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Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse
Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse | Louise Erdrich
A New York Times Notable BookFor more than a half century, Father Damien Modeste has served his beloved Native American tribe, the Ojibwe, on the remote reservation of Little No Horse. Now, nearing the end of his life, Father Damien dreads the discovery of his physical identity, for he is a woman who has lived as a man. To further complicate his quiet existence, a troubled colleague comes to the reservation to investigate the life of the perplexing, possibly false saint Sister Leopolda. Father Damien alone knows the strange truth of Leopolda's piety, but these facts are bound up in his own secret. He is faced with the most difficult decision: Should he tell all and risk everything . . . or manufacture a protective history for Leopolda, though he believes her wonder-working is motivated solely by evil?In a masterwork that both deepens and enlarges the world of her previous novels set on the same reservation, Louise Erdrich captures the essence of a time and the spirit of a woman who felt compelled by her beliefs to serve her people as a priest. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse is a work of an avid heart, a writer's writer, and a storytelling genius.
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Blueberry
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Pickpick

3 ⭐
I enjoyed the story but all the different characters in two time periods was confusing.

Tamra I love this novel and have read it a couple of times, but I agree the time periods can be confusing. 1y
54 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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Blueberry
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The grass was white with frost on the shadowed sides of the reservation hills and ditches, but the morning air was almost warm, sweetened by a southern wind.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

49 likes1 stack add
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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

This is such an interesting, odd, complex book about so many things - faith and forgiveness, truth and authenticity - all the things that make life meaningful and true. So much of the narrative has a dreamlike quality. You just have to jump in and enjoy it.

jlhammar Great book! 2y
Tamra I adore this novel! It reads like 3 very different lives lived in one. 2y
37 likes2 comments
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RebelReader
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Pickpick

I loved this story about Agnes who survives the flood and Father Damien doesn‘t. She decides to take on his identity and lives for years out in North Dakota as a mission priest. NanaPush and Fleur also make appearances again in this book. It‘s like visiting old friends. Truth be told I think all of her novels are good, but some are just better.
#AAM

Tamra ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
SaunteringVaguelyDownwards This is my favorite Erdrich too! 2y
Soubhiville This sounds interesting. Glad you liked it! 2y
Aimeesue My fave Erdrich ❤️ 2y
52 likes4 comments
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RebelReader
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I‘m starting this one this afternoon. I think this is the only Erdrich I haven‘t read. So far so good! Feels good to read classic Erdrich again.
#AAM

Aimeesue I love this one ❤️ 2y
Tamra My favorite! 😍 2y
RebelReader @Tamra @Aimeesue I think The Night Watchman is my favorite,but this one is quite good. 2y
tpixie I‘ve never read her before! I just started reading For #AuthorAMonth2023 2y
RebelReader @tpixie She‘s a Minneapolis author and my book group reads everything she writes. I was introduced to her books when I attended a reading retreat in way back in 2000. 2y
42 likes5 comments
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Hamlet
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Pickpick

Agnes has spent most of her life as Father Damien, living on an Ojibwe reservation. I love how Erdrich uses this premise to explore notions of gender, identity, spirituality, friendship, & more. The pronouns for this character switch back & forth; he & she enjoys having both Ojibwe beliefs & Christian ones give him & her fulfillment & understanding. It‘s a great story, too, with fascinating characters, actions, & mysteries. I‘ll seek more by L.E.

Tamra In my top 10 of novels! 😍 4y
Hamlet @Tamra I‘m glad to hear of another appreciative fan! 4y
Suet624 Erdrich can do no wrong. 4y
Hamlet I can‘t believe I‘ve come to Erdrich so late! What an enormous talent... your comment makes me even more eager to read more of her work. 4y
Outermostslp1 Love Erdrich. She was married to Michael Dorris, they had a fascinating relationship. 4y
12 likes1 stack add5 comments
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CuriousG
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Husband is out checking on his blind, so I'm getting a few minutes of extra reading in. Soon it will be back home and back to work though

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CuriousG
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So I'm keen to participate in a fun Litsy swap at some point, but I never seem to know about them until after they happen.

