Reservation Blues

Rating:
Summary: A well written book -
Review: Reservation Blues is a lyrical and thought provoking book.A little too lyrical and thought provoking for me. Quite frankly I want a book that is entertaining and accessible ( and a little mindless.)

I'd suggest this for book clubbers not the coach potato readaholic.

While Sherman Alexie is an excellent author I will not read another of his books even if it has a blues title and has Robert Johnson as a superfluous character.

Rating:
Summary: A perfect read
Review: Living on a reservation, I found so many similarities between my rez and that of Coyote Springs. I have given this book to many friends to give them an accurate portrayal of life on the rez.

Rating:
Summary: Sad and Funny
Review: I was stationed at Fairchild AFB near Spokane so it was with added interest that I chose to read this aside from the fact that Alexie is a BRILLIANT writer. I kept thinking, where was he when I was there? This was a wonderful story and the references to rock stars was pretty clever...especially the bit about Jim Morrison whom I really like. It's funny since Jim made references to himself as harboring an Indian soul which led me to believe that this is the reason Alexie wrote of him in a not so favorable light. I watched the movie "Smoke Signals" and read his Indian Killer too. In Reservation Blues, I liked the references to all the horses and the dead generals who crop up out of history. This isn't your usual story by any means and that's what makes it so worthy and wonderful to read. Alexie writes magically and poetically and sure knows his history. Did anyone know he was writing about Crazy Horse in one of the dreams of the young rockers? The drinking, the poverty, the sadness it's all real and not make believe. Not anywhere near it. I think urban teenagers should read this book and next time they can't go to Hawaii or max out on their parents credit card should count their blessings. These sad reservations post-teens are just a quick glance at the truth that's hidden from our eyes by the media. All we are ever shown is silly movies like Dances With Wolves with that dopey white non-actor guy "saving" the Indians. Why must Hollywodd and white books always protray such nonsense? The only thing Native Americans want to be saved from is becoming like us and our hateful religion, and saving their religion and names from demented New Agers and softball teams. Sherman Alexie, keep writing those wonderful stories and come down to smog town soon so we can hear you -- enit!

Rating:
Summary: The characters really moved me.
Review: It's been a long time since I cared so much about the characters in a book. It's also been a long time since I read a book that I could not put down. However I could not put this one down, not because it was an unraveling mystery or had a shoot-em-up plot, but because I wanted to find out what happened to these people, and I held on to the hope that would survive and be happy.

Alexie is well on his way to becoming one of our great writers. However, while I found his short stories neat and concise, in moving to the novel I feel that he added a little too much explanation and historical background. Perhaps he thought this was necessary to explain his culture to a white audience. His characters are so well developed, however, that their actions speak for themselves. I did not think any explanation was required. Indeed, I thought the best parts of this novel dealt with the mysticism and blending of time. These are aspects of Native culture that we, as outsiders can know about, but not fully understand.

There are few writers in this mass marketed culture who still see writing as an art form. Alexie appears to be one of them.

Rating:
Summary: Humor, truth, hopes, dreams nightmares
Review: Alexie has managed to portray a complex society and more-complex individuals with deceptively simple language and straightforward descriptions of actions and dialog.

His characters live through intensely difficult times; they know so little of success and so much about tragedy and discouragement. Yet the story is shot through with hope and humor.

Although Alexie's characters do not rise to the great heights of true heroes (with the possible exception of Big Mom) and they are as likely to descend into the pit of constant drinking as they are to stubbornly continue the struggle for a better life, Alexie shows us enough of their hearts that we want a good life for them and take joy in their joys.

We care about these musicians. Not because they are sentimentally portrayed as greater than they are, but because Alexie allows us to see their hearts.

In my opinion, this is the great task of art.. to show us a slice of reality, rich with its surface appearance and with its inherent contradictions throughout. The author manages to show us some of the truth about his culture, without reducing it to generalizations and stereotypes.

Rating:
Summary: A Top Five All-Time Favorite
Review: Unimaginably rich, funny, tragic, engrossing, intoxicating, layered, tasty and beautiful writing. It's thrilling to find a book that changes the way you read. Completely convincing, fully-realized characters throughout, from Thomas, Victor and Junior to General Sheridan, Robert Johnson and Big Mom. The settings and action are entirely credible and tangible, even though much of it takes place in songs, dreams, legends, visions, fantasy and magic. Alexie composes heart-rending, high-spirited, authentic blues and shows you exactly where they come from. At the same time, he dares or inspires you to reach this spot in oyur own soul. Every page is a revelation or a belly laugh, often both. This book more than fulfills the promise of Alexie's earlier poetry and short stories.

If all you know of Alexie's work is the movie "Smoke Signals" you should be aware that key characters in this book have the same names and back stories. However, the written characters are entirely different. Suspend the implanted images and get to know people who are far more interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Reservation Preservation
Review: Alexie has created a wonderful tapestry of humor and tragedy that allows the reader to feel emotions of every character. The characterization is excellent and the setting is perfect. If you want to feel how it is to be a Native American dealing with contemporary issues, read Reservation Blues.

Rating:
Summary: Something for everyone
Review: A fabulous, enjoyable read! Alexie entertains readers while sharing anecdotes about daily life for Native Americans. The book is wonderful for recreational reading or literary anaylsis--there is truly something for everyone in the book! The humor Alexie throws in at unexpected places makes the book unpredictable, and makes it even more fun to read--you can't wait to see what he's going to write next. The novel is also quite thought provoking. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Alexie's Best Yet
Review: I thought that Sherman Alexie hit tops with The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, but apparently I was wrong! Heartfelt and deep, this is a definite must-read if you are an Alexie fan.

Rating:
Summary: Alexie has obviously lived those Rez Blues!
Review: Alexie's book about Coyote Springs all Indian band is contemporary and he does not lose any of the flavor of being "Indian" with his storytelling (so much like Thomas'). The humor, sadness, love, fame, groupies, experiences he depicts in this tale of the band members and Robert Johnson and how their lives become intertwined with the Spokane Indian Reservation is a masterpiece! I can't wait for the film and to find out who will play the characters! Keep writing, Sherman, because you have been making people like me laugh, cry and continue to be connected with other Indian people who have grown up on reservations to leave for a "better life" in the urban cities (S.F. Bay Area) but who always return "home" (Wind River Reservation, Wyoming).