Sherman Alexie's collection gathers stories about Native Americans, mostly living in and around Seattle and on the Spokane Reservation. The characters include a man who has a long-running friendship with a white man in a story about a basketball game, a woman navigating the city, a couple struggling with loss, and a man dealing with the guilt of success. Alexie writes with sharp humor and bitterness, and he returns to themes such as alcohol, poverty, family ties, assimilation and the survival of tradition in modern life.
Readers who like short stories that mix comedy and sorrow, and anyone interested in contemporary Native American writing, will find a good introduction to his voice. It is also a fit for those who know his poems or novels and want more of his storytelling.
Inward-looking and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2003
- Language
- EN
