The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

I first saw this book in a booth at an Indian Education conference, and the title and cover art intrigued me. I read it in November 2010, and marveled at the author's ability to be funny and tragic simultaneously. It reveals so much of what I have seen during my many visits to our Indian reservations. After years of visits and hours of listening, I understand there are no simple answers to the problems there. This book brings many of the dilemmas to light in a poignant, sensitive, and sometimes harsh way. I especially enjoyed the illustrations in the book; they add to the authentic feel of the stories and definitely enhance the humor! I was so impressed with what this book has to say that I lent it to my good friend Pat. He also has experience on the reservation and I wondered what he would think about this book. He kindly gave me permission to share those impressions here:

 I finished Diary of a Part-time Indian yesterday and want you to know how impressed I was. While a bit of a struggle getting through all of the crude references, I felt that it was unfortunately fairly reflective of the age group and the issues they deal with. But more impressive, as you might suggest, was the theme of the book itself. It certainly paints an accurate picture of the reservation world. The author was very skillful at drawing out the comparisons--hope vs despair, pain vs love, change vs risk. In fact, each of these were relevant themes that made an impact on me. The whole discussion of a culture attached to the reservation yet in so doing depriving itself of any hope of betterment/improvement is worthy of debate. Do I deprive myself of hope by not risking, changing or leaving? I liked the author's point that we are all made up of tribes--subsets of a larger culture. That discussion alone gives some hope to such youth struggling with so many deficits. What are other tribes you are connected to that aren't so dysfunctional? I was very impressed with the theme that to nurture hope in that environment you have to leave (both Arnold and his sister left). I likened that to how when we left the pre-existence we did filled with optimism and hope, yet recognizing that to leave is both angst causing and risky. How many of our bro/sis are giving up on our own "reservations" of life now? The metaphor of alcohol representing Satan is worth discussing as well. He literally will lead us down to hell using any addiction, crutch, or vehicle we give him. Sin is indeed addicting.

Rarely do I finish a book with an interest in reading it again immediately. The more the author delved into the reservation world the more you wondered if Arnold would indeed escape its entrapment, hopelessness. I also appreciated the positive aspects of the Native culture--the connection with family, the ability to laugh, etc. I found it interesting, however, that he didn't mince words about reservations being concentration camps, about the curse of alcohol, etc. I look forward to one more quick read.

I have to admit that Pat's deep thinking made me feel like a lightweight! And it shows the value, too, of not just reading a book, but reflecting on its message and application to my life. I never thought about how this life presents us with our own "reservation" experiences! Very interesting thing to ponder. What is it in our lifestyle that is holding us back? So often we think that we can withstand temptation rather than fleeing it!

Like Pat, I appreciated the author's description of the positive aspects of the Native culture. I wonder if Alexie is saying that the only hope is to leave the reservation? Some believe their life's calling is to work to improve life there...not to flee it. I wonder, how does one retain the glorious aspects of one's culture and language if one leaves the tribe? Does one transplant it within a larger culture? And how often does the dominant culture choke out and persecute the transplanted ones? I keep thinking about the safety and security of the family unit, and how Native people view the family unit as much larger than we traditionally have viewed it...It's a wonderful wide web of aunties and cousins and adopted-in members, and everyone is connected. I know I am viewing this through my own limited lens, but it seems generous and open in a way that sometimes our dominant white European nuclear families are not. I love how the richness of the Native culture (and I realize there is not just one) has been opened up to me and enriched my thinking and life. I know my view is limited by my own culture, so I'm very grateful to the patient teachers who have helped me understand my limitations. Grateful, too, for honest authors who will give us an intimate view...

War Dances by Sherman Alexie

This is my second Sherman Alexie book and it wasn't as good as my first (Absolutely True Diary etc). These are loosely connected essays rather than a novel, which is what I was expecting. Some typically great Alexie humor and insights here...but not real engaging or compelling. Too bad! Luckily, I didn't buy it! I picked it up off a "free" table when Len and I were walking around a hotel in Kauai! So I read it on the plane on the way home...January 2011