LaRose

Erdrich is wonderful, but this one doesn't do a lot for me. The premise–a man gives his son to the couple whose son he accidentally killed–is definitely compelling, and there are fine moments throughout, but mostly it's a disappointment: slow, lacking suspense (until the “climax”), an Iago-like character who is too unbelievable, some big issues (like the war in Iraq) that are raised and then dropped, etc.