Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in FictionFinalist for the 2017 PEN Faulkner AwardIn this literary masterwork, Louise Erdrich, the bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning The Round House and the Pulitzer Prize nominee The Plague of Doves wields her breathtaking narrative magic in an emotionally haunting contemporary tale of a tragic accident, a demand for justice, … emotionally haunting contemporary tale of a tragic accident, a demand for justice, and a profound act of atonement with ancient roots in Native American culture.
North Dakota, late summer, 1999. Landreaux Iron stalks a deer along the edge of the property bordering his own. He shoots with easy confidence—but when the buck springs away, Landreaux realizes he’s hit something else, a blur he saw as he squeezed the trigger. When he staggers closer, he realizes he has killed his neighbor’s five-year-old son, Dusty Ravich.
The youngest child of his friend and neighbor, Peter Ravich, Dusty was best friends with Landreaux’s five-year-old son, LaRose. The two families have always been close, sharing food, clothing, and rides into town; their children played together despite going to different schools; and Landreaux’s wife, Emmaline, is half sister to Dusty’s mother, Nola. Horrified at what he’s done, the recovered alcoholic turns to an Ojibwe tribe tradition—the sweat lodge—for guidance, and finds a way forward. Following an ancient means of retribution, he and Emmaline will give LaRose to the grieving Peter and Nola. “Our son will be your son now,” they tell them.
LaRose is quickly absorbed into his new family. Plagued by thoughts of suicide, Nola dotes on him, keeping her darkness at bay. His fierce, rebellious new “sister,” Maggie, welcomes him as a coconspirator who can ease her volatile mother’s terrifying moods. Gradually he’s allowed shared visits with his birth family, whose sorrow mirrors the Raviches’ own. As the years pass, LaRose becomes the linchpin linking the Irons and the Raviches, and eventually their mutual pain begins to heal.
But when a vengeful man with a long-standing grudge against Landreaux begins raising trouble, hurling accusations of a cover-up the day Dusty died, he threatens the tenuous peace that has kept these two fragile families whole.
Inspiring and affecting, LaRose is a powerful exploration of loss, justice, and the reparation of the human heart, and an unforgettable, dazzling tour de force from one of America’s most distinguished literary masters.
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A haunting yet informative look at present day Native Americans and how their traditional culture conficts with more modern day culture in their lives.
Beautifully written, and an involving, close-in story of Native families.
Another author I love! Louise Erdrich takes a theme and runs with it! It’s difficult to put down her books! She puts a lot of description into her books and really puts a lot of work into her themes, which are usually about Native Americans.
It is thought provoking heartbreakingly touching , poetically written. I have never been disappointed in any of her precious books and have reveled in most of them!
Get on the “Erdrich Band Wagon “
If you haven’t as yet, I guarantee you will be glad you did!
The tale is a grabber from the beginning and the symbolism throughout is haunting. This book teaches many lessons none of us learned about the treatment of Indians throughout history. Great book club discussions will follow.
Excellent work twining Native and White cultures over the last century and a half. Focus is on the current day, two families struggle after the death of a child. Their ways of coping impact both families and especially the boy, LaRose, who’s friend Dusty was accidentally killed by LaRose’s father. LaRose’s adjustment to a new reality, and the role of his ancestors, help both families come to terms with events.
This was one of my favourite books 2017. It gives a wonderful view of life after a tragedy and weaves in Native American belief and culture. LaRose is the name of the boy that had to be given away. Wonderful writing and a wonderful story.
Not worth finishing.
One of my favorite authors and this book was heart wrenching. This is one of the author’s best.
Interesting moral dilemma the families face. Have always enjoyed Louise Erdrich’s novels.
Every Louise Erdich book I pick up, I devour. I find the writing impeccable and the characters interesting with all if their virtues and flaws. I learn something about the AMERICA heartland, the Natuve American culture and myself with every book.
Present day Native American culture was new to me.
Louise Erdrich weaves, again, a istory of generations who are both real, struggling, ordinary people AND inheritors of pieces of a magical legacy that inject their lives with deeply transcendent meaning. The eponymous La Rose is only a five year old kid trying to make sense of the sudden death of his best friend and the avalanche of emotions that engulf his whole community. He is also the seventh member of his family to carry a name that carries terrific and terrifying power through him, naive and innocent though he is. La Rose grows into the catalyst necessary in this moment to let them survive…again
Erdrich teaches us to see that flawed and suffering individuals joined together in a community that includes not only themselves but also the memory of all their ancestors triumphs and defeats, can continue.
Brilliant and everyday both
L. Erdrich is among the best. Her stories always surprise and enlighten, keep you reading long after bedtime.
I loved this book! I have always been a fan!
An amazing thoughtfully written saga of Native American culture which unravels the mystic of the LaRoses through generations. The characters are memorable and haunting with both weaknesses & strengths of character subtly revealed.
One of the best books I’ve read in a while. I was disappointed when it ended because I wanted it to go on and on. I wanted to meet these characters!
Excellent as usual from Louise Erdrich!
Found it hard to get into and finally gave up half way through.
I Loved the story. Well done, thought provoking.i couldn’t put it down.
Was a little confusing in the beginning. But the story catches your attention after a while.