Anyone know of upcoming swaps and who is organizing them? (I'm guessing it might be too late for me to get in on a Valentine's one) #swap

thegirlwiththelibrarybag I don‘t know of any that are still open to join - but I‘ll keep my eye out for you! 4y
AmyG They‘re all closed. :( 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego None open at the moment unfortunately. 4y
See All 16 Comments
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Also, if you do see a post about a swap, chick on the hashtag. Then follow anyone who has posted about the swap. These are usually active littens, who often share info about swaps. 😊 4y
bookish_wookish I usually host the Lonely Hearts Club swap for Valentines day but the way shipping has been is way too stressful so i skipped it this year! 😔 4y
LibrarianRyan @bookish_wookish I so agree. And with people losing jobs left and right. I got really burnt on my last Makers Swap and had to make up 6 swaps. And I haven't hosted one since (well except the card swap).
4y
Chrissyreadit The next swap I will host will be StaycationInTimeSwap signups in May or June. 4y
Chrissyreadit @LibrarianRyan I totally get it but love #makerswap and miss it. 4y
LibrarianRyan @Chrissyreadit I am probably after Valentine day do another maker type swap, but not a full maker swap. Just haven't convinced myself yet. 4y
bookish_wookish Oh wow! I just had to make up 1 on the little christmas. @LibrarianRyan 4y
candority You just missed the Valentine‘s swap I‘m currently hosting, but I‘ll try to tag you if I host another one in the summer! 4y
Avanders @LibrarianRyan oh no! I know you‘re always willing to do that, but I wish I had helped you out! I can definitely see why you got burnt on that 😞 And @CuriousG - it looks like you‘ve been well-informed ☺️ I used to be more regular with hosting swaps... but I still find myself hosting or co-hosting at least 2 a year... I tend to be more end-of-the-year, though. In any event, keeping an eye on the pages mentioned should help! 4y
melissajayne @Chrissyreadit can you tag me if you do it? I would like to join up 4y
Catsandbooks I have a summer swap if you're interested! 4y
26 likes16 comments
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CuriousG
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Heading to the sauna to sweat it out again with this amazing book. I find myself only reading a little bit a day as I don't want to be done it.

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CuriousG
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Taking some time to sweat it out and read in the sauna

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CuriousG
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"The grass was white with frost on the shadowed sides of the reservation hills and ditches, but the morning air was almost warm, sweetened by a southern wind."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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CuriousG
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Some books just need to be picked up at the right time. I love Louise Erdrich and this one has been sitting on my shelf since I bought it at a library sale at least 4 or 5 years ago, but somehow it never felt right to start it. Picked it up today and was immediately drawn in. I guess this was just it's time. Can't wait to continue the journey tomorrow!

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ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

This novel (part of the larger Love Medicine set) focuses on Father Damien who is a pretty minor character otherwise. It has through-lines of other stories I know from previous books, but also different perspectives and more information on those stories. And with themes of gender, sexuality, calling, friendship... this might be my favorite yet.

56 likes1 stack add
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Tamra
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“What is the whole of our existence but the sound of an appalling love?”

This was a slow second reread; it can‘t be rushed or much of the beauty of the writing and meaning is missed, especially since it isn‘t strictly linear or overwritten. Such interesting & complicated characters & intersection of cultures.

It is a mystery to me why I haven‘t particularly appreciated Erdrich‘s other works. It is probably the historical setting of this novel.

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Tamra
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Anyone else agree? I do not sleep well unless I read. 😴

youneverarrived 🙋‍♀️ I have to read before I sleep, even if it‘s only a little bit. 5y
Tamra @youneverarrived yes, even if it‘s only a page! 👍🏾 5y
BarbaraBB Absolutely! I can‘t imagine a bed without a lamp beside it! 5y
See All 9 Comments
Myhusbandhatesreading Definitely!! 5y
quietlycuriouskate Totally! 5y
Suet624 Absolutely. 5y
Aimeesue I love this book. ❤️ 5y
Tamra @Aimeesue me too - I‘m rereading. 💜 5y
kspenmoll Always read myself to sleep!!! 5y
40 likes9 comments
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Tamra
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Why I volunteer to pick up the kids from school. 😄

