I'm joining Kat and the Unravelers to show you what the Dracula Hitchhiker looks like now that I've finished the Lavendel and started with the first of the blue stripes. This one is Lapislazuli.
I ran outdoors in between the thundershowers and rain to take the picture, but I do appreciate seeing a photo of the whole thing on Wednesday. It looks different than concentrating on one color while I'm knitting it, and I like the addition of each new color a little more each time I see it.
I finished one book this week and I'm glad I finally read it. I saw some less than favorable reviews of The Mighty Red early on, but Jane wrote about it last week and rekindled my interest in it. In The Mighty Red, Louise Erdrich has
written a saga centered on the Geist family and those around them. Set
against the backdrop of a slowly transforming Midwestern town, the novel
explores identity, inheritance, and the tension between legacy and
reinvention. As with much of Erdrich’s work, there's a powerful
undercurrent of mythology and Indigenous worldview, though it simmers
more quietly beneath the surface here.
The strength of the novel
lies in its characters—flawed, tangled, and vividly drawn. Erdrich
excels at capturing the internal lives of her protagonists, and several
members of the Geist family left lasting impressions. I found Kismet Poe
to be one of the most interesting. She is impulsive and restless,
indecisive and passive, aware of the economic and class divides between
herself and the Geist family that she has married into, despite knowing
that it was a mistake.
That said, I found the the novel's pacing
uneven. While some sections were full of emotional and narrative
intensity, others feel overly digressive or weighed down by repetition.
The thematic richness—particularly gender dynamics and familial duty—is
present, but at times it felt dispersed rather than distilled. Erdrich's
prose remains sharp and elegant, even when the plot occasionally
meanders.
Still, there’s a lot to admire. The Mighty Red isn’t my favorite Erdrich novel, but it's a solid entry in her body of work, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of The Night Watchman. I found it to be a novel that asks more than it answers, and maybe that’s the point. Three and a half stars rounded up.
What are you making and reading this week?
Those colors continue to enchant me! I'm glad you found a moment in between rain showers to snap a photo outside.
ReplyDeleteI had similar thoughts about The Mighty Red. I don't think it's her best work, but even a less-than-great Erdrich novel is still pretty good, and I always love how she manages to insert moments of humor (in this case, the bank robberies) in between the heartbreak.
First, your Hitchhiker becomes more stunning with each color addition! I really love how the colors are similar, yet different... beautiful! (and I really love how you decided to transition them in! That row of YO's is perfect!)
ReplyDeleteLikewise, I read Jane's review of The Mighty Red... I loved her thoughts on the river being a character... it was there, lingering around throughout the entire novel but I really never thought about it! Your thoughts as well clarify some things for me (but overall, I really loved the story!)
I concur with your thoughts about The Mighty Red. I really did like it, but found it quite draggy there in the middle. (And a middling Louise Erdrich is far better than most other reading options, IMO.) And I just love the colors in your Dracula Hitchhiker! It's just stunning - and will be so much fun to wear in the dreary days of winter. XO
ReplyDeleteI feel your excitement with every new color! That's how I am about my colorwork. It's ridiculous that just pulling out a new ball makes my day but at my age I'm grateful I still have something that gives me a reason to get up in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's ridiculous at all to get excited by color! We're lucky that all it takes is a pleasing skein of yarn (or a few pleasing skeins) to make us happy.
DeleteThank you, Bonny, for that review. This book is on my TBR list, which is rapidly becoming amusing in its length. I usually enjoy her books, but I agree that The Night Watchman is, so far, her best work. Every time I see this HH with additional colors, I picture in my mind's eye how lovely it will be wrapped around a neck with all the colors mingling. And I have put yarn overs in my knitting tips for color changes. It really enhances the color changes. Have a happy Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteWell, everyone has already said what I want to say about your Hitchhiker!! LOL. It really is a stunning masterpiece Bonny. I love how dramatic the colors are and the row of YOs is perfect for the color switch. I think I read a Louise Erdich book years ago and wasn't all that impressed but maybe I should give her another try (maybe with the Night Watchman first??), but not until I finish the books I have and those that are coming in for me from my queues at the library. so many books and so little time....
ReplyDeleteI love the blue!! It's stunning and so pretty!
ReplyDeleteOh my... I LOVE IT!! And still maintain that it's ELECTRIC!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. That hitchhiker is so beautiful. I love the bold striking colors. It's so interesting to see how dyers combine colors. I'd never come up with that combination but I love it. I'm glad you enjoyed The Mighty Red. I'd agree it isn't Erdrich's best novel but she writes the most interesting characters. While I haven't read every book she has published, I've read a great many and will continue to do so. She is a storyteller.
ReplyDeleteThat hitchhiker gets more fabulous every time you show it! And thanks for the review of the Louise Erdrich, I haven't read it yet but plan to.
ReplyDeleteThat Hitchhiker is getting better with each new color (and I do love it showcased on the greener grass). I enjoyed both your and Jane's thoughts about The Mighty Red - I agree about the pacing and the importance of the issues she's raising. and while I loved the quirkiness of the characters/plot (reminded me of her earlier books, like Beet Queen and Bingo Palace), I think they weren't - for me, at least - the best messengers for what she wanted to say.
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