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rebcamuse's review
5.0
Three pages in, I was prepared not to like this book. It had all the indications of being a Catcher In The Rye-type novel, and I have no great love for that book. I stuck with it, however, and soon I realized that Alexie had a far different story to tell that was much larger than the angst of his teenage protagonist, Zits. He keeps it edgy without being obnoxious, and the questions that the book invokes are never fully answered but you realize at the end that it matters not. Here is an author that understands that violence is perhaps a universal potential that we conveniently put in racial and ethnic boxes when it suits us to think better of ourselves. Fantastic book!
dfculver's review
4.0
Zits is a lovable anti-hero, who just wants to know who he is and to be loved. This whole story is a trip for him to figure out his life. I liked the way that it ended up, finally finding acceptance for who he is with a new family.
vorpalblad's review
5.0
Another brilliant read for the language, the truth of emotion and character and the questions it makes you ask about yourself at the end.
lisawreading's review
5.0
I listened to the audiobook of Flight, and it was incredible. A stunning, powerful story of violence, betrayal, vengeance, and their consequences, Flight lets us inside the mind of a troubled teen and gives us insight into the actions and experiences that might lead someone to a moment of life-shattering destruction. Highly recommended.
fwog19's review against another edition
3.0
I'm always up for a Sherman Alexie book. Given that this one was read by Adam Beach, I was happy. It started out pretty slow and a little on the annoying side (Zits was your typical troubled teenager with the IDGAF attitude that the mom in me finds so irritating right now) but it got quite a bit better as it went on. Zits finds himself going through time and he discovers things about history and himself along the way. By the end of the book he realizes that he needs to make better choices and knows that there is more to life than being a snot of a teenager.
I won't say that this is my favorite of Sherman Alexie's books, but it was a good listen. I laughed a few times and also felt for the people in it, especially towards the end. It was well written and showed things pretty well from the perspective of a kid who had grown up in a troubled life. It reminded me a bit of Quantum Leap with the jumping through time, but that wasn't a bad thing. It was interesting to see Zits grow through the book.
I won't say that this is my favorite of Sherman Alexie's books, but it was a good listen. I laughed a few times and also felt for the people in it, especially towards the end. It was well written and showed things pretty well from the perspective of a kid who had grown up in a troubled life. It reminded me a bit of Quantum Leap with the jumping through time, but that wasn't a bad thing. It was interesting to see Zits grow through the book.
endpaper's review
4.0
Although a bit contrived in places, this has got to be the most enjoyable Alexi book that I have read. Granted I've only read one and a half, but I really liked this one and even admired his use of the device and the cleverness with which it was employed.
Vaguely similar to Slaughter House Five and also uses bits from the novella in [b:Ten Little Indians|3569189|Ten Little Niggers|Agatha Christie|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|3038872] which was strange.
Vaguely similar to Slaughter House Five and also uses bits from the novella in [b:Ten Little Indians|3569189|Ten Little Niggers|Agatha Christie|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|3038872] which was strange.
ellenmc07's review
5.0
Another home run from Sherman Alexie. This was an absolutely incredible read and I was absorbed from beginning to end. It is all the once loving, heartbreaking, triumphant and swollen with those big thoughts you're always afraid to think. Zits is an amazing character with a journey that is unparalleled. Just what I needed!
books4biana's review
5.0
This book was a delight! I did audio book on my long car ride and listening to Adam Beach was a bonus. I enjoyed his intonations, the accent if you will.
A great story with a solid meaning. When is it okay to kill another?
A great story with a solid meaning. When is it okay to kill another?
saroz162's review
2.0
I was lent this book my a friend of mine who is very, very different from me. She feels things very deeply, and she has a huge social conscience. Because she's not a long-time friend, I'm having a little bit of trouble figuring out why she gave me this book: is it because I (academically) study children's literature - although really, this is issue-based YA literature? Is it because we had briefly discussed Sherman Alexie, and this is her favorite Alexie novel? Is it because it made her feel all sorts of feelings and she wants to share that cathartic experience, Oprah's Book Club-style? I don't know. I think it may be a combination of all of these things. I've even come up with some possibilities that are rather more troubling (such as that she is trying to "tell" me something about her own youth with this story of a disaffected, violent, and abused young man). I just...don't know. And that really bothers me.
