What else could you ever need?
Have you ever heard of a book called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? I hadn't before it was assigned for a class. It's a young adult novel written by Sherman Alexie, and although I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting when I first opened the book, that wasn't what I found. Honestly, it's not often that one finds a book for adolescents that's written from the perspective of a peer, much less a book with such a blunt, honest portrayal of one boy's experience. Modern society is so preoccupied with political correctness and protection of innocence that a book that confronts the problems of Native Americans and adolescents is both refreshing and necessary.
One of the best things about this book is that it actually is written in the fashion of a diary, as the title implies. That was definitely the right choice for this subject matter; I really believe it would have lost something if the format were different, like if it been done with a third-person narrator or if it hadn't stayed true to the thought process of a teenage boy. The way it was written, the reader has a chance to see all the seemingly impossible odds Arnold is up against. This is powerful in and of itself, but the brilliance of Alexie's writing lies in the fact that these impossible odds are not always placed front and center. The fact that they can, at appropriate times, take a backseat to more cross-cultural teenage problems (like having a crush on a girl) makes Arnold relatable. If we were always forced to confront issues that most of us cannot relate to, the book would not have as much of an impact. However, Arnold DOES confide in the reader these relatable issues, and because we can find that common ground with Arnold, we have even more empathy for the problems he has with which we cannot identify.
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AngelicaLaughter and literature are two of my favorite things, and I consider them to be crucial parts of my life. This blog is designed to spread life, laughter, and literature to anyone and everyone who needs them most. Photo by Tim Geers
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April 2015
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