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pforpedrox23 's review for:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
I heard great things about this book from those who had already read it. From the very title and cover, I knew this book was going to be written in a style that was witty and entertaining.
That prediction turned out to be more right than I thought. The play of tragedy and comedy in the resilient nature of the main character was just stunning. I couldn't put the book down because the narrator was just so real to me. I could imagine him as a fully realized person in my head. His joys and pains were my joys and pains. I could pick this book at any time in the future, flip to a random page, and feel as if I'd come right back into the middle of a familiar conversation. Everything was readily imprinted on my mind, especially his ability to make me laugh in the middle of a sad chapter (such as the one about Eugene's death).
The building of the characterization and setting are very strong here. I have no experience in this character's world, but I feel like an expert from the emotionally laden insights Junior provides. The text is very valuable in that it rings as true, or very close to the true experiences of actual people.
In fact, the only thing I have reservations about is being allowed to teach such a wonderful book. Like Looking for Alaska, I can imagine some objections to it, probably around Junior's mention of some... activities he likes to engage in... but those are some of the little things that I think will connect students to this book. Oh, yes, even some students will balk at even that, but if that's the case, I'll only discuss it with them if it comes up. Before I went to KSU, I wouldn't have dreamed of teaching this book, but I know now that I can. I can look deeper and pull some significance of this book, such as the unflinching, honest teen voice of Junior, to justify teaching this. I could create a unit about adversity, maybe. Adversity doesn't even begin to describe it, but it's a start.
5Q, 5P
That prediction turned out to be more right than I thought. The play of tragedy and comedy in the resilient nature of the main character was just stunning. I couldn't put the book down because the narrator was just so real to me. I could imagine him as a fully realized person in my head. His joys and pains were my joys and pains. I could pick this book at any time in the future, flip to a random page, and feel as if I'd come right back into the middle of a familiar conversation. Everything was readily imprinted on my mind, especially his ability to make me laugh in the middle of a sad chapter (such as the one about Eugene's death).
The building of the characterization and setting are very strong here. I have no experience in this character's world, but I feel like an expert from the emotionally laden insights Junior provides. The text is very valuable in that it rings as true, or very close to the true experiences of actual people.
In fact, the only thing I have reservations about is being allowed to teach such a wonderful book. Like Looking for Alaska, I can imagine some objections to it, probably around Junior's mention of some... activities he likes to engage in... but those are some of the little things that I think will connect students to this book. Oh, yes, even some students will balk at even that, but if that's the case, I'll only discuss it with them if it comes up. Before I went to KSU, I wouldn't have dreamed of teaching this book, but I know now that I can. I can look deeper and pull some significance of this book, such as the unflinching, honest teen voice of Junior, to justify teaching this. I could create a unit about adversity, maybe. Adversity doesn't even begin to describe it, but it's a start.
5Q, 5P