200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

Baptism of Desire

3.95 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 308 ratings, 24 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Baptism of Desire by Louise Erdrich is a collection of rich, introspective poems exploring themes of spirituality, identity, love, and loss. The poems vividly depict the struggles and triumphs of various characters, offering a unique blend of personal and collective experiences. This work dives deep into the human condition with Erdrich's signature eloquence and emotional depth.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2699
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate poetic prose and deep explorations of identity, spirituality, and the complexities of human relationships. The vivid, intense language and emotional depth will captivate fans of literary fiction and those seeking a profound reading experience.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A second book of poetry by the author of "Love Medicine", "The Beet Queen" and "Tracks"

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Louise Erdrich, the award-winning author behind bestselling novels such as Love Medicine, The Beet Queen, and Tracks, brings her remarkable narrative voice to her second collection of poetry, Baptism of Desire. This deeply evocative volume delves into themes of faith, redemption, and the search for spiritual renewal, offering readers a profound and intimate exploration of the human spirit.

In Baptism of Desire, Erdrich employs the Roman Catholic concept of the "baptism of desire" as a thematic cornerstone, referring to the spiritual regeneration one might experience through a profound leap of faith. This baptism, be it by blood, water, or desire, signifies an essential means of salvation in the Catholic tradition, and Erdrich poetically expands on this idea to explore acts of redemption and the mysterious ways in which grace touches our lives.

Erdrich's poetry in this collection is marked by her distinctive ability to find the perfect word and craft fresh, yet absolutely resonant metaphors. Her language is both profound and accessible, inviting readers into a rich tapestry of imagery and emotion. Through her poems, Erdrich captures the complexities of human experience, the pain, the longing, and the moments of unexpected joy and connection.

Readers will find themselves entranced by Erdrich’s unique capacity to blend the sacred and the everyday, revealing the transcendent within the ordinary. Baptism of Desire not only showcases Erdrich's exceptional literary talent but also offers a moving meditation on the nature of belief, the struggles of the soul, and the enduring quest for meaning in a chaotic world.

This collection is an essential read for admirers of Erdrich’s fiction, as well as for those who appreciate thoughtful, sensitive, and beautifully rendered poetry. Baptism of Desire affirms Louise Erdrich’s place as one of the most visionary and articulate voices in contemporary literature.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Baptism of Desire by Louise Erdrich is praised for its powerful depiction of the broad stages of women's lives, weaving traditional religious imagery with everyday moments. Reviewers highlight Erdrich's graceful narrative and significant voice, underlined by an instinctive acceptance of life's mysteries.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780060920449

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 December 1990

Country: United States

Imprint: HarperPerennial

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 3.0mm

Width: 150.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 150g

Pages: 96

About the Author

Louise Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and is the author of many bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. She lives in Minnesota with her family, where she runs an independent bookstore, The Birchbark House. You can visit her online at www.louiseerdrichbooks.com.

