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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Read for a book group. Enjoyable, if you can call life on the res enjoyable...
i liked it. it was nice to start with, the stories in the second half got better.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Having picked this book up randomly at a book swap, I had no idea what to expect and was grateful for the foreword by the author and a colleague that offered some context beforehand. While all of the stories are in one way or another connected, I found it best to pause after each one to sit with it and the themes that were brought up for a bit before continuing on to the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Violence, Alcohol
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this collection of Alexie's connected short stories, with the same characters showing up in multiple stories. "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" was one of the most memorable of the bunch.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sherman Alexi definitely has a different style from the basic writer. While not bad, those people who are very uppity about grammar and sentence structure may be put off by it. Although I'm an editor, I found I was able to look past the style since it wasn't over the top and added a certain feel to his work.
Possibly one of the funniest pieces in this collection of short stories is "The Approximate Size of My Favorite Tumor." Although the topic is death, it's light-hearted and amusing and gives a different perspective on living life and laughter.
Many of the other stories have less serious topics, but some are more "depressing," possibly because of their realism and the savage reality that life sucks. The book is filled with great "one liners" that are deep, amusing, or just strange.
While not my favorite author, he's definitely someone I'll continue to add to my bookshelf.
Possibly one of the funniest pieces in this collection of short stories is "The Approximate Size of My Favorite Tumor." Although the topic is death, it's light-hearted and amusing and gives a different perspective on living life and laughter.
Many of the other stories have less serious topics, but some are more "depressing," possibly because of their realism and the savage reality that life sucks. The book is filled with great "one liners" that are deep, amusing, or just strange.
While not my favorite author, he's definitely someone I'll continue to add to my bookshelf.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Sherman Alexie writes about the experience of living on a reservation in a way that makes you feel like you can see it, taste it, smell it, and feel it for yourself. I read this almost immediately after finishing “Reservation Blues” and I am so over then moon happy to find a author that writes experiences and dialogue with so much realism (even when the magical/fantasy touches are added). I believe every word he has to say about reservation life, love, and horrors. Excited to read Alexie’s memoir in the near future!