Helpful Score: 3
After reading and thoroughly enjoying Erdrich's "Master Butcher's Singing Club," I picked up this book with high expectations. I was disappointed and found the story to all be a bit strange...
Helpful Score: 2
One of the best books I\'ve ever read! It sticks with you - this one lady is a butcher. How does a butcher find a mate? It\'s tough, but she manages. Very interesting characters. Well written. Reads fast. (I\'ve read it twice.)
Helpful Score: 2
Full of unique characters and complicated relationships that make for a sad/funny family story.
Helpful Score: 2
Terrific read especially if love family sagas and relationships. The characters run in and out of your mind - sometimes likeable, sometimes not. Erdrich has a knack for making her people incredibly human. This is a little bit of everything - abandonment, friendship, love, narcissim, greed. Lots of riveting sibling animosity flying around here....very very well done. Bravo!
Helpful Score: 1
Her writing is pitch-perfect and, often, breath-taking; Her stories are even better
Helpful Score: 1
Per New York Times, \"A remarkable and luminous novel.\"
Helpful Score: 1
"..,a vibrant tale of abandonment and sexual obsession, jealousy and unstinting love....in 1932 young Karl and Mary Adare arrive by boxcar in North Dakota. Orphaned in a most peculiar way they look for refuge with an aunt and uncle who run a butcher shop. So begins an exhilarating forty one year saga brimming with unforgettable characters..."
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting perspective from several members of a family and a few friends following their lives through 40 years.
Helpful Score: 1
A book of power and precision!
Helpful Score: 1
A remarkable and luminous novel Written with extraordinary power, compassion and insight into the human heart. The dialogue is brillant from start to finish.
On a spring morning in 1932, young Karl and Mary Adare arrive by boxcar in Argus, North Dakota. Orphaned in a most peculiar way, Karl and Mary look for refuge to their mother's sister Fritzie, who, with husband, Pete, runs a butcher shop. So begins an exhilarating forty-year saga brimming with unforgettable characters: Ordinary Mary who causes a miracle; Seductive Karl, who lacks Mary's gift for survival; Sita, their lovely, disturbed, ambitious cousin; Wallace Pfef, a town leader bearing a lonely secret; Celestine James, a mixed-blood Chippewa, and her daughter, Dot. Theirs is a story grounded in the tenancity of relationships, the magic of natural events and the unending mystery of the human condition.
Wonderful reading. Erdrich writes with compassion and insight into the human heart. This was a New York times bestseller & her previous book, Love Medicine, won many awards.
Wonderful reading. Erdrich writes with compassion and insight into the human heart. This was a New York times bestseller & her previous book, Love Medicine, won many awards.
This book was a refreshing change. It was entertaining and moved along at quite a pace. A wonderful story. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I LOVED this! It was a great, great story with lots of great moments.
Another great text from Louise Erdrich that explores the complexity of not-so-traditional families. I personally like Love Medicine more as I felt those characters were more fascinating and hard to read, but The Beet Queen is a great cross-generational examination of family dynamics. A good read for a mother/ teenage daughter who may not be seeing eye to eye.
I really enjoyed this book. When I received it this time, I realized I had read it years ago, but that did not dim the pleasure of reading it this time... it is a little bit quirky.
Another great novel by Louise Erdrich! I love this author. In the spring of 1932 two orphaned children arrive by boxcar in Argus, North Dakota and look for refuge with their mother's sister. So begins a 40 year saga brimming with unforgettable characters!
A vibrant tale of abandonment & sexual obsession, jealousy & unstinting love, brimming with unforgettable characters. With two orphans arriving at their aunt & uncles house in North Dakota at the height of the depression begins a 40 year saga about the tenacity of relationships, the wonder of natural events & the unending mystery of the human condition.
Enjoyed this book that took place over a period of years. Louise Erdich draws you into the stories. I am looking forward to reading her other books.
For those who like Louise Erdrich. I had mixed feelings about this book, but it came together well at the end.
Great summer read!
From the award-winning author of Love Medicine comes a tale of abandonment and sexual obsession, jealousy and unstinting love. On a spring morning in 1932, young Karl and Mary Adare arrive by boxcar in Argus, North Dakota. Orphaned in a most peculiar way, Karl and Mary look for refuge to their mother's sister Fritzie, who with her husband, Pete, run a butcher shop. So begins an exhilerating 40-year saga brimming with unforgettable characters: Ordinary Mary, who causes a miracle ; seductive Karl, who lacks Mary's gift for survival; Sita, their disturbed, ambitious cousin; Wallace Pfef, a town leader bearing a lonely secret; Celestine James, a mixed-blood Chippewa and her daughter, Dot. Theirs is a story grounded in the tenacity of relationships, the magic of natural events and the unending mystery of the human condition.
People always give me books "they" say are fantastic. I found it boring but perhaps it's the exact thing you're looking for. Perhaps you can find a real review on Amazon.com
In the past 10 years there has only been one other book I forced myself to read entirely. This one I just could not do that. It was dull slow starting never got up to speed, stupid characters that make dumb choices and hard to keep a flow with. I will never read another of this authors works. My time is more valuable then to be so wasted attempting to read such drivel.
This book is not a hardcover. It is a large paperback book, ISBN-10.
