Remarkable and Challenging

This is a remarkable book that provides new challenges with every twist of the story. What would motivate a person to make the decisions that Agnes/Modeste makes? Where does the "real" story end and fantasy begin? This book has the fantastical feeling of "Life in the Time of Cholera" and yet it is very solidly rooted in the realities of Native American life on a reservation. Who are all the people and how are they all related? It is a challenge in some ways to listen rather than read this book because there are so many rich characters. Once again, I would recommend that Audible provide a written list of characters for those who purchase this audiobook.

All of these challenges add up to a compelling read, a bit discouraging at times because it is not always clear where the story is going with all its diversions, but ultimately the story and all the characters are solidly wrapped up tight. I highly recommend it for the fine writing and incredible characters the author has created; it is one of the most inventive and least predictable books I have read in a long time.

I also have very high praise for the narrator. Having listened to other books she has read, I doubt very much that Anna Fields is an Ojibwe Indian, but she portrays one without a flaw. As well as dozens of other characters with authenticity and clarity. I felt like applauding when she ended.

30 people found this helpful

This is Pulitzer material, folks

Erdrich is one of the most captivating novelists writing today and this may be her finest work. Love, faith, passion, what it means to be human outside of gender identities and cultural barriers - she weaves these themes through an engaging dramatic storyline that will leave you thinking about it long after the story is over. Get this book.

32 people found this helpful

I loved it

For anyone who enjoys reading a well written book by an author who knows how to turn a phrase to capture a scene, this book is for you. I laughed and cried but I was NEVER bored. This is not a quick read or light hearted fare, but it is certainly satisfying for those who tire of Oprah style books

9 people found this helpful

Awesome

Here is are several tales, wound together by the characters themselves. The book is almost an epic but more intimate. It is a rare thing to find a book with such broad scope and emotional precision.

I can't say enough good things. Get this book.

6 people found this helpful

It's Not Miraculous

Although there were moments of pleasure for me while reading this book, overall it was a long slog for me with not enough reward. The story was interesting to a point but too drawn out. There were so many characters that I had trouble keeping them all straight. I really tried. I would read carefully and understand a certain twist of the plot. Then the plot would take off in another direction with another character or set of characters. By the time the plot finally came back to the first character… well, who WAS that character?

And it didn’t help that the author used elements of fantasy throughout. Although I tend to love magical realism when done well, to me it did not work here. All the flights of fancy seemed only to be confusing. At times the book seemed caught between a serious novel and some kind of farce. This seemed true, for example, with the bank robber, “the actor,” in the beginning of the book. The way Erdrich handled the kidnapping of Agnes and the subsequent chases and car scenes seemed more ridiculous then magical or entertaining, enlightening or anything.

Another chapter that used this same “magical” technique was, however, one of my favorites. This was the one about Nanapush and his wife Margaret and how he dies from her cooking. That was great. This story or section showed how Erdrich can be humorous and touching at the same time, which is a great skill. I was laughing and crying at almost the same time here. It is the only time, however, that the magical aspect worked. The chapter was still overdone in it’s farcical nature, but in the end it was a clever vignette within the main plot. There were just too many chapters that were vignettes of various characters and their stories, and overall that drew the whole book out too much.

By the end, I did love Father Damien and all “he” had been through.

Marie Kashpaw. She seems central to the story, but frankly it was a let down at the end when I read about her mother and what had happened to them both. It was hard to figure it all out. Her story had been so far back in the book that I had to do a search for her name and read it all again to try and make sense of it. By this time I didn’t much care, however.

4 people found this helpful

gorgeous

a stunning and intriguing story. magnificently performed. it has been a long time since I read Erdrich and I expect I'll be visiting other works of hers! beautiful storytelling

4 people found this helpful

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.

3 people found this helpful

High Hopes But...

I had such high expectations of this book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

First, Erdrich is an excellent writer. Among the best I've read. I absolutely loved some of the passages in her book. The scenes she writes about are beautiful and as cliche as it may sound, her writing is poetic. The problem I had with this book is that there were too many times where the scenes jumped back and forth in time. I can understand doing a few "flashback" scenes, but before even getting through one-fourth of the book, I got tired of trying to keep up with when things were happening. I didn't like the book as much for this reason.

Second, a better narrator could have been chosen. I understand the narrator has read many books for audio recordings and that she has won awards for her reading, but in this instance, I found her performance boring. Listening to this audiobook was a good way to put myself to sleep.

2 people found this helpful

Maybe you have to be Catholic!

It's a pretty good read. Great Indian perspective and a fun example of Catholicism at it's best! Take the time to read this. I think you'll enjoy it.

4 people found this helpful

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.

1 person found this helpful