The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich

 I loved the way this story unfolds. Set in a farming community in the Red River Valley of North Dakota, families come together in sorrow and financial hardship in a novel that is full of wonderful characters as well as literary references. An awful accident occurred before the action of the novel begins however, the haunting ramifications of that night ripple into everything. The reader becomes increasingly aware that the details of the accident must 

be reckoned with just as the farmers’ increasing use of chemical-rich farming practices. The characters are living in a toxic place – both environmentally and emotionally. In addition, the novel is set during the 2008/2009 financial crisis adding additional stress and sub-plots. This novel was powerful and entertaining in equal measure.