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A review by moonrattle
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
2.5
I am impressed that this was written in 1929, because I was really put off by the disclaimer right before the book, but it makes a lot more sense given its publication date. This book, for that reason, was ahead of its time, exploring the complexities of being caught between two cultures, and the depictions of the love story were at times quite romantic. I can also give LaFarge credit for trying to capture the rhythms and the culture of the Navajo, but again since he was an anthropologist I also have to raise my eyebrows a bit at it too. And it seems that is the issue for me--there is something that is distant about this book, like the characters are impenetrable in their noble stoicism--like they are so composed and glorious, and while this is not a negative representation, it can a way of romanticizing that leads to stereotyping and trite inauthentic moments. Slim Girl shows no pain ever--what is up with that. Objectively, she had a tough and painful life. Anyway. The exploration of marriage--the mundane moments of marriage--between these two people were great, but the actual plot was too removed for me from the realities LaFarge was trying to capture. Glad I read it, but not something I would return to.
I am impressed that this was written in 1929, because I was really put off by the disclaimer right before the book, but it makes a lot more sense given its publication date. This book, for that reason, was ahead of its time, exploring the complexities of being caught between two cultures, and the depictions of the love story were at times quite romantic. I can also give LaFarge credit for trying to capture the rhythms and the culture of the Navajo, but again since he was an anthropologist I also have to raise my eyebrows a bit at it too. And it seems that is the issue for me--there is something that is distant about this book, like the characters are impenetrable in their noble stoicism--like they are so composed and glorious, and while this is not a negative representation, it can a way of romanticizing that leads to stereotyping and trite inauthentic moments. Slim Girl shows no pain ever--what is up with that. Objectively, she had a tough and painful life. Anyway. The exploration of marriage--the mundane moments of marriage--between these two people were great, but the actual plot was too removed for me from the realities LaFarge was trying to capture. Glad I read it, but not something I would return to.