Review by Vicki Carver

[E-book]

The Master Butchers Singing Club is a complex and perhaps controversial new novel written by Louise Erdrich. Erdrich, who considers herself a storyteller, uses her own life story as a foundation for her writing. She was born in 1954 and is the daughter of a French Ojibwe mother and a German American father. She is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and has spent time in North Dakota where this novel takes place.

There are two main characters in The Master Butchers Singing Club. Fidelis Waldvogel, a character based on Erdrich’s grandfather, is a German butcher who immigrates to a fictional town called Argus in North Dakota in the early 1920’s. Fidelis had recently fought in World War I and wishes to begin a new life in the United States. Eventually his wife Eva and son join Fidelis and ultimately three more sons are born. Fidelis becomes a well-known butcher in Argus and organizes a men’s singing group in the town.

The other main character is Delphine Watzka, a woman born in Argus of uncertain circumstances. Her father, Roy, is the town drunk and causes Delphine much heartache and shame. Delphine has spent some time with a traveling circus. She and a fellow named Cyprian have developed an act where he balances chairs on her stomach. Their dysfunctional relationship adds to Delphine’s concerns about her father.

Delphine eventually goes to work at Fidelis’ butcher shop and becomes a close friend to his wife Eva. Unfortunately, Eva becomes ill and succumbs to cancer. As Fidelis grieves for his wife, his relationship with Delphine begins to change.

Erdrich has a lyrical writing style and The Master Butchers Singing Club moves along at a rapid pace. The relationships described in this novel tend to be complicated and complex. The plot moves through several twists and tunes which eventually leads to a surprise ending.

It is apparent that Erdrich uses her family’s history in writing a story which is rich in turmoil, emotion and compassion among the characters.

[E-book]

Highland County District Library
Highland County, OH