Tales of Burning Love can generate a good form and content discussion. The novel dramatizes many broken marriages.

One would think that a dirge would be a more appropriate form for this book than the comic romance; however, comedy usually points to aberrations of social conduct, particularly if satiric targets of humor exist. Discussing the birth and death of each of the relationships would be a good way to begin. Dot, June, and Jack are either full-blooded Native Americans or what Erdrich calls breeds or mixed- bloods. Since Jack is the husband in each relationship, race might be a factor in the collapse of each relationship and should be explored.

1. The mock marriage of June Morrissey and Jack Mauser in the beginning of Tales of Burning Love is odd in many respects. Though both are drunk, first June weights the relationship with her desperate, "You got...