The Sentence (novel)
The first edition hardcover art of The Sentence by Louise Erdrich | |
| Author | Louise Erdrich |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction, Mystery, Magical Realism |
| Publisher | Harper |
Publication date | November 9, 2021 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 387 |
| ISBN | 9780062671127 |
| OCLC | 1263759934 |
The Sentence is a 2021 novel by American author Louise Erdrich. The novel was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.
Plot
Louise Erdrich’s The Sentence takes place in a Native American bookstore in Minneapolis, between November 31st, 2019 through November 31st, 2020, or All Souls’ Day. The novel follows Tookie through four distinct plot points: the death of a customer, Flora, and her subsequent haunting, family relationships, the Covid-19 outbreak, and the murder of George Floyd.
Through the story of Flora and her haunting of Tookie, Erdrich explores the beliefs of the Ojibwe and Potawatomi surrounding death. Tookie makes several attempts to rid herself of Flora, including burning the things Flora had given her and attending her cremation. While Flora’s ghost is confined to the bookstore, she does give Tookie the bulk of her attention. This haunting leaves Tookie feeling isolated and afraid.
Tookie’s relationship with her husband, Pollux, and their adopted daughter, Hetta, go through several changes through the year. Tookie feels she cannot talk to Pollux about the haunting because he usually shuts down any conversation about the dead. Their daughter comes home for a visit with a surprise, a baby boy! Tookie has never felt very maternal, but baby Jarvis brings that out of her. Hetta and Tookie had a strained relationship before this and Jarvis allows the two to heal their relationship over the year, with some setbacks. These three relationships go through the most growth throughout the novel, in large part due to Covid-19 and the George Floyd protests.
Covid-19 trickles into the story much the same way it trickled into public consciousness. It starts with uncertainty and escalates into fear and loss very quickly. The murder of George Floyd and immediate protests came on the heels of the Covid-19 which compounds the fear and incites rage in the American people. During this time, Hetta attends protests in Minneapolis, and Pollux helps protect a local Native American resource center. Pollux contracts Covid-19 and is hospitalized which adds directly to Tookie’s fears and isolation.
While many of these plot points are resolved, the ending is open and indicates a brighter future for Tookie and her family.
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Goodreads Choice Awards | Fiction | Nominated | [1] |
| 2022 | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence | Fiction | Longlisted | [2] |
| Heartland Booksellers Award | Fiction | Won | [3] | |
| Women's Prize for Fiction | — | Shortlisted | [4] | |
| 2023 | International Dublin Literary Award | — | Longlisted | [5] |
| Prix Femina | Étranger | Won |
References
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Fiction!". Goodreads. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "2022 Winners". American Library Association. October 17, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ "2022 Heartland Booksellers Award". Heartland Fall Forum. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "The Sentence". Women's Prize. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- ^ "2023 - Marzahn, Mon Amour". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved March 17, 2025.