Reviews

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

ynot's review

4.0

I’ve neglected this book for a long time, but finally decided to read it. I guess my high school teacher was right when she said Sherman Alexie was a good storyteller. The amount of love I had for the characters in this book was surprising lol I was always happy when the chapter was from the perspective of Victor or Thomas.

Also I feel like the racial commentary in this book was amazing and at times I could relate. My only qualms with this book was that some chapters fell short. They either bored me or I just didn’t really care for the narrator. But other than that this book was solid.

avesmaria's review

3.0

I saw lots of descriptions of this book as "darkly comic," but it felt mostly just dark to me. It is a series of vignettes/short stories about life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Poetic and interesting, but definitely very bleak.

kmparsons's review

3.0

I found this book slightly confusing, but amazing none the less. It was hard to follow what was happening sometimes but it still made me feel a deep sorrow. I think all should give Sherman Alexi a try.

missyjohnson's review against another edition

5.0

Brilliant. There were so very many things written that made me stop and think, that it took me longer to read this book than I thought that it would. The other piece that slowed me down was that it was heart-wrenching. To consider the sadness, loss, alienation, and loneliness was profound. I don't often read where someone is able to do this so consistently and well. I will keep this book to read it again and to try to understand the depth of emotions expressed. Sunlight as a system of measurement, white noise from the television, families, visions, desires, love, laughter and alcohol. read these stories.

amania_miller's review

1.0

DNF

vukosgrin's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

ayane13's review against another edition

challenging informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

book_concierge's review

4.0

This is one of Alexie’s first publishing successes. It is a collection of inter-connected short stories. There are several recurring characters, though each story can easily stand alone. The stories focus on the Native American residents of the Spokane Indian Reservation. Thomas Builds-the-Fire is a storyteller who is frequently ignored, but is nevertheless compelled to relate his allegorical tales. Victor Joseph is another central character. We meet him in the first story as a nine-year-old trying to understand and save his parents from their alcohol dependence. Recurring themes include alcohol dependence, a desire to return to tradition, laughter shared with friends, the differences between reservation Indians and urban Indians, and, of course, basketball. Alexie began as a poet, and his writing reflects this. He has an ability to craft a phrase that will take your breath away.

rachelmp's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

nielsfeels's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0