The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

By: Louise Erdrich

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

For more than a half century, Father Damien Modeste has served his beloved people, the Ojibwe, on the remote reservation of Little No Horse. Now, nearing the end of his life, Father Damien dreads the discovery of his physical identity, for he is a woman who has lived as a man. To complicate his fears, his quiet life changes when a troubled colleague comes to the reservation to investigate the life of the perplexing, difficult, possibly false saint Sister Leopolda.

Father Damien alone knows the strange truth of Sister Leopolda's piety and is faced with the most difficult decision of his life: Should he reveal all he knows and risk everything? Or should he manufacture a protective history though he believes Leopolda's wonder-working is motivated by evil?

©2001 Louise Erdrich (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award Finalist, Adult Fiction, 2002
• 2005 Audie Award Nominee, Personal Development/Motivational

"Erdrich's prose is beautiful and the tale fascinating and enjoyable." (AudioFile)
"Erdrich renders her North Dakota world of the Ojibwe with a lyrical and richly metaphorical prose style....Fields has a pleasing voice, a fine feel for the material and the characters and a knack for low-key dramatization." (Publishers Weekly)
"This is Erdrich writing at the peak of her powers, embracing both the earthy sensuality and abiding spirituality of her characters and energizing the whole with a raucous humor that is at once self-deprecating and life-enhancing." (Booklist)

Beautiful storytelling!

Louise Erdrich is a treasure and this is another captivating, weaving, rich tapestry of characters.

Marvelous and lyrical

The writing is superb and the reader totally brought that to life. Wonderful book and story.

Fantastic Storytelling,Enthralling

In this day and age, a great story about a dual gender character. Wonderful list of authentic characters on a genuine reservation in the early part of 1900.Ms Erdrich is a fantastic weaver of history and storyline in a form of a tale that will stay with you for a long time.
Should be a movie.
Read all of the reviews, nobody gets this many thumbs up as Ms Erdrich!

Possibly the best ever!

What made the experience of listening to The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse the most enjoyable?

What I love: history, stories well told and an epic sweep plus humor!

What other book might you compare The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse to and why?

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie because the kind of "over the top" epic funny dark detailed storytelling is the only thing I can compare it to. It is what I seek!

Which character – as performed by Anna Fields – was your favorite?

OH, I love them all, even the detestable ones. She is truly a remarkable voice.

If you could take any character from The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The narrator, naturally. Amazing unreliable lovable narrator!

Any additional comments?

I had only read Erdrich's short stories in the New Yorker, but this book is mind-blowingly gorgeous. I miss it.

Magical

What made the experience of listening to The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse the most enjoyable?

THis novel reminded me strongly of "100 Years of Solitude" while still standing on its own. The narrative is layered, and takes place at the intersection of genders, cultures, and religions. Deeply spiritual and yet agnostic. A beautiful book, beautifully read.

An Appalling Love

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes.

What other book might you compare The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse to and why?

Some of Ms. Erdrich's other books--The Painted Drum, Four Winds, etc. Many of the characters are the same; different books tell different parts of the story.

Have you listened to any of Anna Fields’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No; I had never heard her before.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I needed to savor it a little at a time. I had read it three times before, but it is so extensive in its scope and meaning, I kept re-reading it from time to time to get more pieces of the story.

Any additional comments?

It's one of the finest books I've ever read--from the standpoint of being exceptionally well-written, from telling a story with many, many pieces and twists to it, for the very memorable characters, and for the great tragedy and triumph of the Native people.

Fantastic and fantastical

I don't know how many times I've read and listened to this book. It continues to entertain, surprise, teach, and delight. I'm a huge fan of Erdrich's work in general, and this is my favorite. I'm always sad when it's over, and carry the people who populate its pages with me.

I wish there was more

I wish that there were a hundred books like this with Anna Fields narrating. She does it so masterfully that it breaks my heart. You feel every voice is represented.

I love Louise Erdrich's writing style

What did you love best about The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse?

what an amazing story! there were so many interesting characters, but mostly I was fascinated by Agnes/Father Damien and the almost supernatural twists in her life.

What other book might you compare The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse to and why?

The setting is similar to most of Erdrich's books - her indian reservation. In some ways I think her stories are a little like Alice Hoffman, where they are real, but the magic and unseen powers are there too.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the bank robber takes Agnes and she is hanging onto the car.

My first Erdrich novel but definitely not my last

Many surprising turns and lovely passages. I want to learn more about these characters and experience more earfuls of Erdrich's gorgeous prose. This seems like it was a good book to start with.