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Lorna's Reviews > The Sentence
The Sentence
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The Sentence is the latest book by Louise Erdrich, an author becoming one of my favorite contemporary writers. As one progresses through this book, it is clear that the word sentence has many different meanings as we learn here. The Epigraph was perfect and even more so at the conclusion of the book:
---- Sun Yung Shin, Unbearable Splendor
At the heart of this involved and beautiful book is a dictionary. And in the Acknowledgements, author Louise Erdrich relates how important a dictionary has been to her, in both her life and career. As we are introduced to the protagonist, Tookie, it is evident that through a series of missteps, she is arrested and ultimately sentenced to prison for a long time. The arresting tribal police officer, Pollux, a lifelong friend of Tookie, works for a commutation of her sentence. The first book that is sent to Tookie in prison is a dictionary that opens a world of possibilities as she voraciously makes her way through many boxes of books that have been sent to her in prison. Ulimately her sentence is commuted and Tookie gets a job in Birchbark Books specializing in Native American Studies in Minneapolis with Louise making a cameo appearance in her own book.
This is a book that transpires over a one-year period of time. It encompasses the different beliefs and sacred rituals of the different indiginous tribes of Tookie and Pollux as they forge their life together. And with Birchbark Books as a background, books are such an integral part of this beautiful story. But add to that a ghost that is haunting the bookstore, and more specifically Tookie. And it is explained thus:
The timeline of this book is very contemporary in that it is taking place during the initial days of the global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus and the aftermath as we all coped as best we could with lockdowns trying to determine what we could do to protect ourselves from the virus. And add to this, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, spurring a grassroots protest. But there is also the haunting of the bookstore. This was a beautiful book that has everything that I love, magical realism, Native American traditions, and books. There is a wonderful compendium at the end of the book that will give you the information for all of the books that Tookie recommends to her friends and patrons. This was an amazing book on so many levels.
"From the time of birth to the time of death, every word you utter is part of one long sentence."
---- Sun Yung Shin, Unbearable Splendor
At the heart of this involved and beautiful book is a dictionary. And in the Acknowledgements, author Louise Erdrich relates how important a dictionary has been to her, in both her life and career. As we are introduced to the protagonist, Tookie, it is evident that through a series of missteps, she is arrested and ultimately sentenced to prison for a long time. The arresting tribal police officer, Pollux, a lifelong friend of Tookie, works for a commutation of her sentence. The first book that is sent to Tookie in prison is a dictionary that opens a world of possibilities as she voraciously makes her way through many boxes of books that have been sent to her in prison. Ulimately her sentence is commuted and Tookie gets a job in Birchbark Books specializing in Native American Studies in Minneapolis with Louise making a cameo appearance in her own book.
This is a book that transpires over a one-year period of time. It encompasses the different beliefs and sacred rituals of the different indiginous tribes of Tookie and Pollux as they forge their life together. And with Birchbark Books as a background, books are such an integral part of this beautiful story. But add to that a ghost that is haunting the bookstore, and more specifically Tookie. And it is explained thus:
"Flora died on the second of November, All Soul's Day, when the fabric between the world is thin as tissue and easily torn."
The timeline of this book is very contemporary in that it is taking place during the initial days of the global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus and the aftermath as we all coped as best we could with lockdowns trying to determine what we could do to protect ourselves from the virus. And add to this, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, spurring a grassroots protest. But there is also the haunting of the bookstore. This was a beautiful book that has everything that I love, magical realism, Native American traditions, and books. There is a wonderful compendium at the end of the book that will give you the information for all of the books that Tookie recommends to her friends and patrons. This was an amazing book on so many levels.
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Barbara
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rated it 4 stars
Jan 08, 2022 05:50PM
I have had this on hold for so long, and it is finally available. Your review makes me very anxious to read it, Lorna. Wonderful review.
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Lorna, I think my TBR would be in grave danger of a real collapse if I were to look at Tookie's recommendations :D I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book or not, but I've seen such glowing reviews like yours that I can no longer resist the temptation to add it.
Original proposition - a dictionary at the heart of a novel. I have never read any Erdrich. A new candidate for my list.
I’m as intrigued as Kalliope is by the idea of the dictionary - and by that first marvellous quote. I don’t know if I’m ready for something so contemporary that includes the darn virus, though. What I do know is that I very much enjoyed your well-written, enthusiastic review, Lorna!
Barbara wrote: "I have had this on hold for so long, and it is finally available. Your review makes me very anxious to read it, Lorna. Wonderful review."I am so happy that you finally got it. There certainly is a lot of buzz about this book. I will be anxious to hear your thoughts. And thank you for your kind words, Barbara.
Candi wrote: "Lorna, I think my TBR would be in grave danger of a real collapse if I were to look at Tookie's recommendations :D I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book or not, but I've seen such glowing rev..."Candi, you make me smile because the Appendix with Tookie's book recommendations is staggering, as well as books suggested by Birchbark Books. This now is another library that I will need to add to my list of destinations. I will be anxious to hear your thoughts about this book. Thank you too for your kind comment, Candi.
Kalliope wrote: "Original proposition - a dictionary at the heart of a novel. I have never read any Erdrich. A new candidate for my list."Oh Kalliope, this is definitely a book about books throughout that adds another dimension. This would not be a bad place to start if you have never read Erdrich. One of my favorite by Erdrich is The Plague of Doves that I found magical. Thank you for commenting.
Violeta wrote: "I’m as intrigued as Kalliope is by the idea of the dictionary - and by that first marvellous quote. I don’t know if I’m ready for something so contemporary that includes the darn virus, though. Wha..."I agree with you, Violeta. The Epigraph was magical and certainly set the tone for the book throughout. I will admit that the contemporary issues such as the lockdown of businesses and schools because of the coronavirus was jarring. Thank you too, Violeta, for your kind words.
