04/50: Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie

[bulliciosa.livejournal.com]

So, I've been pretty hot and heavy with Sherman Alexie lately, but after finishing "Reservation Blues," we're taking some time apart right now. It's hard to put my finger on it, but I felt like I was reading an extended version of "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" -- which is actually sort of true as Thomas Builds-the-Fire, Victor Joseph and Junior Polatkin (and their respective stories) show up.

Quick summary (via Wikipedia with spoilers removed):
"The novel tells the story of Thomas-Builds-the-Fire and blues man Robert Johnson.

Reservation Blues takes place in the Spokane Indian Reservation. The main character, Thomas-Builds-the-Fire is a dejected story-teller. Along with Victor and Junior, local bullies, Thomas starts a band, which gains popularity. They are soon joined by Chess and Checkers, from the Flathead Indian Reservation."

I'm still digesting the book and think I'll need to give it a re-read before I can give a more comprehensive review. Overall, not bad. Alexie's talent for poetry makes a great addition to the story and serves as the band's songs. Looking forward to the rest of his novels and will be picking up some of his poetry books too.

Comments

[holyschist.livejournal.com]

Reservation Blues was the first book of his I read (and my favorite, although perhaps because it was the first and made such an impression on me). And I love Alexie's poetry.

[egretplume.livejournal.com]

This is one of the few books I've bought multiple times, because I keep giving it away to people.