Ever is the main character in this story, but his prominence
is not initially apparent, as he is only six months old. Part Cherokee, part Kiowa, and part Mexican,
we follow his development from an angry and unmanageable child to a man who
works with troubled kids, although that transition seemed very abrupt to
me. His first wife, Lonnie, bears him
three children, who become his responsibility when she becomes a meth
addict. Ever struggles to keep his
family safe and whole and even adds a fourth charge named Leander, an
adolescent whose fury and accompanying violence closely resemble Ever’s own issues
at that age. This book is largely about
family, especially in the various Native American communities, but Ever’s relatives
have problems of their own, especially alcoholism and drug abuse. Both Ever and his sister, Sissy, both pin
their romantic hopes on unworthy candidates for partners, making their journey
toward keeping their heads above water that much harder. This book bears some similarities to several
of Louise Erdrich’s novels, and I found this one easier to follow in terms of
the relationships between the characters.
Another plus is that this book has a very straightforward timeline. However, there’s just not enough of a plot
here to hold my attention. The most
memorable section of the book is the final chapter, but up until that point,
the book is mostly poignant, with a feeling of inevitable hopelessness.
No comments:
Post a Comment