Shadow Tag

Okay.

Opinion:

This book came recommended to me. So I read it. It's a fairly quick read, only took me about a week.


Shadow Tag is definitely not one I'd suggest in my book group, more because of the sensitive personalities in the group than because of the quality of the book. But this work is food for thought.

I loved Louise Erdrich's ability to layer emotion, this gave her characters such human depth. The story itself is quite destructive--which left me with a rather bitter aftertaste--and overall, these pages contain a vulgar and violent depiction of a marriage falling to pieces. It's full of dirty, or rather, thick, rancid mud. But it's real. It's life.

Louise Erdrich

I'm still trying to formulate my opinion on authors who print their own names larger on the cover than the book title.


Recommend: Not personally, but others have. So, take that for what you will.
Read Again: No

* * *
Author: Louise Erdrich

Brief Summary:

Irene America discovers her husband is reading her red diary. With the status of their marriage being quite rocky, Irene is first hugely offended by this invasion of her privacy. However, before confronting her husband on the matter, she decides to use the situation to her advantage. She begins filling the diary with lies to manipulate her husband, all the while keeping an accurate account of her life and marriage in a blue notebook, carefully kept in her safe-deposit box at the bank.

The depth of their problems unfolds throughout the pages, depicting a relationship with deep foundational cracks--which Irene deems unfixable, while her husband, Gil, pleads love can heal.

Gil is an artist, made famous by his paintings of Irene. The images he creates range from soft, romantic scenes of his wife, to harsh, humiliating and blatantly pornographic depictions of her. He is angry, reactionary and abusive. But he feels he couldn't survive without his family.

Irene is an alcoholic, favors her children over her husband, and feels she no longer loves him. Her alcoholism is partially the reason she stays in the relationship. Firstly, because it helps her numb the pain, and secondly, because Gil used that against her, knowing it could keep her from gaining custody over their children if she left him.

They sacrifice for the life of the relationship by trying counseling at Irene's recommendation and gifts and surprises at Gil's.

Eventually, through the diary, Irene convinces Gil that she has been unfaithful, and their marriage comes to an end.

The last scene shows them together, demonstrating the ultimate sacrifice for one another.

In the end, everyone, especially the three kids, is incredibly messed up.

Pages: 255