|
The tale of the Ojibwe painted drum is told in three parts that twine and weave together through the past and the present. In the first, Faye Travers, an estate appraiser who is part-Ojibwe, is called to the home of a recently deceased neighbor where she discovers an incredible collection of American Indian artifacts. The neighbor was a descendant of an Indian agent on the Ojibwe reservation where Faye's grandmother lived as a child.
A drum in the collection calls to Faye --- literally. She alone hears a low note from it as she steps close. The drum is enormous and exquisitely decorated with beads, tassels, small tin cones, and a painted yellow line. Faye is strangely moved by the drum. As a result, she does something unthinkable: she steals it.
Faye's lover, artist Kurt Krahe, is lost in sorrow. His daughter died recently. Previously aloof, he has become determined to grow close to Faye; Faye feels that he wants to somehow own her. As he reveals more to her of himself, she discovers he has been lying to her. While previously she longed for a better connection with Krahe, Faye now pulls away --- even more so when Krahe suggests reviving the apple orchard, the scene of a tragedy that has shaped Faye's life since childhood.
In the second part of the tale, the story's viewpoint shifts to Bernard Shaawano, who lives on the reservation. Faye and her mother bring the drum "home." The drum is pivotal to Bernard's family history, which he tells. His story is filled with passion, betrayal, unthinkable sacrifices, and survival. Shaawano explains how the painted drum came to be made by his own grandfather who was prompted to build it by the ghost of his lost daughter. The making of the drum resurrected Bernard's grandfather's wrecked life, giving him purpose and inspiring him to quit drinking. Previously friendless, he found himself with "more help than he could manage, and more advice than he could trust" as he prepared to fashion the drum. Yet he is also guided by dreams, spirits and visions as he begins his quest.
The third story opens with nine-year-old Shawnee desperately trying to feed her small brother and sister. They've eaten the family's toothpaste, and now drink diluted cough syrup and eat the crumbs found below cupboard liners. Shawnee's mother, Ira, has gone to town desperately trying to find help for her children, landing finally in a bar where she hopes to barter sex for money in order to buy food. Meanwhile, her children are freezing and starving at home. Shawnee's efforts to keep her siblings warm end disastrously. As the little girl hauls her brother and sister through an icy night, she hears something no one else can.
The intertwined tales, which celebrate the courage of girls both alive and ghostly, are beautifully told. The stories reaching far into the past seem more vibrant, while Faye's contemporary tale, though enjoyable, fades a bit in contrast, functioning more as a backdrop. This is a difficult book to read at times, yet is so compelling that it's impossible to put down. Although the tales can be harrowing, they feel authentic and leave the reader with a fine upturn of hopefulness.
Louise Erdrich is always a joy to read, with her gorgeous prose, haunting tales and fascinating characters. Very highly recommended.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
 Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.
Click here to get the audiobook from Audible.com.
© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
