THE SENTENCE

by Louise Erdrich

MINI REVIEW

It’s strange how sometimes I find that within a short span of time, two or more books that I read have a similar theme or are set in the same place.  This summer I must have read four or five books where a public library played an important part in the story.  This month, I’m recommending two novels that involve ghosts. In The Sentence, Louise Erdrich has written another compelling novel, this time about a Native American woman named Tookie, who is working in an independent bookstore in Minneapolis after being released from a long prison sentence.  Set during the initial outbreak of COVID 19, Tookie finds that while she’s at the store filling orders when it is shuttered due to the pandemic, she is regularly visited by the ghost of an annoying customer who used to frequent the store before she died. Tookie is about as heartbreaking and relatable as any character you will encounter.  As she works to restart her life after prison and solve the mystery of the ghostly visits, the reader feels deeply Tookie’s vulnerability and strength.  The Sentence is pure Erdrich magic:  great writing, good story and always unexpected twists. (Liz)