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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
More like 3.5 stars, because I appreciate that this is a good collection, but I didn't particularly connect to it. It's totally on me--I tend to like more straightforward prose, and this collection of stories has a more dreamlike feel. Given the subject matter, it makes total sense...but it made it a bit harder for me to read.
I enjoyed that the stories were somewhat connected, and seeing characters pop up multiple times. I could read a full novel about Thomas the storyteller--or about his family. The stories got stronger as the book progressed, I felt. Also, great titles for the stories.
So this falls into the category of "This is a good book, but not overly my cup of tea." Even so, I'm glad I read it.
I enjoyed that the stories were somewhat connected, and seeing characters pop up multiple times. I could read a full novel about Thomas the storyteller--or about his family. The stories got stronger as the book progressed, I felt. Also, great titles for the stories.
So this falls into the category of "This is a good book, but not overly my cup of tea." Even so, I'm glad I read it.
Painful and poetic
I loved this book from the foreword. Something to learn from every story about reservation culture, life, family. And beautifully written.
I loved this book from the foreword. Something to learn from every story about reservation culture, life, family. And beautifully written.
There were some in my book club who LOVED this book of short stories. I was not one of them. I found many of them remarkably depressing and none of them really moved me the way I expected them to. I know there was humor there, but it was a different brand of humor than my Sedaris-loving self appreciates. I wish now, I could remember which of the stories I liked best, because there were a few. At any rate, I know it wasn't really my kind of book, but I think it's still worth reading since so many others adore Alexie.
I've always been a fan of Alexie's writing and this book only reinforces that feeling.
Favorite quotes/passages:
"There are things you should learn. Your past is a skeleton walking one step behind you, and your future is a skeleton walking one step in front of you. Maybe you don't wear a watch, but your skeletons do, and they always know what time it is. Now, these skeletons are made of memories, dreams, and voices. And they can trap you in-between, between touching and becoming. But they are not necessarily evil, unless you let them be.
"What you have to do is keep moving, keep walking, in step with your skeletons. They aren't ever going to leave you, so you don't have to worry about that. Your past ain't ever going to fall behind, and your future won't get too far ahead. Sometimes, though, your skeletons will talk to you, tell you to sit down and take a rest, breathe a little. Maybe they'll make you promises, tell you all the things you want to hear.
"Sometimes your skeletons will dress up as beautiful Indian women and ask you to slow dance. Sometimes your skeletons will dress up as your best friend and offer you a drink, one more for the road. Sometimes your skeletons will look exactly like your parents and offer you gifts.
"But no matter what they do, keep walking, keep moving. And don't wear a watch. Hell, Indians never need a wear a watch because your skeletons will always remind you about the time. See, it is always now. That's what Indian time is. The past, the future, all of it is wrapped up in the now. That's how it is. We are trapped in the now" (pages 21-22)
Humorous passage: the start of The Fun House and the mouse running up the aunt's leg.
"And finally this, when the sun was falling down so beautiful we didn't have time to give it a name, she held the child born of white mother and red father and said, 'Both sides of this child are beautiful.'" (page 148)
The story "Indian Education" would be a great short story to introduce Alexie's book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian"
Favorite quotes/passages:
"There are things you should learn. Your past is a skeleton walking one step behind you, and your future is a skeleton walking one step in front of you. Maybe you don't wear a watch, but your skeletons do, and they always know what time it is. Now, these skeletons are made of memories, dreams, and voices. And they can trap you in-between, between touching and becoming. But they are not necessarily evil, unless you let them be.
"What you have to do is keep moving, keep walking, in step with your skeletons. They aren't ever going to leave you, so you don't have to worry about that. Your past ain't ever going to fall behind, and your future won't get too far ahead. Sometimes, though, your skeletons will talk to you, tell you to sit down and take a rest, breathe a little. Maybe they'll make you promises, tell you all the things you want to hear.
"Sometimes your skeletons will dress up as beautiful Indian women and ask you to slow dance. Sometimes your skeletons will dress up as your best friend and offer you a drink, one more for the road. Sometimes your skeletons will look exactly like your parents and offer you gifts.
"But no matter what they do, keep walking, keep moving. And don't wear a watch. Hell, Indians never need a wear a watch because your skeletons will always remind you about the time. See, it is always now. That's what Indian time is. The past, the future, all of it is wrapped up in the now. That's how it is. We are trapped in the now" (pages 21-22)
Humorous passage: the start of The Fun House and the mouse running up the aunt's leg.
"And finally this, when the sun was falling down so beautiful we didn't have time to give it a name, she held the child born of white mother and red father and said, 'Both sides of this child are beautiful.'" (page 148)
The story "Indian Education" would be a great short story to introduce Alexie's book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian"
I always prefer a novel to short stories, but this is a neat collection. The characters are great, and all of the stories together paint a picture of life on this Spokane Indian Reservation. Alexie writes really well--great combination of dark humor and simple, unapologetic descriptions. My favorite story was "The approximate Size of my Favorite Tumor."
This collection reads like a series of poems.
Nothing like finishing a book on Native Americans on the fourth of July.
Nothing like finishing a book on Native Americans on the fourth of July.
This book probably suffered from being read following another rather dark book. It's full of alcoholism, loss, fights, and an echoing emptiness. Just didn't work for me.
If all you know of Native culture is what you have seen in the mainstream media, you should read this book. Recommended.
Sherman Alexie is one of my favorite writers. I came to this book as my second experience with his work but the first book I read. After watching Smoke Signals, his movie based on portions of this book, I couldn't wait to read his work. It is all wonderfully funny, tragic, emotional, and profound.
Short story collections can be tough. There are inevitable ups and downs. Nonetheless, when there are "ups", few are as brilliant at creating the moments Alexie creates. And having read some of Alexie's more current stuff, it's incredible to think that this is how he started. He's only gotten better. And that's saying a lot.