"Haunted and haunting. . . . With fearlessness and humility, in a
narrative that flows more artfully than ever between destruction and
rebirth, Erdrich has opened herself to possibilities beyond what we
merely see--to the dead alive and busy, to the breath of trees and the
souls of wolves--and inspires readers to open their hearts to these
mysteries as well."-- Washington Post Book World
From the author of the National Book Award Winner The Round House,
Louise Erdrich's breathtaking, lyrical novel of a priceless Ojibwe
artifact and the effect it has had on those who have come into contact
with it over the years.***
While appraising the estate of a New Hampshire family descended from a
North Dakota Indian agent, Faye Travers is startled to discover a rare
moose skin and cedar drum fashioned long ago by an Ojibwe artisan. And
so begins an illuminating journey both backward and forward in time,
following the strange passage of a powerful yet delicate instrument, and
revealing the extraordinary lives it has touched and defined.
Compelling and unforgettable, Louise Erdrich's Painted Drum explores
the often-fraught relationship between mothers and daughters, the
strength of family, and the intricate rhythms of grief with all the
grace, wit, and startling beauty that characterizes this acclaimed
author's finest work.
