Shadow Tag

A Novel

By: Louise Erdrich

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Shadow Tag is a stunning tour-de-force from Louise Erdrich, the bestselling author of The Plague of Doves and National Book Award-winner The Round House. When Irene America discovers that her artist husband, Gil, has been reading her diary, she begins a secret Blue Notebook, stashed securely in a safe-deposit box. There she records the truth about her life and marriage, while turning her Red Diary—hidden where Gil will find it—into a manipulative charade. As Irene and Gil fight to keep up appearances for their three children, their home becomes a place of increasing violence and secrecy. And Irene drifts into alcoholism, moving ever closer to the ultimate destruction of a relationship filled with shadowy need and strange ironies.

Alternating between Irene's twin journals and an unflinching third-person narrative, Louise Erdrich's Shadow Tag fearlessly explores the complex nature of love, the fluid boundaries of identity, and the anatomy of one family's struggle for survival and redemption.

Another fantastically woven story

Louis is a master story teller, each having such depth and complexity. Louis is my favorite storyteller

WONDERFUL!

This is the first book I've read by Erdrich. What an excellent use of language! She offers richly developed characters and language that beautifully ties them together. Her insights into a number of fields makes the book engaging. I highly recommend this read!

Enjoyed it until the ending

Intriguing, provocative novel about the relationship between husband and wife, artist and muse, race and popular culture. The small details of domestic life were spot on and the descriptions of the "Artsy Crowd" reflected my experience of that world.

Unfortunately,the wrap-up at the end was a huge disappointment. It felt tacked on and took away from the power of the book.

Coleen Marlo did a fabulous job as Narrator. Her reading brought the daily world of this family to life without making it sound mundane. She also captured the powerful two main characters in her voice. No small feat as they are truly multi-layered, smart, and wily individuals.

Well written but hard to read because of subject

Where does Shadow Tag rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not one of my favorites

Would you recommend Shadow Tag to your friends? Why or why not?

No, because it is a very depressing book.

What about Coleen Marlo’s performance did you like?

Excelletn

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part where she goes out to save the husband she supposedly hates!!

Any additional comments?

It is beautifully written but such a difficult situation to feel the characters pain because they are so twisted in their thoughts

A Love Stroy for Parents

The author spins a tale that is both gripping and scary, you watch two brilliant people with talent work to distroy each other.

The children the jewels of their lives are ignored by both. They are so wrapped up in their relationship that they don't realize what they are doing to the children.

This was a story of child abuse, both physical and mental. How the children came out of the story with some shred of normalcy was amazing. I loved the book and would highy recommend it.