This is a good summary of how I feel too
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Well, it appears 2021 winner will have to be read yet. Thought “Shuggie” might be the pick but …
Fiction
The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich (Harper)
A majestic, polyphonic novel about a community’s efforts to halt the proposed displacement and elimination of several Native American tribes in the 1950s, rendered with dexterity and imagination.
Her works always register with me living in Dakota. Will summer shortlist it for sure.
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I have another book by her I haven’t read (The Round House, I think?)
I finished my other book last night (Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, which is excellent and a return to form after the missteps of Artemis) and might sneak in another pulpy summer beach read like that before diving into The Last Ballad, which I have acquired.
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“A Yellow Raft In Blue Water” by Michael Dorris was a recent pick for my “local club”. Great read with Native ties that read like Erdich. Turns out they were married and collaborated. Troubling back stories for him…
Pumped the “Last Ballad” is ready to roll via old school library checkout.
Finished “A Course Called America” last night which was a book I absolutely needed for a “remember why you play the game” check. Been stingy w my Goodread stars but full five from me and enjoyed your review (I skipped Scotland so pumped I’ve got that to go).
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Do we have any estimate for when we might discuss The Last Ballad?
July 14th or 21st?
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Both of those dates work for me.
I vote 14th, summer golf trip to KY is the week of 21st
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Let’s do it! That leaves 4 weeks and the book looks pretty readable
@OffTheDole could you update the title to include July 14?
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Is there a list of books the book club has already done?
I believe Sarah’s photo a few posts back (837) is the full collection of efforts thus far.
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Missing Interior Chinatown which is loaned out to my mom!
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I’m cruising through Last Ballad and will likely finish it up this weekend—thought I’d share this Pete Seeger cover of Ella May Wiggins’ banger, “Mill Mother’s Lament.” Don’t go poking around too many clips or other things about her if you don’t want #spoilers.
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Yowza that books looks thicker than I’d assumed. I’m still reading another book (the third in the My Brilliant Friend series by Elena Ferrante) and looks like I’m gonna need to start powering through it so I can finish Last Ballad in time…
It’s under 400 pages and very readable. You’ll be fine!
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Just finished last night—good read. Gotta go back and process some stuff before discussion.
Just started this afternoon and not sure what I expected (actually, I am sure - I thought it’d be. western novel). Really enjoying the first 5% or so, let’s see where this bad boy goes.
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Reading all these I’m sad I’ve been MIA the last few meetings. Really wish I could have joined the Goon Squad call, that was one of my favorites that I read last year.
Going to try to jump on The Last Ballad!
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Just finished The Last Ballad and looking forward to the conversation… really interesting book and a hell of a story.
For those who haven’t finished, make sure to read the authors note at the end. I don’t always do that and this one is particularly relevant.
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