Joe is with his father, tribal judge, Bazil Coutts, when his mother doesn't appear at dinnertime. They begin a search and eventually find her speeding to their home. They learn that she had been raped and beaten. She doesn't want to discuss it and Bazil seems unable to help.Bazil wants things handled professionally so that when an arrest is made, the case will proceed normally. He brings some case files home so he can read them and maybe determine who attacked his wife. These notes are viewed by Joe and the files tell some of what went on legally, between members of the Ojibwe nation and non-Indians. It is revealing such as when a character feels that he has been cheated because when he got gas for his car, the station on the reservation didn't have to charge tax but outside the res they did. In another case, a non-Indian child was adopted by an Indian family. Years later, the white family tried to sue the members of the Indian family feeling they were entitled to some of their wealth.Bazil has a discussion with the FBI agent investigating the case and Joe hears the discussion. It is difficult for Joe to accept why his mother's attacker isn't arrested and punished.Joe gets more support from his friends than from Bazil. Eventually Joe and his three best friends decide to do some investigating and they wind up uncovering evidence at the Round House, a place for worship for tribal members.The prose is outstanding. We are able to see the hardship faced by many in the reservation, view their homes with broken down cars and overgrown lawns. There is also an element of spirituality when Joe is thinking about finding his own revenge and he speaks to a Catholic priest for advice. Joe's grandfather is ancient and he also tells Joe stories about Indian legend.We also learn of Indian traditions, both from Joe's grandfather and from a powwow seen through Joe's eyes. We learn of the dress of tribal members and traditions and their attempts to be with the spirits of past tribal members.The author is a member of the Ojibwe tribe and the story is told as if Louise Erdrich is telling of events in her family. The characters are read and they are people we enjoy learning about.