Really more than one specific sentence but - actually more about the power of books. This fiction skirts around the biographical reality that Erdrich owns Birchbark Books in Minneapolis. She even appears briefly in the story as herself and maybe parts of her live in the other characters as well, all members of various Native American traditions. Typical Erdrich, the mythical and supernatural are just as central to the story as the realities of Covid and the George Floyd tragedy. Flora, a regular at the bookstore, has died but her ghost lingers. Her favorite target for misty mischief, is Tookie. Tookie believes books saved her in prison and fears Flora's actions will drive her from the bookstore job she loves. Tookie's story and struggles are shared with humor and stunning language for most of the book but the events of 2020 drive the rest of the novel. So much to ponder - one sentence at a time.
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