Louise Erdrich's Blog | Birchbark Books & Native Arts

Birchbark Blog

At Last!

Louise Erdrich - Sunday, March 15, 2009

At last! After our deep freeze winter, the weekend. 40, 50 degrees. Tee shirt weather. People were out on the still frozen lakes. Minnesotans emerged, pale and dazzled, from their caves, and walked their dogs or conversed euphorically as they walked the paths and sidewalks and ice free trails. It was lovely to see the action in the streets. The bookstore was packed. I thought of us all emerging from The Winter Vault. The Winter Vault is actually the title of Ann Michael's new novel (Fugitive Pieces, her last book). My daughter gave it to me, and I read it right through. The first half especially is extraordinary. This is a love story, a river story, a story about how all we do changes what and whom we love. It is exquisitely written. The wrenching and lovely book of a poet with great narrative skills.

The Winter Vault, by Ann Michaels.

-- Louise

Comments

Mary commented on 15-Mar-2009 09:33 PM

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

Ron Hall commented on 22-Mar-2009 10:48 AM

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.

Barbara Z commented on 23-Mar-2009 05:29 PM

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.

Barbara Z commented on 24-Mar-2009 09:00 AM

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.

Betsy commented on 26-Mar-2009 08:44 PM

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!

Eli B commented on 16-Apr-2009 01:25 PM

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.

Marie-Annick from France commented on 26-Apr-2009 07:30 AM

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.

Katia commented on 03-Aug-2009 10:53 AM

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!

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