Thursday, January 1, 2009
M.B. Prt 2- What else?
I think that is all from my head for now. But what is still turning over in yours? Maybe, what songs/singing represent in the novel? What makes a ‘happy’ home or marriage? Other themes you noticed- strength, filling emotional needs, different meanings of love? What else would you like to rant, rave or ask about?
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Although Erdrich's storytelling may be lacking in some ways, I was pleased with the arc she carried Delphine through.
ReplyDeletepage 343 "To her bewilderment, by simply marrying, following a daily schedule, attending to details, and minding her own business, she became one of the town's most stable and respected women. Her advice was asked. Her solutions quoted. Her sagacity with cheap cuts of meat and her saving ways with money were admired."
By the end, how far has Delphine come, from the confused and sad little traveling circus girl? OR from her tragic birth story? The quote above is a silly example, and Erdrich gave many other clear pictures of Delphine's inner character development, with which I was pleased. Although there were many unknowns in the end of the story, I enjoyed knowing and understanding Delphine. I got kind of attached to her by the end!
IMPORTANT QUESTION! (not really... but sort of )
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what version everyone had, but if you had the version that Gretchen posted a picture of at the beginning... WHO is the woman on the front cover?
Sometimes I prefer when covers don't portray any people, because I like to imagine them a certain way in my head... but I'm just wondering if you guys think this is Delphine? Eva?
I think Kate said it best when she talked about how the novel ends amidst Delphine's growth, rather than toward the end of it, as most novels do. I too felt she set down secure roots in her community, is less alone and confused and has grown into a woman who others respected. But she still had so much discovering and growing within her self, marriage and family to go (in my humble opinion).
ReplyDeleteAs for the cover, the original hardback version had a photo of a butcher (Louis Erdrich June 8, 1912. Pforzheim, Germany, photographer unknown
), probably Erdrich's great grandfather and inspiration for the novel? I found the info here: http://www.west.asu.edu/jbuenke/erdrich/publications/master-butchers.html
The trade paperback photo was changed (perhaps a woman would sell better?) but I was unsuccessful in googling any information about it! Sorry!
She is part Native American and part German... and this is her bookstore link: http://birchbarkbooks.com/bbb/index.html