The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Even though this is a 'young adult' novel, I found it very touching. It is the story of young Arnold, a Native American living on 'the rez' in NE Washington. He is bright, and is encouraged by a teacher to go to the 'white' high school in nearby Reardan. There, of course, he doesn't fit it, but now that he's not going to school on the rez, he's also ostracized by many of former friends.

This is a moving coming-of-age story, which manages to show us the poverty and struggles of life on the rez without being maudlin. It has a similar, boyhood-friend feeling as Stephen Kings' Stand By Me, and even though it is set against the backdrop of life on the rez, this is a story that anyone, male or female, white or Native American, can enjoy. I laughed more than I cried, but I did cry.

I also had the pleasure of hearing Alexie speak twice in the past 2 months. Once at the Port Townsend Film Festival, where he introduced a film, and most recently as part of the "Spokane Is Reading" event, where he read from this book. (Ahem, and it was my copy he read from!) If you ever get a chance to hear him speak - GO!

Catching Up!

I've been reading - but not writing! ;-) Here's a partial list of my most recent reads:
Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress


rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very interesting 'soft' science fiction. Set in the near future, where some people are genetically engineered to need no sleep (and for hyper intelligence), it is an interesting study of prejudice...
My review



Watchmen by Alan Moore


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Groundbreaking graphic novel, and I can see why! I'd like to read it again in a few months - it deserves a 2nd look (literally and figuratively).
My review



Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold


rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another fun book from Bujold! Fairly lightweight story of an engineer on a space station, which is primarily 'manned' by children who have been genetcially engineered for zero-G life...
My review




Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons


rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was underwhelmed by this. I expected something as gripping as The Secret Life of Bees or To Kill a Mockingbird. Sadly, this wasn't close. In fact, having read it abotut 6 months ago, I hardly remember a thing about it...
My review


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Belle Ruin by Martha Grimes


rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is a mystery novel, set in the south. The heroine is 12-year old Emma. She is interesting enough, as are the characters and the town, but rule #1 of mysteries is SOLVE THE MYSTERY AT THE END OF THE NOVEL!!! ...
My review




Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant by Daniel Tammet


rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a FABULOUS book! Written by an autistic man, it chronicles his life, from childhood through the present-day. He is a funny and sardonic writer, able to see himself as others might - an amazing feat for an autistic person...
My review




The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier


rating: 2 of 5 stars
If you're into weaving/tapestry, you will probably enjoy this book. As historical fiction, it was interesting, but I didn't like any of the characters, and felt they were all a little one-dimensional. A mildy good story...
My review




Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See


rating: 4 of 5 stars
I liked this book, even though the story wasn't what I expected. But it is an amazing look into Chinese society 100 years ago, especially around the life of women...
My review


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