Interesting commencement address. Wish I would have heard this address at MY college graduation ceremony. I don't even remember who gave the commencement address - no one who inspired me to follow my passions, that's for sure.

I also enjoy listening to conversations when I visit Birchbark Books. Too shy to partake. But I always leave with the wonderful conversations in my head, along with a book or two or three. Don't know what I would do without Birchbark Books...

My daughter and I visited Birchbark Books on Saturday, and it brought me back to an earlier history. We first visited the store when my daughter was eight or nine(or ten!), we lived in Illinois and she was participating in wolf camp. Now we live in Oregon and are shopping for colleges. While she found a comfortable chair to sit in, I explored the stacks and found three lovely books. One is a book of collages by David Coggins and I confess to being drawn FIRST to images, then to words. The other two were books of short stories by Native authors. I agree with Barbara---too shy and in awe to participate in conversations, but I left with a good feeling and a plan to return. Along with Wyoming and Oregon, Minnesota is one of my favorite places to be. Thanks so much.

I wish I'd had Louise Erdrich at my commencement speech at UNH--mine was George Bush, Sr. Enough said. Thank you for words that inspire not only graduates but forty-something women like me who need to hear just as often to do what we love and to live a life of devotion. Beautiful as always her words.

Rachel Coyne's new book, "Whiskey Heart" is a remarkable first novel. I couldn't believe I was reading such gut-wrenching, truthful, enlightened stuff. It should be required reading for anyone working with dysfunctional families. I say that half in jest - but in full belief. The characters are so real and so fully fleshed out that I have a clear and deep understanding of each one. Some of
them even have names that correspond to people in my own extended family. "Whiskey Heart" is not a downer, by any means. It's a great read. Enjoy!
Come on Thursday night and meet Rachel. She's really engaging and genuine.

Rachel Coyne's new book, "Whiskey Heart" is a remarkable first novel. I couldn't believe I was reading such gut-wrenching, truthful, enlightened stuff. It should be required reading for anyone working with dysfunctional families. I say that half in jest - but in full belief. The characters are so real and so fully fleshed out that I have a clear and deep understanding of each one. Some of
them even have names that correspond to people in my own extended family. "Whiskey Heart" is not a downer, by any means. It's a great read. Enjoy!
Come on Thursday night and meet Rachel. She's really engaging and genuine.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Louise!
Wishing you Happiness and Joy
Today and Everyday!
Joe and Linda

First...thank you for your blog post. Second...I see it was your birthday, so Happy Birthday! And third...I am mesmerized by The Plague of Doves. Completely hooked. You are such a gifted, poetic writer. Thank you so much for sharing your gift. I deeply appreciate it. Peace, Mary Beth

Louise, I had no idea you were such an accomplished illustrator. The images remind me of your writing; soft, textured and deeply focused. Love the blog.
Your work inspired me years ago to start telling my own stories, and eventually I landed in an MFA program. Hope to someday get the chance to visit Birchbark Books. And I deeply admire the work you are doing to preserve language and culture. I'm in Maine, and several Native scholars and interested parties recently completed our Maliseet-Passamoquoddy dictionary which is over 600 pages long. A big step. Thanks for all you do.

Warmer here in the Pioneer Valley, N Massachusetts near VT and NH. Horses are shedding and the mud is thick. Sun seems very strong.
Thank you for your stories, they are powerful and have been good for me.
Mary

Hello Louise. Appreciated your comments about the warmer weather. Just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it was to visit your store on Sat. 21 March. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to speak with you for a bit more while I was in. Went next door for lunch and came back in to spend more time looking around. Had a chance to visit with Carolyn for awhile, what a treat. I had a great time browsing for nearly an hour! I'll be back as soon as possible, hopefully with some dollars in my pocket. Your business is such an asset to the neighbourhood and the wider community. Hope to see you again soon. Ron H.

Longed for spring. Loved our first walk in the warm weather with our doggies, Arkas and Zeus, last week. Yet enjoyed today's hard rain and clouds because I was able to stay in and finish reading Isabel Allende's "The Sum of Our Days." Guilt-free reading. Today I decided that winter is too long in Minnesota, yet, at the same time, not long enough.

and how could I comment on your blog without telling you that I am savoring your latest book, "The Red Convertible." Story-by-story with pauses to make it last. Thank you for all your wonderful stories and thoughts. "Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country," and "The Master Butchers Singing Club" are my favorites today, in this moment.

Here in northern California we too feel the warmth of an emerging spring. I am rereading the Little No Horse book after about 5 years. It sings to me even more! I have given it over the years to my daughters and my mother and my friends saying "this is my favorite book by my favorite author". What is it about Father Damien that makes me want to talk to him too? What would he say to me to help me with my life? What am I not seeing in the world of spirits that could show me a truth undiscovered? I find myself looking out of the corner of my eye to see that hidden shadow that is more than just a tree or a bush or... Thanks I am growing again in insights! Peace and Prosperity to You!

Ms. Erdrich,
I first fell in love with your work in a class back in 1990 and was excited to find this bookstore. Maybe if I'm lucky I can make a trip up there this summer when I visit my folks in Iowa. It would indeed be a long trip. I'm happy everyone is experiencing such wonderful spring weather as I am still feeling the cold in my bones, probably leftover from our big ice storm in January. There are so many books on your site that I am not sure where to start first. It is like opening your eyes for the first time and deciding what to focus on first. Thank you for opening such a bookstore and making so many things available. I cried when I found this oasis, it means much to me.

Hi from France ! I was in Minnesota on vacation last summer. Bought "The painted Drum" and Sherman Alexie 's Flight in a bookstore in St Paul. Loved both books. I Found out about your bookstore while in France, so disappointed I missed it but hopefuly there's Internet. Wht I love about Native American literature is that it is special nd unforgetable, it remains with you long after the reading it is something I can't explain. At the moment, I'm reading Joseph Bodyden's "3 day-road" in French. I would like to read all your books, they are quite easy to find in book stores here in France. I'm addicted because I want to understand why Native American people are disregarded. Thank you for fighting for the recognition of Native American literature, languages and cultures and for allowing people like me to get to know them and their people.

Hello! I can't believe that at last I have found a website on Native American literature!! I am from Italy, and lived in the States while I was doing my research for my thesis (almost 10 years ago) on this talented writer/storyteller Louise Erdrich.
Amazing! just finished reading The Plague of Doves and I have to say I simply loved it, like all Erdrich's novels ( my favourites are Tracks and Love Medicine). The dialogues are so funny, witty, and full of life. At the same time there is such humanity in her characters that breaks my heart.
In this novel I have found what I expected,ie, the circle of storytelling, which ends where it started bringing balance and harmony to stories and lives that were chaotic.
Please Ms. Erdrich keep on writing wonderful stories!