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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of my new favorites. It's comic and tragic and heartbreaking and painfully accurate all at the same time. I definitely need to read more of Sherman Alexie's work.
My favorite short story in here was 'The Approximate Size of My Favorite Tumor', but all of the stories in here were excellent.
My favorite short story in here was 'The Approximate Size of My Favorite Tumor', but all of the stories in here were excellent.
I read this because I thought it had "Toughest Indian in the World" in it, which is an incredible story. It did not. That story was in another collection from Alexie called, you guessed it, "The Toughest Indian in the World." Oh well.
This was good, but I'm still interested to read the other collection. A lot of the stories kind of blended together here, and I think it might have something to do with Alexie taking the "multiple stories about the same setting and group of characters" approach. I was also extremely busy and not as committed as I should have been while I made my way through this, so there's a chance I could have connected more under different circumstances.
Lone Ranger & Tonto does hit some high points, though, and about 25-30% of the stories are very much worth reading. Toughest Indian in the World could be that way too. I don't know. Maybe Alexie is a "curated New Yorker podcast reading" type author.
This was good, but I'm still interested to read the other collection. A lot of the stories kind of blended together here, and I think it might have something to do with Alexie taking the "multiple stories about the same setting and group of characters" approach. I was also extremely busy and not as committed as I should have been while I made my way through this, so there's a chance I could have connected more under different circumstances.
Lone Ranger & Tonto does hit some high points, though, and about 25-30% of the stories are very much worth reading. Toughest Indian in the World could be that way too. I don't know. Maybe Alexie is a "curated New Yorker podcast reading" type author.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
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
One of my favorite books. Also recommend the movie Smoke Signals.
Despite what everyone else and their mother has reviewed this book as, I didn't think it was anything brilliant. It was barely readable at all. Alexie covers some great topics, and a few, two or three, of the stories are impressive. However, the good stories are virtually drowned in less-than-stellar stories that are far too long and boring and all sound the same. I literally fell asleep reading parts of this. I think Alexie has fallen under that unfortunate enchantment we see so often in modern literature: he should have been a speaker, a comedian, something like that. Not a writer.
I don't know how I made it through life not having read this book. It had a profound impact on me, the lyrical prose, beauty, heartbreak, and cultural awareness that this book brings is beyond impressive. A collection of short stories about growing up on the Spokane reservation and dealing with alcohol, corrupt government agencies, tradition, love, basketball, culture, and more. Some stories make you laugh but many more make you depressed. It's a book that demands to be felt and is wonderful in getting people to understand at least a little bit of the struggle that Native Americans deal with on a daily basis. Alexie is a gifted storyteller and weaves his words to create dozens of poetic and moving stories that readers will think about long after they finish the book. I can't wait to watch the movie adaptation, Smoke Signals. I hope it does the book justice!
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A generous 3/5 stars - this book isn't a genre I would normally pick up, but I had to read it for school (to teach). I think a lot the themes are important and it does a good job of highlighting the Native American experience. It was great for students to identify commonalities between themselves and the stories in the book - racism, bullying, alcohol, culture, tradition, family dynamics, relationships, death, etc. That being said, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style and I am going to consider this more of a 'learning' type read rather than a 'enjoyment' read.
This book snapped me out of my Junk-food-reading a little bit and made me remember why I like a well written book that is not just about vampires doing it with each other and with wolves and showers... You get the drift.
It's one of those books where you reread a paragraph because it speaks to you - and you wonder if you should mark the page. Very enjoyable. I would recommend it!
It's one of those books where you reread a paragraph because it speaks to you - and you wonder if you should mark the page. Very enjoyable. I would recommend it!