1999: The Antelope Wife

The Antelope Wife guides its readers through the interconnecting stories of two closely related Ojibwa families. Urban Indians of mixed blood, the story trails them through a set of disastrous marriages, and a bunch of heartbreaking deaths. But the plot also coils and loops around, drawing a lost baby, several dead twins, a baby nursed on a father's milk, a scorched village and a 100-year-old murder.Why it's on the listEdrich is a rarity in the literary world. She is profoundly eloquent and has an ability that other authors can only admire. Thanks to her own heritage, she claims Native American descent, she can express the truths of life and awareness within this culture that she is so familiar with.Her characterizations, accuracy, and thoroughness, is inspiring. The way she weaves spirituality and realism is clever and thought-provoking, and she does it all with a unique touch of humor laced with a slight sense of sadness. She interlaces various contrasting pieces together, forming a story that completely embraces you.