"Four Souls," the new novel by Ojibwe author Louise Erdrich is "powerful and haunting at times," says New York Times reviewer Michiko Kakutani, but "also old-fashioned, stilted and contrived."

"Ms. Erdrich is such a gifted writer that she manages to invest this tired tale with flashes of sympathy and insight, but the novel lacks her usual storytelling magic, her light and oblique hand," the reviewer says.

Four Souls has received positive reviews from other media outlets. It tells the story of Fleur, an Ojibwe woman who tries to her land back, from the points of view of two narrators.

Get the Story:
A Mystic With Revenge on Her Mind (The New York Times 7/6)
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Relevant Links:
Louise Erdrich - http://www.harpercollins.com/authorintro/index.asp?authorid=2905

Related Stories:
Book Reviews: 'Four Souls' by Louise Erdrich (06/28)
An interview with Ojibwe author Louise Erdrich (03/29)
Louise Erdrich: Writing and listening for crows (02/16)