When I was in my 20s, I was impressed by how sophisticated her wanton sexuality seemed, and of course, who would think twice about a woman professor getting a little rough with a male student in the late 90s? Reading it now, Eleanor is a fucking mess.
We are introduced to Eleanor as a literature professor in the middle of the “seduction” one of her students. She’s been befriended by Candice, type-A, successful dentist, unable to have a child of her own who doesn’t regret divorcing Jack but does covet Marlis’ baby (and Marlis, as it turns out more on that in a minute). (And also possibly still married to her, but, eh, Dot doesn’t really have time for your nonsense.) Marlis, the most recent ex, is parenting Jack’s child while also struggling with alcoholism. Dot, the current spouse, is sharp and practical Jack makes her feel special, which is satisfactory to her as her true love and father of her daughter, Gerry Nanapush, is in prison. Tales is a collection of stories about the many wives, ex and current, of a bankrupt developer named Jack Mauser. For this particular title, perspective makes all the difference in the world. Now I’m 47, two kids, been through three more careers, and if I drink three drinks I need an Uber and a babysitter for not just the evening but also the following day while I try and recover. In 1997 I was 22, child-free, single, wholly unsuccessful in my career, and still in the phase where recreational binge-drinking was cool. This would explain how returning to it this winter was a completely different experience. Memories are hazy I know I enjoyed it but perhaps less so than the others. My sister shared Love Medicine with me at some point during college, and I’d read several other titles and I was excited to read Erdrich’s latest. I know I first read Tales closer in time to when it was published in the late 90s. My recollection was that I was reading Tales of Burning Love at the time, and my stumble was going back to the beginning of her bibliography. All I know is that I fell down on book one, and it took me until last year to get back up.
Why did I feel like I needed a theme? Who knows.
I had a lofty plan of reading all of Louise Erdrich’s books in order. Once upon a time, I signed up for my first CBR.
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