I picked this book up at a sale for about an Euro - one of the best spent Euros of my life. It is one of the few books that I have read that have really moved me.This is a book of 36 short stories written by Erdich over the period of 30 years. They are on a number of Topics, but always at the heart of each and every one is the relationships beween people, and within people. Almost all the stories are about native American Indians, taking place on reservations or in the homes of those who have Long left the reservation behind but not their heritage. I learned a lot about These cultures from the stories, although I must say I was disappointed that almost all the stories seem to indicate that native Americans have nothing to look forward to but a life of drunkenness, broken families, teenage pregnancies and poverty. I miss some happier stories. Very few of the characters went on to study, many of the women seemed to have early pregnancies which they regretted, most of the men were bumbling strongmen, and many of the children wanted to do nothing more than leave.Despite this, Erdich weaves stories across many decades. A large number of the stories interconnect, with characters who are daughtes in one story turning up in the next as mothers or grandmothers. This is a fabulous reminder of how different we are as children to when we are adults, and how history tends to repeat itself in our children. Cleverly, only we are party to secrets of the adults (which we were exposed to in their childhood) which their own children do not know about.Erdich writes beautifully, and draws out many emotions from the reader, many of them conflicting. It is this that makes her short stories so Special in the end. Even in stories that seem to go nowhere, such as The Painted Drum, the Reader is left riding high on an emotional wave, thinking of ghosts and the frailty of life, wanting more.I will be trying her novels, but this book is certainly a great way to get to know here writing and to also understand something of native America. I have always enjoyed Louise Erdrich's books. She is a masterful storyteller. Reading her stories are like greeting old friends and family. This collection of short stories is fantastic. There are all of the good old familiar characters along with a few new ones I wasn't familiar with. I had myself convinced with the first story that it was my favorite and was the best in the collection....I kept saying that until the very end. Bittersweet, honest, funny, insightful, heartbreaking and always powerful--absolutely beautiful! I especially loved Naked Woman Playing Chopin, Le Mooz, and The Butcher's Wife.
What do You think about The Red Convertible (2009)?
Great stories, though slightly overwhelming in the magnitude of them. Take it slow.
—chiefnana
Uneven book of stories. so far none above a 3. liked the novel I read better
—shirley
She's much more enjoyable in a full-lenth novel than short stories.
—javier
Too much book, really. I'd stick with the novels.
—deidra
