I loved Erdrich's explorations of issues of gender, race and religion through the person of Fr Damien Modeste—formerly Agnes DeWitt, formerly Sister Cecilia, a white outsider who becomes part of an Ojibwe reservation community. I did find this a little uneven—the pacing was off at times, some of the characters felt more alive than others, and occasionally things felt overly convoluted—but the elegance of Erdrich's prose and the depth of her humour made The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse well worth the read. ( )

Well I guess I am in the minority here, but... this novel didn't work all that well for me. I was engaged, definitely, it kept me reading, but about halfway in I started being annoyed that the thoughts and voices of all the characters all sounded alike. They all sound like Louise Erdrich. ( )

I liked this book, ultimately, even though I found it a little uneven, at times. I usually read pretty quickly, but this one has been at the bedside for over two weeks, and I've started and finished several others while reading it.

One of the things that fascinated me was the difference in character between Agnes and Father Damen. You'd think that being the same person, they'd have more similarities, but each has such a distinct flavor. (that's not a spoiler- you can find out that they are one in the same by reading the book jacket.)

The ending of this book, however, was delicate and brilliant. Made it worth slogging through those parts where I wanted to give it up, but was too lazy to go find something else to read before going to sleep. ( )

This story is as powerful and mesmerizing a tale as I have yet to read by this marvelous author. Here we have the story of an aging priest who reflects back on a life ministering to Ojibwe Indians on an isolated reservation. The story spans the better part of the 20th century, and is true to the times without being focused on history as much as character. The priest's astonishing secret of a double life, coupled with the fascinating characters who people his tale, and the haunting, lyrical style of Erdrich’s spot-on magical realism result in an outstanding work of literary fiction. ( )

From Booklist
It's high time to acknowledge that Erdrich's ongoing sequence of novels about Native American life on an Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota over the last century stands at the pinnacle of recent American fiction. Her latest exploration of the interlocking lives of several generations of characters from her fictional reservation works beautifully as a reprise of all that has come before: the action, centered on the life of a priest who served the reservation for nearly a century, jumps back and forth in time, offering a chance for various figures from the principal families in Erdrich's world--Nanapush, Kashpaw, Pillager, Morrisey--to cross the stage once more, viewing life, as always, with passion, poetry, and a self-sustaining sense of the absurd. This time, though, all of that is glimpsed through a new and compelling filter: Father Damien, who is, in fact, Agnes De Witt, the common-law wife of a murdered German farmer, who through a typically absurd sequence of events, finds her mission in life by impersonating a dead priest. As Father Damien, in his (her) 90s and nearing death, attempts to explain to a younger priest why Sister Leopolda should not be made a saint, we experience the history of the reservation from the unique point of view of an outsider who gradually, under the tutelage of the wise and hysterically funny Nanapush, throws in her spiritual lot with the Ojibwe. (Erdrich, always a master of the set piece, outdoes herself here with the tall tale of Nanapush's encounter with a frightened moose, perhaps the most wonderfully comic sequence in the author's entire oeuvre.) This is Erdrich writing at the peak of her powers, embracing both the earthy sensuality and abiding spirituality of her characters and energizing the whole with a raucous humor that is at once self-deprecating and life-enhancing. --Bill Ott

My very most favorite Erdrich! And Erdrich is one of my favorite authors.

Engrossing story of a woman posing as a Catholic priest on an impoverished reservation and her "reports" to the pope of events she believes are miracles ( )

A novel that begins with an unlikely premise -- an ex-nun, fleeing a flood comes upon the body of a drowned priest. The priest was on his way to serve at the Chippewa mission at Little No-Horse Reservation & the ex-nun decides to serve in his stead, taking on his complete identity including his gender. The story comes together perfectly. Louise Erdrich brings on her cast of Chippewas we have come to know from her previous novels & new characters are interwoven into the plot. A dispute concerning the proposed sainthood of an unstable nun whom the "priest" knows was not a worker of miracles adds tension to the narrative. Forbidden romance & the hardships of a primitive environment also complicate the story. But it is the people themselves that Ms. Erdrich portrays in all their humanity that makes this an unforgetable work of literature. ( )

Passion. This is a story about a young woman who becomes a nun, then becomes passionate about music and leaves the convent. She meets a farmer and lives a life of erotic love with him and devotional love to her music. And loses it all -- her music, her lover and part of her memory.

She assumes the identity of Father Damien Modeste who is killed on his way to his posting at the Ojibwe reserve of Little No Horse. And spends the rest of her life devoted to the Ojibwe people and her duties as their priest. But all is not smooth sailing as passion for music and for fellow priest Gregory disturb her contentment.

This is a wonderful story. Like other novels by Louise Erdrich, I loved the large cast of characters and her ability to make every one of them vivid and important. I loved the examination of human vs. divine passion, of what happiness really is, of whether certain gifts come from God or from the devil, and in the end, does it matter? ( )

For more than a half century, Father Damien Modeste has served the Ojibwe on a remote reservation. Now, nearing the end of his life, Damien dreads the discovery of his physical identity, for he is a woman who has lived as a man. As you read his/her story you are immersed in the life of the Ojibwe reservation, both historically and in the present day. An intriguing story filled with fascinating characters, and spanning nearly 100, years this book makes us aware of how little we really know about the people we know, even those we see every day.

Reviewed by:
Suzie

http://forreststokes.com/wordpress/?p... ( )

Amazing story - have recommended it to everyone. Historical, gender issues, combines native american and catholic beliefs in an unforgettable tale. ( )

"As a priest nears the end of his life, he is asked to prove or disprove the sainthood of a woman he knows well. He struggles to guard his own secret identity in the process." ( )

This was the least engaging of her novels. It was an effort for me to get through. ( )

A very interesting account of a woman's journey into understanding herself, her transformation touched with spirituality. ( )