Also by Louise Erdrich

View all
  • On Sale
    24% off
    The Sentence
    SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022 PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE NIGHT WATCHMAN ----------------------------------------------------- In this stunning and timely novel, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich creates a wickedly funny ghost story, a tale of passion, of a complex marriage and of a woman's relentless errors. Louise Erdrich's latest novel, The Sentence, asks what we...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Night Watchman
    The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich is a profoundly moving and thought-provoking novel that captures the resilience and spirit of Native American life amidst the challenges of mid-20th century America. Set in 1953, the novel centres on Thomas Wazhushk, a dedicated night watchman at the first factory established near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. Thomas is not...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Backorder
    Ships mid December
  • The Round House
    The Round House by Louise Erdrich is a profound exploration of justice, family, and the haunting landscape of Native American life. The novel delves into the life of thirteen-year-old Joe Coutts, whose world is shattered when his mother, Geraldine, is violently attacked on their North Dakota reservation. The trauma leaves Geraldine bedridden and silent, withdrawing emotionally from her family and...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    Backorder
    Ships early December
  • On Sale
    18% off
    The Mighty Red
    In Argus, North Dakota, a fraught wedding is taking place. Gary Geist, a terrified young man set to inherit two farms, is desperate to marry Kismet Poe. Gary thinks Kismet is the answer to all of his problems; Kismet can't even imagine her future, let alone the kind of future Gary might offer. During a clumsy proposal, Kismet misses her...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Future Home of the Living God
    Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich is a gripping and thought-provoking dystopian novel centred on Cedar Hawk Songmaker, a thirty-two-year-old woman dealing with the chaotic and terrifying consequences of a world in which evolution is moving backwards. In this alarming new reality, women are giving birth to more primitive species of humans, and scientific advances can no...
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Chickadee
    Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Chickadee is the first novel of a new arc in the critically acclaimed Birchbark House series by New York Times bestselling author Louise Erdrich. Twin brothers Chickadee and Makoons have done everything together since they were born—until the unthinkable happens and the brothers are separated. Desperate to reunite, both Chickadee and...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Mighty Red
    Longlisted for the 2025 Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction A sweeping, tender-hearted epic Harper's Bazaar In the hands of this master storyteller, everything is effortlessly connected... Erdrich always finds hope Oprah Daily The Mighty Red might just be a new American classic Bookpage In the Red River Valley of North Dakota, a fraught wedding is taking place. Gary Geist, a terrified...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • LaRose
    In LaRose, acclaimed author Louise Erdrich weaves a profound and haunting tapestry of love, loss, and justice set against the backdrop of late summer in North Dakota, 1999. Landreaux Iron, a Native American living on the edge of reservation land, aims to hunt a deer to support his family. His assured shot misses its mark, and to his horror, he...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Python's Kiss
    From Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich, a captivating collection of short stories.It was as though I was chosen-marked out by the python's kiss for wisdom or maybe sorrow. Or perhaps, I think now, a sense of the ridiculous in extremes of experience. Also, I hoped for a long life. WRITTEN OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, Louise...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Love Medicine
    Beautiful reissue of Louise Erdrich's most famous novel, from one of the most celebrated American writers of her generation. Set on and around a North Dakota reservation, Love Medicine tells of the intertwined fates of two families, the Lamartines and the Kashpaws. The women at the heart of this extraordinary community are survivors in a harsh and tumultuous world, united...
    Paperback
    $4200
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Mighty Red
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK - LONGLISTED FOR THE 2025 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTION A Best Book of the Year: New York Times, The New Yorker, Time, Kirkus, Harper's Bazaar "A novel set in a small prairie community. . . that somehow also captures the world." -- Parade In this stunning novel, Pulitzer...
    Paperback
    $5600
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Sentence
    Dazzling. . . . A hard-won love letter to readers and to booksellers, as well as a compelling story about how we cope with pain and fear, injustice and illness. One good way is to press a beloved book into another's hands. Read The Sentence and then do just that. --USA Today, Four Stars In this New York Times bestselling...
    Paperback
    $5600
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

Browse lists from our team

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $6399
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    22% off
    New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator of Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu, comes I’ll Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 and immediately took the world by storm. I’ll...
    Hardback
    $4300
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    20% off
    The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    12% off
    New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    24% off
    The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017—revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)—critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    On Sale
    22% off
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    25% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Twelfth Night
    Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. Separated from her twin brother Sebastian after a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy to serve the Duke of Illyria. Wooing a countess on his behalf, she is stunned to find herself the object of his beloved's affections. With the arrival of...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Mah Jong Player's Companion
    Since the arrival on the market of Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney's two previous books, The Game of Mah Jong Illustrated and Improve Your Mah Jong, a wide range of hands from many parts of the world has been sent to them. In this player's companion, the authors have put together a cross-filled reference guide where over 120 hands, illustrated...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Beautiful Chaos
    New Release
    Beautiful Chaos
    Featuring five exclusive new poems, this stunning foil-embossed hardback edition is a collector's item and a gorgeous gift. The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller. Selected poems on motherhood from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'Reading Jess's poems makes me feel like she's somehow reached into my own personal reflections and articulated them in a way I never could.' –...
    Hardback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.