Alexie’s new fiction may be close to truth
“I was born with water on the brain.”
Those are the opening lines of Sherman Alexie’s new novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” (Little, Brown; $16.99, 230 pages), which is being marketed as the author’s “first novel for young adults.”
That’s an arguable point of view, of course. One of the strengths of Alexie’s writing is that it’s accessible to anyone, particularly young-adult readers.
And since many of his protagonists are teens or twenty-somethings – and much of his material is based on his growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation in Wellpinit, Wash., and attending high school in Reardan – his books are a natural draw for YAs.
Of course, Alexie typically includes stuff in his poetry, stories and novels that, as in his movie “Smoke Signals” – which is based on his novel “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” – flirts with an R rating.
Language, sexuality, poverty, attitudes about racism and sexism and homophobia affect most of his characters.
This gets a number of his books banned from school libraries. And if at least one of the blurbs on the cover of this new novel is to be believed, history is set to repeat itself.
“Excellent in every way, poignant and really funny and heartwarming and honest and wise and smart …” wrote Neil Gaiman, author of the novel “American Gods” and “The Sandman” graphic-novel series.
“I have no doubt that in a year or so it’ll both be winning awards and being banned.”
Maybe yes, maybe no. What’ll be interesting to gauge is the reaction of those who knew Alexie when. Here is the novel’s plot as described on its dust jacket:
“Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend.
“Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor that he never knew existed.”
Sounds close to the truth. But it’s fiction.
Just how much fiction, though, remains to be seen.
Schedule change
Spokane author Chris Crutcher was scheduled to read from his new novel “Deadline” on Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore. That reading has been postponed until Sept. 17. For further information, call Auntie’s at (509) 838-0206.
Faces alive
The monthly meetings of Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers get under way again at noon Thursday at the Old Country Buffet, 5504 N. Division St., with a presentation by someone who knows a bit about drawing.
Carrie Stuart Parks, whose most recent book is “Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces” (North Light Books, 144 pages, $23.99), provided illustrations for Barbara Peretti’s “Seasons of My Heart.”
Besides being a watercolor artist, Parks works as a forensic artist for various police departments. She will speak on “Seeking Deception in Language: ‘Don’t Lie to Me!’ “
All meetings are open to the public, though the purchase of lunch is required. For further information, e-mail gunnerbob@comcast.net.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Book talk
•Gay & Lesbian Book Group (“Grief,” by Andrew Holleran), 7 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.
The reader board
•Emanuele F. Portolese (“Secret Valor”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Nick B. Herberger (“College Life Begins with the Freshman 40: Everything You Need to Know About Your First 40 Days in College”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler (“Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road: Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths”), reading, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•C.K. Crigger (“Liar’s Creek”), signing and “How To Talk Like a Cowboy” discussion, 2:30-5 p.m. Saturday, On Sacred Grounds, 12212 E. Palouse Highway, Valleyford. Call (509) 747-6294.
•Barbara Brock (“Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets”), Q&A/signing, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, BookPeople, 521 S. Main St., Moscow, Idaho. Call (208) 882-7957.