Freespirit I used to do that! I would also read at after school activities❤️ 5y
Tamra @Freespirit perfect interludes! 5y
Aimeesue Such a great book! 5y
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Tamra @Aimeesue Isn‘t it!? I‘m rereading because I had such an amazing experience the first time. 5y
Billypar I just read a blog post by Erdrich on Goodreads: it was great, she was singing the praises of books she recently read and the ones she's reading now when she's stuck inside with the snow. No pretensions, just like we all do on Litsy...love that. 5y
Tamra @Billypar I‘ll check it out, thanks for mentioning! 5y
71 likes6 comments
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Tamra
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Does anyone else struggle, yes I mean struggle, with deciding on whether to spend precious reading time rereading a favorite or moving on to something new to you?

I had such an amazing reading experience with this one and I want to go back, but I also have an exciting TBR.

MicheleinPhilly Always. I rarely re-read even though I want to. 5y
Cathythoughts It‘s a tough one. I‘ve only ever reread a couple ... it was interesting too because of the time span. ..... stacking this one 5y
Tamra @MicheleinPhilly neither do I, but sometimes I am called. 5y
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Tamra @Cathythoughts me too, only a handful that I go back to. This novel has one main character but 3 distinct lives over a century - if I‘m remembering correctly. 5y
Cathythoughts @Tamra I also mean the time span , as in I read the book over 40 years ago & what will I think of it now ( I‘m old ... 😳🙃.... 5y
Tamra @Cathythoughts bah! No reader is old! 👵🏻 LoL I think the reread would be especially interesting now. I always worry they won‘t hold up. Mostly they have though! I think the last one was The Scarlet Letter and I enjoyed it just as much, in fact I got more out of it. 5y
Tamra @Cathythoughts what is the book? 5y
Cathythoughts The memorable rereads were Wuthering Heights ! & In Cold Blood ! & The Moon & Sixpence.... saw them all with different eyes & still brilliant 5y
Tamra @Cathythoughts 👏🏾 Wuthering Heights is a favorite! I will add the other two to Mt. TBR. 5y
Scochrane26 Yes, I have a hard time, but then I remember that‘s why I bought the book to re-read someday. I‘ve re-read several favorites this year, more than other years. Sometimes I do audio for re-reads. 5y
ljuliel Just read whatever strikes your fancy. Your other books will sit and wait for you. 😊 5y
79 likes11 comments
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Bertha_Mason
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Sister Leopolda is an awful person, but holy fuck, it's metal as shit that she made a rosary out of barbed wire and used it to strangle the town child rapist (of whom she had been a victim). Respect.

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Bertha_Mason
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😂🤣

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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I have a couple of Erdrich‘s books on my shelves, still unread. This quote makes me think I need to get to them sooner than later.

#love #quotsydec17

Tamra This is one of my favorite books. 😊 I haven‘t been wowed by her others. (edited) 7y
Zelma I‘m not one hundred percent sold on the book I‘m currently reading by her (plot-wise) but her writing is definitely good. I will be reading more in the future. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Tamra I‘ll add it to my TBR! Thanks! 7y
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BarbaraTheBibliophage @Zelma She just released a new one, didn‘t she? She sure is prolific! 7y
mgallo1968 The Round House was good and I am always interested to read and understand more about cultures outside of my own experiences. 7y
Booksnob Father Damian slash Agnes is one my all time favorite characters. I still think of her and she‘s not a real person. Bam this is a great book! 7y
Zelma @BarbaraTheBibliophage yes, I‘m reading her newest. But i am really eager to read the one before that. (edited) 7y
Linear 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @mgallo1968 I agree about reading outside my corner of the world. In my mind, that‘s the whole point. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Booksnob Nice to know! I love this quote but haven‘t “met” her yet. 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Zelma I picked LaRose up for Kindle and Round House at a book sale. Dang my TBR list is so stinking long! 7y
jolena_75 Love that quote 💕 7y
ValerieAndBooks I have the book you tagged and a few others of hers in my TBR based on just one book (and the first) I read by her this year: 7y
108 likes2 stack adds13 comments
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jveezer
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"What is the whole of our existence but the sound of an appalling love?"