What I do know is that if I follow my most superficial theory - that the book made her cry and she thinks I will be emotionally impacted as well - it fails, simply because we are so different. I've never been someone who enjoyed issue-based YA literature, even when I was its target audience of a young teen. Books like "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret" just turned me straight off because I either found them boring or extremely manipulative. Flight belongs in that second camp: I can tell Alexie's a good writer, and I would like to read some additional material by him. But the entire point of the book is to bring awareness to an issue - the different perspectives of racism - and while I do believe there are many teenagers who would feel enlightened or empowered by the story, I just come out feeling like I've been hit over the head with a shovel. I learned about racism a long time ago, and I've learned even more about it since. I will continue learning. However, a book like this, which mostly serves to put "a human face" on racism, doesn't impact me much in my 30s. It just makes me feel annoyed, as if I'm being taken for a fool.
Because I know I'm not the target audience, and because I'm still confused about my friend's intentions in giving me the novel, I have trouble putting a rating to Flight that is anything but totally subjective. I didn't enjoy the book. It didn't make me cry. I finished it, because I respect my friend, but I will never recommend it to anyone else. However, I can easily imagine there are other, probably younger readers who will find it both significant and meaningful.
What I do know is that if I follow my most superficial theory - that the book made her cry and she thinks I will be emotionally impacted as well - it fails, simply because we are so different. I've never been someone who enjoyed issue-based YA literature, even when I was its target audience of a young teen. Books like "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret" just turned me straight off because I either found them boring or extremely manipulative. Flight belongs in that second camp: I can tell Alexie's a good writer, and I would like to read some additional material by him. But the entire point of the book is to bring awareness to an issue - the different perspectives of racism - and while I do believe there are many teenagers who would feel enlightened or empowered by the story, I just come out feeling like I've been hit over the head with a shovel. I learned about racism a long time ago, and I've learned even more about it since. I will continue learning. However, a book like this, which mostly serves to put "a human face" on racism, doesn't impact me much in my 30s. It just makes me feel annoyed, as if I'm being taken for a fool.
Because I know I'm not the target audience, and because I'm still confused about my friend's intentions in giving me the novel, I have trouble putting a rating to Flight that is anything but totally subjective. I didn't enjoy the book. It didn't make me cry. I finished it, because I respect my friend, but I will never recommend it to anyone else. However, I can easily imagine there are other, probably younger readers who will find it both significant and meaningful.
bikes_books_yarn's review
4.0
Finished this on my drive home tonight. It was really good!
The person reading this book was perfection. Awesome inflection - I actually believed he was the main character - which pretty much never happens with me and an audio book.
I love Sherman Alexie books because I think he is a story teller and not just a writer. So the last two weeks I have listened to this wonderful story being read to me.
The nutshell of the story is about the journey of a teenager named "Zits". He is half Native American and half Irish and an orphan making his way from foster home to half way house. Sounds kind of depressing - but it was really good. Zits goes on a bit of a journey - and you get to go along for the ride.
It stirred some stuff up in me. I had some of my usual family stress dreams and a little bit of insomnia. I guess it's good though. Sometimes a person needs a little stirring up.
I am sure this would be a good book to read - but I have to say that I am really very happy I listened to this in Audio Book format. I will be seaking out more Sherman Alexie audio books and I hope they are all narrated by Adam Beach.
The person reading this book was perfection. Awesome inflection - I actually believed he was the main character - which pretty much never happens with me and an audio book.
I love Sherman Alexie books because I think he is a story teller and not just a writer. So the last two weeks I have listened to this wonderful story being read to me.
The nutshell of the story is about the journey of a teenager named "Zits". He is half Native American and half Irish and an orphan making his way from foster home to half way house. Sounds kind of depressing - but it was really good. Zits goes on a bit of a journey - and you get to go along for the ride.
It stirred some stuff up in me. I had some of my usual family stress dreams and a little bit of insomnia. I guess it's good though. Sometimes a person needs a little stirring up.
I am sure this would be a good book to read - but I have to say that I am really very happy I listened to this in Audio Book format. I will be seaking out more Sherman Alexie audio books and I hope they are all narrated by Adam Beach.