The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

by Sherman Alexie

to be home to this giant snapping turtle that ate Indians.

The following excerpt from the book sort of sums up how Gordy, and ultimately Junior feel about books: “‘Listen,’ he said one afternoon in the library.‘You have to read a book three times before you know it. The first time you read it for the story. The plot. The movement from scene to scene that gives the book its momentum, its rhythm. It’s like riding a raft down a river. You’re just paying attention to the currents. Do you understand that?’ “‘Not at all,’ I said. “‘Yes, you do,’ he said. “‘Okay, I do,’ I said. I really didn’t, but Gordy believed in me. He wouldn’t let me give up. “‘The second time you read a book, you read it for its history. For its knowledge of history. You think about the meaning of each word, and where that word came from. I mean, you read a novel that has the word ‘spam’ in it, and you know where that word comes from, right?’ “‘Spam is junk e-mail,’ I said. “‘Yes, that’s what it is, but who invented the word, who first used it, and how has the meaning of the word changed since it was first used?’ “‘I don’t know,’ I said. “‘Well, you have to look all that up. If you don’t treat each word that seriously then you’re not treating the novel seriously.’”