The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
This author was recommended to me by a reader I trust with the comment that he was way funnier reading his work than most stand-up comedians. Half the books I “read” these days are audiobooks, so I went and got one.
I thought this was a memoir, but I guess it’s just a novel, since the protagonist has a different name. (Also, he says he was born in 1992, which seems far too recent for an adult to have been born, but cruel arithmetic actually supports this inconceivable idea.) It’s part “troubled but brilliant youth leaves home” part “fish out of water” and part “sports/basketball unlikely hero” story.
I loved that Alexie’s narration has a straight-up honesty to it that’s both refreshing and hilarious. Junior, the narrator, pulls no punches when it comes to criticizing both his own culture and the white culture. He talks openly about masturbation, alcoholism, and the pathetic whites who “just love all Indians”. I laughed out loud at several places, and I also cried more than once. This novel has quite a few deaths in it, but despite that, it has something of a happy ending.
Good, short novel for teens or adults, especially those who like basketball. Alexie has a refreshing new voice and a good sense of humor. I’ll look for more by this author.
