August 18, 2016

LaRose

 

Two families are extremely close. They share food, clothing, rides into town and more. Their children play together often. So when one family loses a son, the other family literally gives their son, LaRose, and arranges for shared visits with the birth family. LaRose becomes the link between the Irons and the Raviches.

LaRose is LaDud. I couldn't even stretch it to my 50-page Rule. It was enough of a struggle to finish the first chapter. I should have known when I read the first line:

"Where the reservation boundary invisibly bisected a stand of deep brush—chokecherry, popple, stunted oak—Landreaux waited."

Description is fine but sometimes simple is better. One of Stephen King's number one writing rules is to not use a complex word when a common word will do. Do not say "divulged" when you can say "said." Read the first line again. There is a better way to describe a guy stalking a deer. Could you even tell what he was doing?

Is it just me? I may judge a book from it's first line but will give it a fair chance. LaRose did not pass. Back to the library it goes.

Title: LaRose
Author: Louise Erdrich
Published: May 2016
Pages: 372
Edition: Hardcover
Rating: ♥


 

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