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natepeplinski's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nzulick's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
marci_adams's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the stories in this book rated higher though.
bookswithbrittanica's review against another edition
3.0
This book was the usual Alexie, but I don't think I'm a very big fan of his style of poetry and short story writing.
emjuddz's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve always heard about how phenomenal Sherman Alexie’s work is, but I’m embarrassed to admit this was the first of his books I’d ever read. Whatever—I’m an instant fan! Where other work dealing with such serious topics may become heavy, Alexie’s writing remains jaunty and skips along with us through the narrative. The piece called ‘Salt’ was absolutely brilliant. I’m going to be thinking about that one for a LONG time.
ali3ba's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
leilaniann's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite book by him yet! Such a good mix of short stories. Read it!!!
kiramke's review against another edition
4.0
I've loved Alexie's writing since, when, 1996? Honesty and compassion and hope are a rare combination to find. I will always love key poems and stories the best, but these are a good addition. I think too many people have been misled by his one YA book into expectations he's not going to fulfill with his grown writing. I hope they can appreciate him for what he does so well.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Another collection of short stories from Mr. Alexie, and another chance to laugh (sometimes shamefacedly) at the tragic humor. His stereotyping of Indians is, at times, difficult to read (is it "natural causes" when an Indian dies of alcoholism?) but that makes his words all that more powerful.
His tale of his menengioma struck home because a friend had one; his did not require surgery, hers did. Other stories hit in different ways, none terribly comfortably. Luckily, they're always short enough that the discomfort doesn't reach the 'put the book aside' level, and there's always humor mixed in.
His tale of his menengioma struck home because a friend had one; his did not require surgery, hers did. Other stories hit in different ways, none terribly comfortably. Luckily, they're always short enough that the discomfort doesn't reach the 'put the book aside' level, and there's always humor mixed in.
apinsk's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure what to rate this book - it could have been a two, three, four, or five star novel.
Everything before "The Ballad of Paul Nonetheless" was subtly captivating, full of morals and hope and fear. Everything after was detail - detail that I couldn't say whether I liked or not - some extraneous, some not so extraneous.
This book is full of different short stories which, I would assume, are meant to connect somehow. And I guess they do in a sense - each one spurs palpable emotion. (I can only infer that the moral goes something like this : The answer isn't always there; we need to search for it and think about it in order to find it.)
Sherman Alexie is a modern writer, and although I understand the need for some foul language in novels, this one in particular, did not need it to such an extent.
"Salt", the last story in the novel, left me depressed.
Ending on a sad note, or a surreal note, or an angry note is one thing. But when I am thoroughly depressed, dispirited, genuinely upset or disturbed by the ending, I feel unsettled.
So although maybe this deserves three stars, I will give it four. I can't tell you exactly why.
Everything before "The Ballad of Paul Nonetheless" was subtly captivating, full of morals and hope and fear. Everything after was detail - detail that I couldn't say whether I liked or not - some extraneous, some not so extraneous.
This book is full of different short stories which, I would assume, are meant to connect somehow. And I guess they do in a sense - each one spurs palpable emotion. (I can only infer that the moral goes something like this : The answer isn't always there; we need to search for it and think about it in order to find it.)
Sherman Alexie is a modern writer, and although I understand the need for some foul language in novels, this one in particular, did not need it to such an extent.
"Salt", the last story in the novel, left me depressed.
Ending on a sad note, or a surreal note, or an angry note is one thing. But when I am thoroughly depressed, dispirited, genuinely upset or disturbed by the ending, I feel unsettled.
So although maybe this deserves three stars, I will give it four. I can't tell you exactly why.