Inspired by her grandfather’s fight to save his Chippewa
tribe from forced assimilation, Louise Erdrich brings us another of her
signature novels about hope and humanity.
This time she pairs those themes with Thomas’s diligence in carrying the
standard for his people’s rights all the way to Washington. He is the title character, struggling to stay
awake at this job while planning a political battle. However, his efforts are somewhat of a
backdrop to the completely fictional story of his 20-year-old niece, Patrice,
who excels at her factory job but aspires to more. For the time being, she is providing
financial support to her family and anxiously awaiting the return of her sister
Vera from Minneapolis, who has vanished.
Following up on a tip as to Vera’s whereabouts, she travels to the Twin
Cities and lands a strange temporary job whose dangers soon become apparent. Patrice is no fool, however, and has the good
sense to skedaddle back to the reservation with Vera’s infant child in tow,
along with Patrice’s childhood friend and current suitor, Wood Mountain. His story is not nearly as dark, as he and
his opponent both feign injuries prior to their boxing bout to raise money for
the Washington trip. Patrice and Thomas
are the main draw, however--both strong and admirable characters without
malice, as are most of the other members of their tribe. There are a few bad eggs, though, including
Patrice’s alcoholic father and a group of boys who once abducted Patrice. To escape, she had to swim for her life and
hitch a ride to shore in her uncle’s boat.
Leave it to Erdrich to find the humor in this situation and in the
unusual consequence that mysteriously befalls one of the abductors.
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