Customer Reviews

The Crown of Columbus

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Once I got past the misleading synopsis on back of the novel and accepted the novel for what it really was, I became intensely involved. Roger Williams and Vivian Twostar are stereotypes, which is the point. They are cariactures; Dorris and Erdrich having a little fun with the stereotypes people have placed on them. The depth of character found in Erdrich's other novels is clearing missing; however, _The Crown of Columbus_ is a different kind of novel. It is a modern romance, detective, adventure, and historical novel at the same time. I recommend this book to someone looking for an entertaining read; anyone seeking high literature should read Erdrich's _Tracks_

In Crown of Columbus, Erdrich created a thrilling novel around historical information regarding Columbus. She further explored many of the cultural perspectives about the meaning of Columbus and particularly looked at Columbus' meaning to many Native Americans. In addition to the educational and historical perspective, she created characters who were real and complex. Erdrich also developed a suspensful end to the story which proved somewhat predictable but none-the-less made the book difficult to put down.

I think that this book was decent, except that the authors tended to drag out the plot too much. If it was really historical, then they should have focused on more historical scenes. The love plot and the historical plot seemed to interrupt each other. I enjoyed the detailed characters, though. I also liked the suspenseful action in the Bahamas with Cobb, Roger, and Vivian. The last one hundred pages of the book were the best.

I loved the Crown of Columbus. Everything from the richness of the language and characterization to the intricate plot development. A quintessential love story, Vivien Twostar leaps off the pages: one can identify with her struggles - both as an individual and also in a relationship. While the feckless Roger Williams adrift in his sea of academic and masculine arrogance is a wonderful counterfoil. Beautifully written prose has depth yet is concise and conveys rich imagery and conflict. Oh if only all books were this good!

Anti-climactic is the best single phrase to describe this book. I guess it depends on what you want in a novel. It starts out with the air of mystery surrounding the "Crown of Columbus" and what it actually is; sort of a historical mystery, although fictional. The book then becomes a story about the two main characters and their on-again/off-again romance of opposites. Most of the book is about this romance and the action and resolution of the mystery don't really get going until the very end. By the time you find out what the "Crown" is, it is sort of "so what?" In other words, not very satisfying. I wouldn't recommend this book.

I never bothered learning the names of the characters because everyone was a stereotype. . . we have "Honorable Native American woman trying to make it in the white man's world"; fifth generation male WASP with obsessive compulsive tendancies; ever wise and quirky Grandmother; rebellious teen age male, miracluous infant daughter; and greedy immoral industrialist.

I did enjoy the description of the early research in the Dartmouth library . . . .but none of what was hinted at materialized and the "Indiana Jones" ending made me throw my copy of the book against the wall.

"The Crown of Columbus" is an adventure story, a love story, a story of scholarship, and a story of a family coming together and making room for each other.

The alternating chapters that give voice to the characters' perceptions remind us that there are at least two sides to every story, whether it is the story of a relationship, or the tale of the 'discovery' of America.

The scholarly rivalry between the main characters, and their sense of the excitement historic research brings, rings true to those of us in academia.

I would have moved Roger's epic poem about Columbus to the end of the book. I can see why it was placed where it is, but I expect most readers glance at it and skip past. This poem is not bad and really could be used as a teaching tool.

"Crown of Columbus" is a good novel to read on a long snowy day. It is a light-weight but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kim Burdick
Stanton, Delaware

After just finishing Dorris' book Yellow Raft on Blue Water, which was the first of his books I have read, I couldn't wait to get my hands on ANYthing else he had written. Unfortunately, the Crown of Columbus was the only one of his books my library had, so I grabbed it. I have to admit I only got in to it one chapter, but I knew immediately it just wasn't working for me. It didn't grab me like Yellow Raft did right from the very first paragraph! Sorry! I do plan to try his other books though....fingers crossed there will be another gem in them like Yellow Raft - one of the best books I have ever read.

I remember enjoying this novel quite well, and even mentioning this to Louise Erdrich when she visited on a promotional tour for another book in England, back when it was recent.

I think it is pretty true to life for a novel set around a university, and the images of Columbus remain, giving a very interesting point of view into how he may have actually looked at things. The times and his life were nothing if not complicated.

1492 is the same year that Isabella and Ferdinand completed the long Reconquista of Spain in Granada, which is itself quite a tale, clearly full of its own intrigues and the march up to the Alhambra. How she found time to understand, approve, and bankroll Columbus would be very interesting to know.

Anyway, again an entertaining novel of some particular kinds of life, which is after all what novels do. It's not Nanapush and Fleur, but it's not entirely far away in its approach if you think about it.

Crown of Columbus had some funny, exciting moments, but not enough of them in this 500 page novel. The main characters are both academicians, so I can allow for some introspective monologues and analyses. But action does speak louder than words - especially in a mystery/adventure novel. The second half of the book picks up the pace and that's where you'll find most of the adventure and humor. The ending is a bit surprising and, for me at least, a bit confusing.