The Round House

A Novel

By: Louise Erdrich

Narrated by: Gary Farmer

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

National Book Award, Fiction, 2012

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 as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and 13-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, who is 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.

Written with undeniable urgency, and illuminating the harsh realities of contemporary life in a community where Ojibwe and white live uneasily together, The Round House is a brilliant and entertaining novel, a masterpiece of literary fiction. Louise Erdrich embraces tragedy, the comic, a spirit world very much present in the lives of her all-too-human characters, and a tale of injustice that is, unfortunately, an authentic reflection of what happens in our own world today.

©2012 Louise Erdrich (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Beautifully written

Enlightened by the Native American perspective and the wisdoms of the storytelling. I think this is a book men would enjoy as much or more than women.

4.5 for me

This was my first book from author Louise Erdrich and I must say I am a bit taken. My mind is going so many different directions right now that it is hard to make this a focused review. I think what I appreciated the most in this novel was the wonderfully crafted beginning and end to this novel. The first sentence sets the tone magnificently: "Small trees had attacked my parents' house at the foundation...and it was difficult to pry them loose." With this, Erdrich sets the scene for the attack which strikes at the base of this family and the intensity of the struggle to defend and remove the encroachment from their foundation. The story begins in the aftermath of a brutal attack on Joe's mother. It follows Joe, his mother and father, their extended family, and Joe's friends for a year as they deal with the affect that this event has on all of their lives. It can be difficult to remember at times that Joe is relating all the events as an adult not as the 13-14 year old of the story. I found that this was a very comforting technique in the telling of this story as it puts a bit of distance between the reader (and the narrator) of the story and the time of the events. It also provides the epilogue of the story early on which is really needed by the time you finish reading. This is a very sobering read at many times and yet also brings in elements of joy and humor to lighten the mood. Although Joe is forced into confronting unpleasant realities earlier in his life than he should, he has a strong group of friends that help in his journey. The four boys explore life, love, friendship, tradition, and spirituality in this year. Some of the questions they deal with are spurred by the attack on Joe's mother, but others are the typical adolescent events that everyone encounters, and still others are brought on by their own actions in response to events. Joe confronts the realities of aging parents and their eventual mortality earlier than most and is forced to consider the change in their relationship because of this. His parents must also come to terms with the maturation of their son and an acceptance of his actions. By the end of the novel, all have been indelibly marked by the events of this year. The final sentences of the story acknowledge the grief the family has experienced and the impact on their lives. "We passed over in a sweep of sorrow that would persist into our small forever. We just kept going."

Different read

Loved the language use and mental visuals created. Learned from another heritages perspective. Enjoyed it.e still

Read it instead

Would you try another book from Louise Erdrich and/or Gary Farmer?

I would read another book from Louise Erdich.

What did you like best about this story?

The young protagonist and his friends are painted in a realistic manner. The story also provides glimpse into life on an Indian reservation.

What didn’t you like about Gary Farmer’s performance?

I understand that Native American speech patterns are different and Gary Farmer's narration provides authenticity, but the pacing, weird pauses, and inflection slowed the story. It was like listening to a beginning reader who does not understand punctuation marks. When I stopped listening to read the book I could not get Gary's slow voice out of my head. Oy.

Great book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Round House to be better than the print version?

I am not sure if the audio version is better. It was nice hearing it read by a Native American, but I felt his inflection was off at times. I would still highly recommend it!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Definitely Joe. He provided great insight into the mind of a kid.

What does Gary Farmer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It was a book about Native American culture, so it was nice hearing it with the correct narrative voice.

Who was the most memorable character of The Round House and why?

Geraldine... she was so sad.

Any additional comments?

I have seen this book all over the place and have had many people recommend it. I work with Native people in Oregon and I found the book to be both entertaining and educational.

Disappointing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I have enjoyed several of Louise Erdich's novels. This is the least of them. I was not engaged until almost one third of the way into the book. If not for Erdich's reputation I might not have continued on. The plot did pick up mid-way through, but in the end, I was still disappointed.

How could the performance have been better?

I found the narrators stilted diction stereotypical and annoying.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

This might make a good movie. maybe.

Fantastic

Would you listen to The Round House again? Why?

Yes - it was a great story, and beautifully told.

Which scene was your favorite?

Its hard to pick - there were so many beautifully crafted scenes.

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

No. It was difficult at times, because the subject matter was dark. But the family (all of them) were crafted with such care that the story kept pulling me back.

Unforgettable characters

How did I miss reading this book when it was new? It feels like found treasure. Erdrich tells a haunting, believable story set in an American Indian reservation. The cadence of Gary Farmer’s accent is perfect, his empathy with Joe and Cappy and the adults who surround them rings true.

another beautifully written story by L Erdrich

I liked this book, withers complex story of native Americans, living through and after a horrendous attack on the narrator's mother. All the characters are fully drawn and most are very likable. I was carried along by the story, b ut a little let down towards the end.

Simple great

This is a powerful story narrated with passion. I'm very glad I listened. I would read anything by Louise Erdrich, she's great.