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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Content Warnings: alcohol use, alcohol abuse, drug mention, racism (in the form of micro-aggressions)
I think that's it for warnings. But I feel like I'm missing something. Maybe it will come to me, maybe not. But this was a great book.
I LOVE Alexie's writing. And will one day read and own everything he's written.
This is kind of in the vein of 10 Little Indians in which it is a bunch of short stories written about Indians (indigenous people really but since he uses the term Indians to describe him and his people I'll refer as such to cease confusion). Not only that but this one is written directly about his tribe and his experiences with some very obvious and some very subtle embellishments. Does this make it bad? No. Not in any way whatsoever. In fact it makes it better imo.
You get to see through the eyes of the people who deal with this stuff daily the micro-aggressions they deal with. And how rampant alcoholism runs through their tribe. Which, yes, is a stereotype but for his personal tribe's experience it's also true.
You also get to see what poverty is like if you've never lived at or below the line of poverty. And how shitty we STILL treat Indians even though we stole their land many years ago. And how that's affected them in their lives.
Whether you've read Sherman Alexie or not, I'd definitely recommend this book.
I think that's it for warnings. But I feel like I'm missing something. Maybe it will come to me, maybe not. But this was a great book.
I LOVE Alexie's writing. And will one day read and own everything he's written.
This is kind of in the vein of 10 Little Indians in which it is a bunch of short stories written about Indians (indigenous people really but since he uses the term Indians to describe him and his people I'll refer as such to cease confusion). Not only that but this one is written directly about his tribe and his experiences with some very obvious and some very subtle embellishments. Does this make it bad? No. Not in any way whatsoever. In fact it makes it better imo.
You get to see through the eyes of the people who deal with this stuff daily the micro-aggressions they deal with. And how rampant alcoholism runs through their tribe. Which, yes, is a stereotype but for his personal tribe's experience it's also true.
You also get to see what poverty is like if you've never lived at or below the line of poverty. And how shitty we STILL treat Indians even though we stole their land many years ago. And how that's affected them in their lives.
Whether you've read Sherman Alexie or not, I'd definitely recommend this book.
You know how a great set of short stories makes everything seem deeply poetic and meaningful?
I am typing a review on Goodreads. I don't know if it will say anything good. Just some white woman talking about a book about a bunch of people on the Spokane reservation. Maybe it was the 1970s or maybe it was supposed to be now. Maybe it was winter or it was two thousand kinds of summer. I'm hungry. Just typing a review on Goodreads.
I am typing a review on Goodreads. I don't know if it will say anything good. Just some white woman talking about a book about a bunch of people on the Spokane reservation. Maybe it was the 1970s or maybe it was supposed to be now. Maybe it was winter or it was two thousand kinds of summer. I'm hungry. Just typing a review on Goodreads.
funny and soulful, with more than enough darkness to ballast some of the silly moments. it's hard to dislike these stories, even if a few leave you wishing alexie had given them a bit more run to develop into narratives, but in general i dig any fiction that can make me laugh and think. this seems like good gateway fiction too -- like if you are a smart young reader, i think alexie works in a mode that can open eyes/ears/hearts while still writing pretty "literary" stuff. also, literariness is a fake concept invented to imprison us.
there's a lot of self-destructive behavior/poverty/booze/darkness in here, but i found it generally bluesy, and not miserable, in terms of how it registers emotionally.
also, Lester FallsApart is a highest-rating-available character name.
there's a lot of self-destructive behavior/poverty/booze/darkness in here, but i found it generally bluesy, and not miserable, in terms of how it registers emotionally.
also, Lester FallsApart is a highest-rating-available character name.
I loved Alexie's book "Part Time Indian," its sense of humor mixed with sadness and isolation. This book of short stories was just so unceasingly bleak. The refrain of male Native American lives soaked in alcohol slowly dying along with their rich stories left so little room for hope. The writing style didn't draw me into the pain or deepen my understanding, but just echoed stereotypes without honoring the traditions or the heroes.
I first read this 13 years ago and it's been on my bookshelf ever since but recently I started looking at it wondering if I needed to keep it. So I finally got around to reading it again, and even though I'm sure there are better books out there, there is something personal about it to me so I've decided to put it back on the shelf, a little less dusty. A very good book to share with a teenager or preteen.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a great book. For me, I would reserve that label only for books that are both enjoyable as well as important in some way. Maybe it's easy to read, but difficult to hear. It might teach me things I didn't know, or force me to reassess things I thought I did. Or perhaps it's well written, while also being innovative with language or structure or content. This book managed to check all of those boxes.
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated