The SentenceThe Sentence
What it's about
Tookie, an Ojibwe woman who spent years in prison, now works in a small Minneapolis bookstore, owned by Louise Erdrich herself. When the store's most annoying customer, Flora, dies, her ghost starts haunting the shop, as the pandemic hits and protests erupt after George Floyd's murder.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's warm, funny and full of books.
You'll love it if you liked
The Night Watchman
The Round House
The Reading ListGood to know
It's set during the pandemic and the protests of 2020.
By the numbers
- Readers21 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller28 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #358 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #405 of the 481 new books we rank
- #2381 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Louise Erdrich
The Night WatchmanThe Round House
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse
Love MedicineIf you like this, read next
Fourth Wing
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Quicksilver
The Tainted Cup
A Drop of Corruption
AlchemisedExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Sentence worth reading?
Yes. It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #2,381 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Sentence about?
Tookie, an Ojibwe woman who spent years in prison, now works in a small Minneapolis bookstore, owned by Louise Erdrich herself. When the store's most annoying customer, Flora, dies, her ghost starts haunting the shop, as the pandemic hits and protests erupt after George Floyd's murder.
How long does it take to read The Sentence?
About 10 hours (416 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Sentence?
If you liked it, try The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, The Round House by Louise Erdrich or The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams.