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85th out of 405 books
—
247 voters
The Business of Fancydancing
Poetry. Fiction. Published in 1992, well before Sherman Alexie became well-known as the screenwriter for the film SMOKE SIGNALS, THE BUSINESS OF FANCYDANCING has now been turned into a film with none other than Alexie himself in his directorial debut. The screenplay for the movie, which recently won the Audience Award at the San Francisco Film Festival, is loosly adapted f...more
Paperback, 84 pages
Published
May 1st 1992
by Hanging Loose Press
(first published 1991)
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I wonder if it's my inexperience with verse or my understanding and appreciation for Alexie's later work that have the stronger effect on my perception of this collection. Overall, I felt like the poems were overwrought and even perhaps a bit trite. Alexie usually does a great job of balancing the serious themes of his work with moments of humor. This has the effect, at least to me, of making his more serious moments that much more powerful, and giving a more realistic portrayal of contemporary...more
His first book, the most raw, the least structurally organized, and in some ways the most powerful. It's almost like, lacking the formal tools, he writes with the only thing he knows—unfiltered emotion. Mostly poems in this book. Just five stories, most very short; you can see that he is just starting to move from poems to prose narratives.
(3.5 stars)
The first time I read Sherman Alexie was in my freshman year of college, nearly eight years ago. I took a class that focused entirely on reading the works of women and persons of color, and one of the first books we read was The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. I loved that book so much I read it twice, and I hardly ever read anything twice. I received this collection of Alexie's poems and short stories -- his first book -- from my best friend a long time ago and only now go...more
The first time I read Sherman Alexie was in my freshman year of college, nearly eight years ago. I took a class that focused entirely on reading the works of women and persons of color, and one of the first books we read was The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. I loved that book so much I read it twice, and I hardly ever read anything twice. I received this collection of Alexie's poems and short stories -- his first book -- from my best friend a long time ago and only now go...more
Painful - but insightful. I've read his later books (most recently The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, which is marvelously accessible to all kinds of readers,) and his humor and hope sustain one through the pain. This is his first book, and the pain is more raw, but the humor is still there. I am wondering if I might have the courage to look at despair as he does.
p.s. I write my review before reading other reviews - and then I go on to avidly read what others think. If you do that...more
p.s. I write my review before reading other reviews - and then I go on to avidly read what others think. If you do that...more
After reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian last summer, I decided to work my way through Alexie's oeuvre since I had already also read and enjoyed Reservation Blues. Two short story collections and one novel later, I was done. Not in that my task was completed but in that I couldn't take anymore. Then The Business of Fancydancing came into my possession after waiting about six months for it. Unwilling to let the book go after waiting so long for it, I decided to see what the f...more
Sep 12, 2010
Rachel
added it
Confronting myself with other realities. Literature scares me the most when I go so far out of my constellations of referents that I can't even discern for myself a language for talking about what I've just read. I'm much more comfortable with Alexie's YA work.
Indian Boy Long Song (#1,2,3,4) was the most accessible to me.
This collection gives permission to publish chapbooks that are in series, stories and poems together, prose and verse mixing and informing each other.
Sherman Alexie I love you.
Indian Boy Long Song (#1,2,3,4) was the most accessible to me.
This collection gives permission to publish chapbooks that are in series, stories and poems together, prose and verse mixing and informing each other.
Sherman Alexie I love you.
A short book full of poems and stories centered on modern life around the reservation. There are times when the writing is deep and emotional, times when it is laid back and thoughtful and times when the story is only that; a story told to those who are listening. It is all very modern-creative type writing with a deeper meaning settled somewhere within, but it is all so beautifully done that you might just find yourself revisiting the book again and again. You might even have a different experi...more
Poems and Stories to Connect with the Soul
It is hard to know where to begin in a review of this collection of stories and poems evocative of the life and culture of the Native American people in today's society; life on the reservation, simply to say that the writing is fantastic... excellent and opens up your heart and soul to the myriad emotions held up like a mirror, right in your face.
The language used is both poetic and earthy, uncomfortable at times, and yet makes you listen, draws you in...more
It is hard to know where to begin in a review of this collection of stories and poems evocative of the life and culture of the Native American people in today's society; life on the reservation, simply to say that the writing is fantastic... excellent and opens up your heart and soul to the myriad emotions held up like a mirror, right in your face.
The language used is both poetic and earthy, uncomfortable at times, and yet makes you listen, draws you in...more
Alexie's first major book - his stories, as I'd expect from reading later books, are great but it's his poetry here that packs a terrific punch - his poetry just sings! I think it's interesting how in this book he uses Crazy Horse in the same fashion that Thomas King uses Coyote in Green Grass, Running Water - a figure who has physical presence, mythological scope and a cultural resonance that is wonderfully provocative.
Short stories and short poems about a way of life that I know very little about. "Fancydancing" seemed to just scratch the surface, unlike the story of his that I heard on Selected Shorts, "Breaking and Entering." "Fancydancing" is an earlier work so the difference in depth between those stories and "Breaking and Entering" is very encouraging. I enjoyed Alexie's authorial voice and would like to read more of his work.
Though this is pretty early on for Alexie, this has some really good stuff in it. It may not hit the same heights as some of his later writing, but you can see in it where he is going to go later. And, as with some of his other collections, I like getting some of his poetry mixed in with some of his prose. I'm less likely to pick up a book of pure poetry and this way I still get to see some of Alexie's poetry. All in all, this is a good collection and I'm glad I read it.
Alexie is a great author who rights from the heart. Very raw. He has a way of describing circumstances and feelings through these different poems and short stories that makes me hurt for the Native Americans who live on reservations.
Althouh the book has some language, I could see using it in class as an example for writing poems without punctuation, possibly.
Althouh the book has some language, I could see using it in class as an example for writing poems without punctuation, possibly.
Humorous, moving, and insightful, this collection of poems and short stories is Alexie first book EVER. The content is focused more on the reservation and "Indian-ness" than in his later works, which focus more on relationships. Reoccurring images include house fires, pow wows, and fancydancing. It was fun to read this book to see where Alexie began.
So this is Sherman Alexie's first book - a collection of poetry and short stories (some REALLY short, like one paragraph long) that are beautiful, funny, and contains a lot of basketball metaphors, Joanna. Haha.
I give it three stars because I like his later work much better.
Beautiful cover photo, no?
I give it three stars because I like his later work much better.
Beautiful cover photo, no?
A great collection that shows Alexie's strong voice and talent for language. I had read some of his longer works, but had been meaning to read this for a long time. I did like the short stories more than the poems, as I felt that's where his writing really shined. Still, it was all good and I even started reading it again after I'd finished.
Where does a modern Indian belong in the world? What is reservation life like. What is the nature and purpose of storytelling? Hope overcomes crushing adversity.
p. 243 "You can do it..."
p. 231 "I suppose it had something to do with confidence...the power of expectation."
p. 243 "You can do it..."
p. 231 "I suppose it had something to do with confidence...the power of expectation."
i somehow love everything sherman alexie writes, even when i don't fully understand it. there's just something about the moods his words evoke. there was a lot of poetry in this collection, which i wasn't expecting. but still, enjoyed it all.
Sherman Alexie has a way with words, a way to bend them to be so beautiful and so heartbreaking, so real. I love his poetry just like I love Flannery O'Connor's short stories (I just finished reading Everything That Rises Must Converge as well) - they are both comfortingly predictable writers. And Alexie is not consistent in a boring way. His stories are always new but recall upon the same dreams and characters, so that you feel you can share in his world, almost as if you and he are old friends...more
When I read this book, the first thought was, huh, I didn't know you can do that with poetry. I really enjoyed the varied types of poems, the prose pieces and the complex picture he presented of life on a reservation.
I'm doing some studies on Native American cultures, and this was an interesting compilation of Alexie's short stories and poems to kick it off. It was a very moving,, at times painful, and thought-provoking read.
Sherman Alexie's first book is a little too esoteric for me. I have the same problems with it that I have with some of the stories in his other books, but as always, he's at the very least extremely engaging. Only read this if you are a fan, and I'd most definitely recommend that you read The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and
The Toughest Indian in the World
(which contains my favorite story of his, "Dear John Wayne").
pretty much perfect...moments of brilliant vision, and comic phrasing of tragic stuff, made me think more about the twisted past and present of this country, american indians, reservations, and me--but I loved Flight and Absolutely True Diary a million times more, personally....so for my star system to mean anything I guess have to go with three stars for this one. ...partly that has to do with the printing though--I'm not down with gritty independent poetry private-publishing books, with tweake...more
In my mothers clippings I found a blurb on SMOKE SIGNALS and consequently have been introduced to Sherman Alexie. There's lots to choose from so I picked this cause they're short stories.
Alexie's style walks the bridge between tragedy and black comedy with grace. Even in the deepest moments of sadness his voice remains passionate - it's a passion not for sharing his life, or res life, with us Others but for survival. Alexie is a storyteller, and a bitterly sweet one.
wow wow wow
6 star book.
this book of short stories and poems needs to be read in order, they build upon each other. too many favourites to list, such a gifted writer.
6 star book.
this book of short stories and poems needs to be read in order, they build upon each other. too many favourites to list, such a gifted writer.
The Good
--
Favorite poem: "Grandmother"
The Other(wise)
--
This was like a bad dream where you can't figure out what the story is but it is very important that you know what it is. Some atrocity happened and will happen and you can't amend or avoid it.
I may not have gone on with the whole thing if I didn't already know and love Alexie stories.
The Line
--
for my 2013-Books found poem:
- "Me, closing my eyes."
--
Favorite poem: "Grandmother"
The Other(wise)
--
This was like a bad dream where you can't figure out what the story is but it is very important that you know what it is. Some atrocity happened and will happen and you can't amend or avoid it.
I may not have gone on with the whole thing if I didn't already know and love Alexie stories.
The Line
--
for my 2013-Books found poem:
- "Me, closing my eyes."
Sherman Alexie can do no wrong, in my opinion. Since his work is so poetic in general, it was nice to read a collection dedicated completely to poetry and short fiction.
It's clear to see from Alexie's first book how he was soon going to become a powerful voice in American literature. He is always true to himself and true to the vision and experience of American Indians in modern society. This book of poems and short stories is a great introduction to his work.
May 27, 2011
Sarah Beth
is currently reading it
It's good so far, but I wish I'd gotten a print copy instead of the Kindle edition. I don't like reading poetry on the Kindle.
This is all you need to read of Sherman Alexie. You get all the power of his writing (aka voice) in this little book.
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Sherman J. Alexie, Jr., was born in October 1966. A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, he grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA, about 50 miles northwest of Spokane, WA. Alexie has published 18 books to date.
Alexie is an award-winning and prolific author and occasional comedian. Much of his writing draws on his experiences as a modern Native American. Sherman's best known works in...more
More about Sherman Alexie...
Alexie is an award-winning and prolific author and occasional comedian. Much of his writing draws on his experiences as a modern Native American. Sherman's best known works in...more
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“Everyone I have lost
in the closing of a door
the click of the lock
is not forgotten, they
do not die but remain
within the soft edges
of the earth, the ash
of house fires and cancer
in sin and forgiveness
huddled under old blankets
dreaming their way into
my hands, my heart
closing tight like fists.
- "Indian Boy Love Song #1”
—
65 people liked it
in the closing of a door
the click of the lock
is not forgotten, they
do not die but remain
within the soft edges
of the earth, the ash
of house fires and cancer
in sin and forgiveness
huddled under old blankets
dreaming their way into
my hands, my heart
closing tight like fists.
- "Indian Boy Love Song #1”
“and then she asks me how many sexual partners I've had and I say one or two
depending on your definition of what I did to Custer . . .”
—
11 people liked it
More quotes…
depending on your definition of what I did to Custer . . .”
Feb 20, 2013 09:50pm