Scan barcode
falseblu's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
meghaha's review against another edition
5.0
I've been meaning to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian for ages. It's been recommended to me right and left; brandished, paraded, and flourished in front of me. Every so often I'd see it around at a place of books and think, I have to read that soon. A few days ago, I finally picked it up and read it. And I should've read it sooner, I should've made time for it. Because The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is not the sort of book you should ignore. You got to take notice of it, you got to devour it, and you got to love it.
Junior, the main character, is just so plain lovable. His voice is distinct, funny, and wise. This book details his first year leaving his reservation in order to go to school at Rearden, whose students are all white and mostly well off. Junior on the other hand, is Indian and poor. Dirt poor. The kind of poor where he doesn't get enough to eat. The type of poor that breeds misfortune. And boy, does Junior go through misfortune. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian should by all rights be a tragedy, because Junior's life is a pretty much a tragedy.
Junior goes through some lows and some high points in his life. When you're reading this book, you'll be stringed on along with him. You'll be immersed in his world--full of alcoholic parents that still love him, a sister nicknamed Mary Runs Away who wants to write romance novels, and Rowdy, his violent and misunderstood best friend. There's a whole host of great characters in this book. Which just makes it even more heartbreaking when Junior and his family have to endure horrible calamities.
But don't get the wrong idea: this book isn't depressing by any means. Sure, it's poignant and uninhibited and might make you cry. But it'll also make you crack up, make you smile so much you get cheek cramps*. And it'll fill you with hope. Because above all, this book is a tale of hope, of never-giving-up, and an example of what you can do when you set your mind to it. Thinking of this novel, I just want to reach into the velvety crisp pages of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and give Junior a hug, and tell him he's amazing, because he is. I have a thing for the underdog, for the hero who has everything against him. I think this is part of the reason why with Junior, Alexie has created a character that I'll love forever.
And speaking of Alexie, he's also amazing. His writing is beautiful, masterful. Here's some of my favorite quotes:
"I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats."
"We Indians really should be better liars, considering how often we've been lied to."
"I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there red and mute like a stop sign."
"I used to think the world was broken down by tribes,' I said. 'By black and white. By Indian and white. But I know that isn't true. The world is only broken into two tribes: the people who are assholes and the people who are not."
And scattered in between lines of lovely prose are cartoons (by Ellen Fogey). Junior wants to be a cartoonist, and I love the cartoons so, so, much.
Maybe Junior's insights are a little too wise for a 14-year-old, but that's something I'm willing to overlook.
So this book is awesome story + wonderful characters + lovely cartoons + gorgeous prose. I'm not sure what that equals. Something jaw-dropping. Heart-stopping. Unparalleled.
Don't make the same mistake I did and put off reading this book. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a fairly short read, but the amount of pages has nothing to do with the amount of substance. In 200-something pages, Sherman Alexie pens genius. Pure, unadulterated genius. You know it's an amazing read when it makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time. This book is full of laugh-out-loud humor and great tragedy; and the mixture of both makes for an absolutely unforgettable read.
Junior, the main character, is just so plain lovable. His voice is distinct, funny, and wise. This book details his first year leaving his reservation in order to go to school at Rearden, whose students are all white and mostly well off. Junior on the other hand, is Indian and poor. Dirt poor. The kind of poor where he doesn't get enough to eat. The type of poor that breeds misfortune. And boy, does Junior go through misfortune. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian should by all rights be a tragedy, because Junior's life is a pretty much a tragedy.
Junior goes through some lows and some high points in his life. When you're reading this book, you'll be stringed on along with him. You'll be immersed in his world--full of alcoholic parents that still love him, a sister nicknamed Mary Runs Away who wants to write romance novels, and Rowdy, his violent and misunderstood best friend. There's a whole host of great characters in this book. Which just makes it even more heartbreaking when Junior and his family have to endure horrible calamities.
