Worth sticking with

This book took me a while to enjoy. It starts slowly but gets very juicy in the second half. I found the Indian characters most compelling. The final scene between mother and daughter moved me to tears. I loved the author's use of language; her dialogues were especially memorable. I would recommend it.

11 people found this helpful

Thoroughly Enjoyable

This was recommended to me through a group on ravelry.com. Knitters tend to know good audio books, and they were right on with this one. I was surprised and pleased when the story turned from modern day back to the origins of the drum. I felt the characters were very real, with all their flaws, and yet remarkable because of them. They came across as every day people - neighbors, acquaintances, friends. This is a great read (listen!)

9 people found this helpful

Great listen

If you love Erdrich's novels, you'll love this one too. If you're new to Erdrich, this is a good start. It's a bit less dark and complicated than some of her other stories. Though plenty of heartache in this one too, there's a lot redemption and humor, too. Anna Fields goes a great job as narrator. Highly recommended.

4 people found this helpful

Hurting and healing

Louise Erdrich has composed a beautiful story about life. As Faye, the main character reflects on her life, she is drawn into other lives past and present. Finding and keeping the drum in order to find it's "true owners" provides the opportunity for Faye to learn more about herself and her mother. The writing is succinct, but not spare. I thought the narrator did an excellent job with this book. At one point, I had to check the narrator because I was convinced it was two narrators.

3 people found this helpful

Powerful

This book sneaks up on you from behind and delivers a subtle, yet powerful, blow between the shoulders which shakes the heart. It builds, turns back on itself, and demands an emotional response. Erdrich circles the story and each turn adds resonance and depth to the characters and to the reader's experience. Highly recommended if you want to experience a book that delves beneath the surface of what it means to be human.

7 people found this helpful

Two narrators?

I attended my monthly book club, we were reading and discussing The Painted Drum. It is a wonderful story, well written and many quotable sections. One of the members played the audible version narrated by a Native American woman, possibly the author. I fell in love with her voice so I downloaded the audible version to listen to the book only to hear a very plain, boring American woman's voice, not the rich native voice I heard earlier in the evening. I turned it off after a couple minutes and I'm looking for a refund. I'm so disappointed.

1 person found this helpful

Fields brings to life Erdrich's vivid imagery.

What about Anna Fields’s performance did you like?

Erdrich's style of prose isn't one that lends itself easily to a verbal interpretation, yet Field's does a wonderful job bringing Erdrich's vivid images, complex symbols, and ever-shifting narrators to life. I was especially impressed with her pacing (which allowed the listeners to absorb all of Erdrich's rich language) and her fitting pronunciation/inflection of the Native American Indian specific vocabulary. Simply put, it was lovely to listen to Field's interpretation.

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful novel. Outstanding Narrator.

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and the presentation. I highly recommend it to others.

beautifully moving

wry, tender without being schmaltzy, real people - engrossing storytelling. I've listened 3 times through over the past few years and every time I'm hooked.

Learn Forgiveness from the Wolves

This book has taught compassion and forgiveness. In a most elegant and beautiful way, and insight into human nature.