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A review by jbmorgan86
Flight by Sherman Alexie
3.0
What do you get when you put Slaughterhouse Five, Catcher in the Rye, and a Native American in a blender? Why, this novel, of course.
Like the protagonists of many of Alexie’s works, “Zits” is an alienated Indian youth. He is constantly fleeing from foster homes and having run-ins with the law. After getting shot while robbing a bank, he is transported back in time. Throughout the course of the novel, Zits flashes to important periods in Native American history and periods that are more personal to him.
This novel was satirical and poignant. It was meant to be funny . . . but the gross, teenage boy schtick gets old. Based on the three pieces that I’ve read, Alexie tends to write on the same issues each time: alienated Native Americans who are all violent alcoholics and suffer on a reservation. I would be curious to hear what a Native American thinks of Alexie promoting many of the worst stereotypes about his own people.
Like the protagonists of many of Alexie’s works, “Zits” is an alienated Indian youth. He is constantly fleeing from foster homes and having run-ins with the law. After getting shot while robbing a bank, he is transported back in time. Throughout the course of the novel, Zits flashes to important periods in Native American history and periods that are more personal to him.
This novel was satirical and poignant. It was meant to be funny . . . but the gross, teenage boy schtick gets old. Based on the three pieces that I’ve read, Alexie tends to write on the same issues each time: alienated Native Americans who are all violent alcoholics and suffer on a reservation. I would be curious to hear what a Native American thinks of Alexie promoting many of the worst stereotypes about his own people.