Jess's review
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Jess's review
rating:



bookshelves: high-school, mock-printz, national-book-award, sports, young-adult
recommended for: everyone
status: Read in November, 2007
rating:
bookshelves: high-school, mock-printz, national-book-award, sports, young-adult
recommended for: everyone
status: Read in November, 2007
Okay, okay, fine, I give in.
I’ll get on the bandwagon.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is, well, made of awesome.
I kinda got on the Sherman Alexie bandwagon, as an undergrad, when all freshmen were required to read his The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven. I liked it. Put it next to Plato’s Republic and it was pretty damn exciting. But I didn’t go out and gobble up all this other books. Plus I’m not the hugest fan of short stories. But you know me, I’m a sucker for YA. And for YA that everyone’s been raving about. And that wins the National Book Award.
Here’s one of my favorite things about the book: almost everything that makes you laugh is also heartbreaking. This in no way makes it less funny, or less sad. It’s both, perfectly, at once. Just like the times when Junior is heartbroken but can’t. stop. laughing.
Also, Junior is a book kisser.
I grabbed my book and opened it up.
I wanted to smell it.
Heck, I wanted to kiss it.
Yes, kiss it.
That’s right, I’m a book kisser.
Maybe that’s kind of perverted or maybe it’s just romantic and highly intelligent. ...more
I’ll get on the bandwagon.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is, well, made of awesome.
I kinda got on the Sherman Alexie bandwagon, as an undergrad, when all freshmen were required to read his The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven. I liked it. Put it next to Plato’s Republic and it was pretty damn exciting. But I didn’t go out and gobble up all this other books. Plus I’m not the hugest fan of short stories. But you know me, I’m a sucker for YA. And for YA that everyone’s been raving about. And that wins the National Book Award.
Here’s one of my favorite things about the book: almost everything that makes you laugh is also heartbreaking. This in no way makes it less funny, or less sad. It’s both, perfectly, at once. Just like the times when Junior is heartbroken but can’t. stop. laughing.
Also, Junior is a book kisser.
I grabbed my book and opened it up.
I wanted to smell it.
Heck, I wanted to kiss it.
Yes, kiss it.
That’s right, I’m a book kisser.
Maybe that’s kind of perverted or maybe it’s just romantic and highly intelligent. ...more
excellent review! sometimes i rue the day we decided consumer reviews were the way to go-i often get frustrated at the amazon.com reviews for books (although also some are great!)
thanks for the cyber recommendation!
I'm reading it to my homeroom kids right now and they love it! The humor is great - and because they're blind, my kids can all relate to Junior being a social outcast. Well done, Sherman! I need to watch Smoke Signals again:)
Made of awesome. I've been saying that a lot lately too. It's coming from Brotherhood 2.0 I think. ;-)
Your review and comments are vastly more eloquent than anything I could say. Thanks you for wonderful comments on a terrific book.

