The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich – Book Review
Key Themes & Concerns:
- Pollution
- Destruction of the land
- Intergenerational violence and illness
- Healing trauma
- Rebuilding family bonds
Overall Rating: 4/5
Pesticides and chemicals poison the land and waters of Argus in North Dakota, a small town consisting of sugar beet farms along the Red River Valley. A metaphorical curse and mysterious specter loom over the townspeople either to protect or wreak havoc on the various family lines of Argus. There are many inter-generational storylines in this novel, but they all center around the love triangle between Kismet, Gary, and Hugo. Driving the plot is a mystery surrounding an “accident” that Gary was involved in one night. Only in revealing what happened that night can true healing occur for Gary, his family, and the land of Argus.