This book is magnificent!!!

Tamra One of my very favorite books! (edited) 7y
jveezer Soooooooo good, @Tamra ! 7y
3 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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jveezer
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Esquites, a pescado frito taco, and Louise Erdrich. In other words, nirvana.

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Lcsmcat
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Thanks for all the fun challenges you sponsor! #LetterLLove @Cinfhen

Cinfhen My pleasure! Thanks for playing along😄 8y
22 likes1 comment
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Tamra
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Thrifty Wednesday finds! I loved Last Report so much, I bought a second copy because all my books were/are boxed up and banished to the basement to make room after the kids came. Last Report reads like 3 distinct novels in one as it traces the life of a strong woman.

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ValerieAndBooks
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One of the clubs at son's HS had a fundraising used- book sale today. I went over as soon as it started 😊. This is my haul! Cat's Cradle is a title I already have but will upgrade from a mass-market to that. Happy to find the Erdrich and the other titles. The books were $5 total. I know my TBR is out of control but this was for a good cause!

Aswenson Ooooh, I really want to read Not my Father's Son. Good haul! 8y
See All 17 Comments
ValerieAndBooks @Aswenson I'm looking forward to it also. I liked his more recent book (from Secret Santa @KarenUK) although I know the tone of the two are different. 8y
Lcsmcat I really enjoyed The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. I hope you do too. (edited) 8y
ValerieAndBooks @Lcsmcat I read my first Erdrich last week (The Beet Queen) and loved it. Looking forward to this one (and that is one long title)! 8y
Hooked_on_books For $5 I'd judge you for NOT buying, regardless of the cause. 😂 What can I say, I'm an addict! 8y
KarenUK It's so great...heart breaking...💕 8y
ValerieAndBooks @Hooked_on_books true I would have bought anyway with that kind of deal, but less guilt this time 🤗😉 8y
ValerieAndBooks @KarenUK I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it! And it's like new too 👍 8y
RohitSawant Excellent picks! 8y
Dragon Nice haul! 😀 8y
ValerieAndBooks @rohit-sawant @Dragon thanks! I did better than I thought I would. 8y
80 likes3 stack adds17 comments
review
Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

I loved this book! Erdrich's prose is stellar and filled with "must read this out loud to whoever will listen" sentences. She tackles so many themes that could bog a novel down - like gender identity and equality, the fine line between visions and hallucinations, mysticism vs. mental illness. I could go on and on. Yet the book is never preachy, the story flows naturally, and humor abounds. I must read her other books about these same characters!

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Lcsmcat
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"The vast building echoed and only one small part was still in use - housing a cow, chickens, one depressed pig." With a sentence like that on page 12, you know it's going to be a good book.

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Clarkknowles
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Pickpick

Oh my God. This book. The first 100 pages, I struggled, wondered what it was all about. The last 200 pages was an extended, "Oh!" that's what it's all about. Brilliant and beautiful.

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Clarkknowles
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"Time is a fish," said Nanapush slowly, "and all of us are living on the rib of it's fun." @24in48

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Clarkknowles
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It's taken me a long time to get into this book but at around page 120, it clicked. Sometimes you just have to be patient.

2 likes1 stack add
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Clarkknowles
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Sitting by our BioLite Stove on the 4th of July eating dinner and reading some Louise Erdrich

4 likes1 stack add
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MusingsOnMidlife
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Gorgeous book post today! Looking forward to reading this.

JordanGraft I love that book! The story is so good, and Erdrich is one of my all time favorite writers! 9y
10 likes1 comment
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JordanGraft
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"To love another human in all of her splendor and imperfect perfection, it is a magnificent task... Tremendous and foolish and human."
I love love love the way Louise Erdrich writes ??

shawnmooney I've never read her, but her latest novel, 'LaRose,' sounds so great ! 9y
JordanGraft @shawnmooney thanks for reminding me that's out. I just ordered it! 9y
razmanda I just finished The Antelope Wife today! My first attempt with this author and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to LaRose as well. 9y
28 likes3 stack adds3 comments