The Round House by Louise Erdrich

The Round House by Louise Erdrich just won (like last week!) the National Book Award for fiction. I had this book on my to-read list for a while, but once I heard it won a large award, I had to see what the fuss was about.

The Round House takes place in 1988 on an Native American reservation in North Dakota. The reservation is shaken when Joe’s mother is brutally raped. Joe and his father, a reservation judge, work to figure out who committed the crime in order to prosecute. This is a good distraction for them, since Mom has completely checked out and spends all her time in her room with the blinds closed.

However, solving this crime is not as easy as it seems, because the story is a little more complicated.

Joe’s only thirteen, but while he and his best friends work through their teenage trials and tribulations, they also work to find answers that they will be able to live with.

The Round House was an amazing read. The story was moving, honest, and emotional. You were able to peek into Native American traditions, as well as some of their struggles with the U.S. government. This is definitely a book I recommend!

Thank you to Goodreads First Reads and Harper Collins for the copy of this book!

20 thoughts on “The Round House by Louise Erdrich – Book 40”

Sounds great! I have read very little about Native Americans and it’s a subjet that I’m interested in. I didn’t know the book, of course 😉

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RebeccaScaglione on November 25, 2012 at 1:44 pm said:

It’s a really interesting one! Worth the read! 🙂

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- gail on January 2, 2013 at 9:22 pm said:
  
  Hi Rebecca, just catching up on your blog, love it! i am reading the Round House now and I am really enjoying it. I was going to write you and recommend this one, but now i don’t have too. I will definitely put some of your picks on my reading list. I think next up is “A Dog’s Journey.”
  Have a Happy New Year.
  
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  - RebeccaScaglione on January 3, 2013 at 2:38 pm said:
    
    Well great minds think alike! 🙂
    
    A Dog’s Journey was, again, soooo good, but keep the tissues close!
    
    Happy 2013!
    
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This is an author that I haven’t gotten into reading, yet, but so many people have been telling me I should. I will have to rectify that soon.

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RebeccaScaglione on November 25, 2012 at 1:45 pm said:

I haven’t read anything else by her, but she has written both fiction and nonfiction books. I think I’d want to try out one of her nonfiction next.

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I can’t wait to read this one! I’m chomping at the bit over here!

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RebeccaScaglione on November 25, 2012 at 1:45 pm said:

I hope you receive it soon!!! I mailed it . . . umm. . . whatever day I was badgering you about your address! 🙂

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I’ve read nothing but great things about this book. I really need to read it soon. Your post is making me excited about it!

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RebeccaScaglione on November 26, 2012 at 1:21 pm said:

Thanks! The book was really good, and worth the read! I’d love to hear your thoughts when you finish!

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This sounds really good! I took a class on Indian history that focused primarily on the history of native peoples after the Europeans began settling in America (not what I was expecting from a class called First Peoples, let me tell you), and it was heartbreaking to learn about the suffering and horrible treatment the settlers, and even later, the government caused them. I think it would be really interesting to read a novel set on a modern reservation and get a glimpse into Indian life.

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RebeccaScaglione on November 26, 2012 at 1:26 pm said:

The class sounds really interesting! I haven’t taken a class, but learned about certain things about the reservations and even visited a few. Louise Erdrich took the history and facts and used it to create this fictional story about Joe and his family.

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