Books The Master Butchers Singing Club (P.S.)
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - The Mystery That Is Louise Erdich
I just finished another book by Louise Erdich. She writes such peaceful, hopeful books. They have a sadness to them that is respectable. There is always a surprising truth at the end of her stories that only the reader, but not the characters, know. The litte truths at the end of the story never quite make sense of everything, they just make sense. There is a mystery in her stories, but not the painful tension that makes books exhausting. There is something in each character that makes you feel like you'll survive your own flaws; that maybe you're OK afterall. And there's always a bit of a history lesson in the stories, too. A history lesson you didn't know we needed to hear.

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Rating: - Jaw dropping conclusion
The book club I belong to had decided to read this book. After the first 50 pages, I was bored to tears. However, once the initial backdrop is established, the story started to really get good.

The book is set in post WWI where a soldier from Germany comes to America and sells sausages in North Dakota. At the same time, he crosses paths with another woman whose own life has been trying and difficult. Thru cirmcumstance, the lives of these two intertwine and the author does a good job of establishing real, three dimensional characters. Additionally, Erdrich masterfully describes the challenges of the late 20's and early 30's, before the modern conveniences we have so grown accustomed to.

After writing a moving piece, Erdrich blows the reader away with a jaw dropping conclusion that will leave you speechless.

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Rating: - Too Many, Too Much
This book would have been much improved by some careful editing. I agree with an earlier reviewer who termed it "a mess" -- there were far too many plotlines and characters. Do we truly need to know so much about the undertaker-assistant friend? the sheriff? A clear focus on the Waldvogel family, or Delphine, showing how aspects of their lives developed, would have made this a much more interesting book.

Much worse for an author of Erdrich's experience and caliber is the fact that we are told so many things about each character's life, rather than having them naturally develop from the story. "Show, not tell" is a basic principle of fiction writing, and I can't count the number of times we didn't have this here. When I think of the clarity of some of her earlier works, such as "Tracks" and "Beet Queen," I am saddened and disappointed.

Also, much of the writing was seriously overwrought. A woman is described as "seething, like a waft of town sewer gas down the street." This is just one of many cringe-inducing phrases. I hate to say it, but if the person who wrote this book wasn't already a well-established and famous author, I find it hard to believe a publisher would have accepted it -- at least without some serious rewriting.

Erdrich has done some fine work. I went back to "Tracks" and found myself moved and truly impressed by both the spare, beautiful quality of her writing as well as the story. Perhaps she should return to her stylistic roots.

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Rating: - Vivid, enthralling story
This story is told vivdly and easily has you enthralled. There's many twists and turns along the way, and you'll enjoy each!

The book really is just a story of a group of people trying to make it in ND in the early 1900's- after WWI. Each character is memorable, unique and comes to life before your eyes. The ending won't leave you disappointed.

Overall I did enjoy the story. It was SO involved though, I almost feel like I can't pick one thing the story was about- or one person. The weirdest thing is that the title is a bit misleading, not until the last 50 pages does the author mention much about the "singing club". Nor is Fidelis really the "main character"- I felt there really was none. This is the first I've read by this author, this book does not compell me to read more, but I'm glad I read it.