Literary Criticism
I believe this book was one of the best books I have read. Not only does it have amazing context about Sherman Alexie's life or the fact that it makes me yearn to read more of his books, it is Alexie's daring nature to write about hidden topics. Most young adult literature is targeted to relate to a teenagers life however, Alexie takes this one step further. He talks about the sexual drive*, the egos, and shallow minded humans us teenagers really are.
This story did get many negative reactions though. Parents, teachers, and many adults a like criticized this book for being too "dirty" for the impressionable minds us teenagers are. These reactions all have the same motives behind them. The reason many may think this book is inappropriate is because it makes teenagers believe that a sexual drive is okay, that masturbation is a normal thing. This has became a serious issue that this book has been banned from multiple librarys and schools. I highly respect Alexie for being as daring to make a book that us teenagers can absolutely relate to even though he would know that many will repeatedly attack him for this. Everything he talks about is so different than what most author would write. His lack of a censor to make things "clean" is his success. *Reading through this book, Alexie felt no hesitation to talk about Arnold's masturbation addiciton |
Indian Killer is a unique book for that fact the Alexie is bringing back the third person view. This style of writing is usually for children's book but seeing Alexie being as daring as he normally brings this book from average to fantastic. This book exposes the dirty hatred between Native Americans and "white" people that most people wouldn't think about at all. Alexie's use of demeaning words and racial slurs brings out the true reality of the hatred that still exists today. Me, being a minority, can relate to these hateful thoughts and the false accusations many just assume because of bad experience of the same kind or stereotypes.
There are people do not like all this hatred being so condensed and hurtful. Some just do not understand these situations because they have never experienced it. This is why there are many who criticize this book for having a lack of structure, for being too short. Many believe Alexie is leaving the reader wanting more and lost in a question. There are also those who believe that Alexie is too over powering but I believe they just don't understand that this is the harsh truth. I believe this is why Alexie is unique the way he is. I do believe that Alexie is, "the foremost Native American literary realist of this generation." He is true to his word, the reason I adore his books. |
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven is know as the book that exposed Alexie to the literature industry. This book is significant as it was also the first to bring the "Native American struggle" to the public. Finally, this book is also important because it expressed Alexie's unique narrative story telling. This book is a collection of many short stories ranging from journal entries, dreams, and flashbacks to elaborate the plot.
This story was in no doubt in controversy because it brought out the reality of Native Americans living on what used to be their own home. Many readers denied these truths as they believe these situations have been settled many years ago. But, this it is the struggle that we all failed to publicize. Sparking the most argument is when Alexie also noted about the flaws of the majority "white" people. This brought heated arguments because many at the time believed what they were doing was all correct. Alexie wrote, "... native have a way of surviving, but it's almost like Indians can easily survive big stuff. Mass murder, loss of language, and land rights. Its just the small things that hurts the most. The whites waitress who wouldn't take order, Toronto, the Washington Red Skins." This quote is very popular from the book as it brought out what minorities are facing in this cruel world without equality. |