But don't get the wrong idea: this book isn't depressing by any means. Sure, it's poignant and uninhibited and might make you cry. But it'll also make you crack up, make you smile so much you get cheek cramps*. And it'll fill you with hope. Because above all, this book is a tale of hope, of never-giving-up, and an example of what you can do when you set your mind to it. Thinking of this novel, I just want to reach into the velvety crisp pages of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and give Junior a hug, and tell him he's amazing, because he is. I have a thing for the underdog, for the hero who has everything against him. I think this is part of the reason why with Junior, Alexie has created a character that I'll love forever.
And speaking of Alexie, he's also amazing. His writing is beautiful, masterful. Here's some of my favorite quotes:
"I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats."
"We Indians really should be better liars, considering how often we've been lied to."
"I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there red and mute like a stop sign."
"I used to think the world was broken down by tribes,' I said. 'By black and white. By Indian and white. But I know that isn't true. The world is only broken into two tribes: the people who are assholes and the people who are not."
And scattered in between lines of lovely prose are cartoons (by Ellen Fogey). Junior wants to be a cartoonist, and I love the cartoons so, so, much.
Maybe Junior's insights are a little too wise for a 14-year-old, but that's something I'm willing to overlook.
So this book is awesome story + wonderful characters + lovely cartoons + gorgeous prose. I'm not sure what that equals. Something jaw-dropping. Heart-stopping. Unparalleled.
Don't make the same mistake I did and put off reading this book. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a fairly short read, but the amount of pages has nothing to do with the amount of substance. In 200-something pages, Sherman Alexie pens genius. Pure, unadulterated genius. You know it's an amazing read when it makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time. This book is full of laugh-out-loud humor and great tragedy; and the mixture of both makes for an absolutely unforgettable read.
brindabani's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
goblinz's review against another edition
I love Sherman Alexie's dry humor, and I did love Smoke Signals. I loved the chapter on his grandma's wake and his great reflections and descriptions on his best friendship with his friend Rowdy. His writing and place in the world are interesting if you consider intersectionality - Alexie is Native American and grew up on a reservation and is disadvantaged in that way. Alexie made a pretty good name for himself, yet has sexual allegations against him. This book is also banned, which I think has fed the fire of his power. I think that this book does have a valid place in the world, and I enjoyed the perspective, but it just sucks that he worked his way up the system and still exploited people. Weighing the pros and cons of rating and reading books from people who have done bad things will constantly be a moral dilemma that I'm not sure how to navigate. In a perfect world, I'd feel it appropriate to separate the creation from the creator, but this world isn't perfect, and I have no idea how to rate it.
belwood303's review against another edition
4.0
Not an easy book to read aloud to a bunch of 12-year-old kids but they are so interested. I did cover a couple of things with post-it notes and skipped reading somethings aloud but kids who care can always read the other copy of the book in the classroom. If I was going to teach 6th grade again I would totally be reading this one again. Amazing conversations we are having about friendship, race, fitting in, and physical dominance. I hope the kids are as inspired as I am.
deschatjes's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. Yes there is a lot of swearing, yes it is very gritty and real and yes it is a reality most children hopefully won't have to encounter in their lives. But he writes so well. And there is redemption for everyone. Read it with your kids if you're prudish or feel the need to over-explain everything, or just give it to them and let them enjoy it for what it is.
morganpitz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hippea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
marcosbedbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Junior is living on the Spokane Indian reservation. After realizing the school at the reservation is terrible, he decides to switch to another school to get a better education. The school he switches too is an all-white school, so Junior has to figure out how to survive around this new culture, while also being demonized and seen as a traitor by his reservation for switching schools.
I really appreciated this books exploration of Indian experiences and grief. The main character goes through so much in his life and he's funny and real. However I could not stand the writing in this book, which made this a pain to read at times.
I really appreciated this books exploration of Indian experiences and grief. The main character goes through so much in his life and he's funny and real. However I could not stand the writing in this book, which made this a pain to read at times.