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sshabein's review
4.0
Thanks to Sherman Alexie, I will forever be pilfering the phrase “terminally nostalgic.” When I saw him read back in December, I asked him how he felt about seeing the places he has written about disappear over time. He said that he was constantly thinking about what was no more, even down to the now-closed doughnut shop where he worked for three weeks, and that as a Spokane Indian, nostalgia will always be a part of who he is.
Because of this, Alexie’s work is forever filled with a sense of longing — longing for the past, longing for what never was, and longing for connection in the midst of our busy world. War Dances is a collection of short stories, poems and other fiction forms that read as semi-autobiographical, made even more enjoyable if you live in the Spokane area. When he talks about driving up Maple to Francis, I know right where that is. When a woman mentions the story about a man and his children being involved in a horrible accident coming into town, I remember reading about it in the newspaper and it makes the comparison to another man’s loneliness all the more effective.
Sherman Alexie has made me nostalgic for a place I haven’t left yet.
If anything, War Dances presents characters looking for meaning in their lives, and in the process, makes you ponder the meaning within your own. Even apart from the geographical familiarity, some passages had me nodding with the sort of recognition that makes me want to shove this book into the hands of everyone I know.
(Full review can be found on Glorified Love Letters.)
Because of this, Alexie’s work is forever filled with a sense of longing — longing for the past, longing for what never was, and longing for connection in the midst of our busy world. War Dances is a collection of short stories, poems and other fiction forms that read as semi-autobiographical, made even more enjoyable if you live in the Spokane area. When he talks about driving up Maple to Francis, I know right where that is. When a woman mentions the story about a man and his children being involved in a horrible accident coming into town, I remember reading about it in the newspaper and it makes the comparison to another man’s loneliness all the more effective.
Sherman Alexie has made me nostalgic for a place I haven’t left yet.
If anything, War Dances presents characters looking for meaning in their lives, and in the process, makes you ponder the meaning within your own. Even apart from the geographical familiarity, some passages had me nodding with the sort of recognition that makes me want to shove this book into the hands of everyone I know.
(Full review can be found on Glorified Love Letters.)
kayjummac's review
3.0
Read to see if I could replace Tonto and Lone Ranger Fistfight in Heaven for my Transitional English class with this one. I thought the poetry had the emotion and descriptive writing I loved from Tonto, but the short stories were very intellectual. I suppose that makes sense with where he is in life now (a writer, living in Seattle with a family).
lindsayb's review
3.0
I wasn't as impressed with this volume as I wanted to be. I vastly enjoyed the stories over the poems. Now that I know so much about his personal life, I also stopped several times in the book wondering whether or not this actually happened to him...not that it really matters, but it just kept stopping me up (not to mention it makes the content a wee bit repetitive). I'm still keeping the faith, but I'm hoping for the next to woo me a little more.
shortstack930's review against another edition
3.0
While the writing was very good, I'm not a big fan of short stories or poems. I did enjoy a couple of the stories though but I definitely wouldn't have chosen to read this on my own.
cweichel's review
4.0
I love anything Sherman Alexie writes and this didn't let me down. On the other hand, nothing of his has left me feeling so emotionally fractured as The Toughest Indian in the World. Well truly, nothing anyone has ever written before or after that has had such impact on me as a reader. This makes it hard for me to rate his other work. I also loved The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and was delighted to make connections from it to this one. While I was content with this one, it didn't fully live up to my expectations. This is my problem because if anyone else had written this, I would have unflinchingly given 5 stars - but I don't think it is his best. That said, no matter what he writes, nobody but Alexie gets you into so many diverse characters' heads and makes you care so much about them. He has a unique ability to shift the reader more deeply into understanding the breadth and depth of what it means to be human.
4.5 stars
I'm waiting for Blasphemy at the library.
4.5 stars
I'm waiting for Blasphemy at the library.
theresidentbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
A Brief Review
Sherman Alexie's creepiness is showing. *sarcastic voice* Gee, this guy sexually harrasses women? Who would've thought?
Sherman Alexie's creepiness is showing. *sarcastic voice* Gee, this guy sexually harrasses women? Who would've thought?
sarah_d's review against another edition
3.0
I've really enjoyed pretty much everything I've ever read by Sherman Alexie, I think he's really an excellent storyteller, but this book wasn't my favorite. In fact, although I did enjoy it, it might by my least favorite book by him. Oh well, can't win them all I suppose.