Love Medicine [Import] [Hardcover]

Louise Erdrich (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 275 pages
• Publisher: Andre Deutsch (1985)
• ISBN-10: 0233977414
• ISBN-13: 978-0233977416
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Louise Erdrich is the author of twelve novels as well as volumes of poetry, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood. Her debut novel, Love Medicine, won the National Book Critics Circle Award. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her most recent novel, The Plague of Doves, a New York Times bestseller, received the highest praise from Philip Roth, who wrote, "Louise Erdrich's imaginative freedom has reached its zenith--The Plague of Doves is her dazzling masterpiece." Louise Erdrich lives in Minnesota with her daughters and is the owner of Birchbark Books, a small independent bookstore.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her first novel? You've got to be kidding me!, July 31, 2006

By 

Fitzgerald Fan (Royal Oak, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love Medicine : A Novel (Perennial Classics) (Paperback)

It just does not seem fair that someone could claim this work as her first novel. It is so intricately woven, and the multiple narratives are so expertly spoken, that I find it very difficult to believe it came from a novice.

At this point, I have read approximately 15 Native American works/novels, including Momaday, Silko, Welch, Dorris, Alexie and Sa--and I think I must say that Erdrich's "Love Medicine" tops them all. It is well thought out...almost too well thought out.

It is funny and disturbing intermittently, but most of all, it is about families, rivals, and life. It is about connections.

Forget the fact that it is a "Native American Novel" and concern yourself only with the fact that it is one of the most engaging stories in contemporary fiction.

Warning: one must be on one's toes while reading this! Snooze for two paragraphs and you may be sorry. Much like Toni Morrison, Louise Erdrich is a very deliberate writer...everything is written for a reason and you had best believe that every little detail is connected to something. This is a book you will insist upon reading at least twice.

P.S. Beware! There are two different versions of this novel out there...one of which is missing four valuable chapters. Before buying or borrowing, make sure your table of contents has "The Island," "Resurrection," "The Tomahawk Factory," and "Lyman's Luck." -Having read the more complete version of "Love Medicine," I absolutely cannot fathom doing without these four chapters. Avoid depriving yourself if possible.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best writers in American History, August 31, 2007

By 

Jack of All Books (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Medicine : A Novel (Perennial Classics) (Paperback)

Simply fantastic. It is a shame though, that she is not included in the canon of literary geniuses of American history. Her stories read beautifully and her artistic ability to paint a picture with words is amazing. Read all her books, they are all wonderful.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An unfortunate book, October 22, 2008

By 

Wesley Sam "avid reader" (Here) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Medicine : A Novel (Perennial Classics) (Paperback)

First off, let me say that I might have liked this book better if I had not read other books by this same author. The problem is that, to me, they all seem the same. I see plot elements reused from title to title, and within the story itself. Even if I hadn't read other books from this author, I would be hard pressed to give this a positive review. Like others here have mentioned, it jumps around so much, it almost makes you nauseated, and not just from character to character, the story is not even written with anything even vaguely resembling chronological order. It jumps back forth from decade to decade in an almost humorous manner. Also, you'll find yourself flipping to the family tree at the beginning of the book constantly in a likely futile attempt to figure out how all the seemingly random characters tie together.

In conclusion, the potential value of this story and the morals that it is meant to portray are largely lost in its random construction and nearly cliche plot elements.