I’m not going to review the book too deeply, in anticipation of our discussion. These are just some thoughts I had.
I had no idea that Sherman Alexie wrote the screenplay for Smoke Signals. if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend that you do. If you enjoyed this book, I couldn’t recommend that movie enough. It has a similar tone, and touches on some of the same themes.
Stylistically, this book could’ve been written by Stephen King. Maybe that’s a weird comparison to make, but it has the same easy, conversational tone. The comfortable friendships that feel as though they’ve grown organically around the small town activities can only be described by those who has experienced them. Whether we’re talking about rural Maine, or the Spokane Reservation in eastern Washington, the respective worlds inhabited by both authors are centered around a rich tapestry of fully realized characters who are both interesting and familiar. It wouldn’t at all be strange to read about these kids setting out on a journey to find a rumored dead body. Or to return to their hometown after being away for 30 years so that they may do battle with an ancient, evil presence.
But that’s not what happens here. And it isn’t to the detriment of the story that Junior comes to understand his life’s progression through a game of basketball rather than some kind of supernatural confrontation.
Sherman Alexie is a superb writer, and he drew on his own experiences to tell this story. It shows. Junior’s budding romance with Penelope, his contentious yet devotional friendship with Rowdy, his being torn between his natural and sedentary life on the rez and his chosen and nomadic life among white people has the ring of truth that can only come from a life earnestly experienced.
I had almost no thoughts about this book prior to its section for the Book Club, apart from bewilderment at the controversy over its having been banned numerous times by various libraries. Now that I’ve read it, I can understand why it’s been banned, but I’m also deeply saddened that it’s happened.
It’s natural to want to protect children from the darker truths of our world, but the banning of books doesn’t protect children from harsh reality. To read is to inhabit the life of another person. Reading brings with it an ability to understand and empathize with others. It is my dearest wish that my son doesn’t have to experience the hardships of those Junior does, here. But to deny him the chance to develop empathy and an appreciation of what other human beings go through is unconscionable. That’s what censorship does. And this book seems like a prime example for the kind of book that should be read by young adults, and it would no doubt spark interesting and important conversations.
We just need to have the courage to allow that to happen.
….
This has been reviewed 9 times, with an average rating of 4.33 stars.
Okay, so here comes a sentence I didn’t imagine ever typing:
Since you say that “stylistically , this book could’ve been written by Stephen King. Maybe that’s a weird comparison to make, but it has the same easy, conversational tone.” which King might I think of picking up if I am a big scaredy cat who doesn’t do horror or other scary things, and thinks suspense is okay, as long as I have a nightlight, a blanket, and a cat? Are there any King options for a reader like me?
(I am also very excited for chats next week!)
Hmmm….You’ve never read King before?
I loved The Dead Zone when I read it, and it’s not horror. It’s more…..supernatural/suspense/character study (that’s how I remember it, at least). I read Revival a couple months ago, and that wasn’t really a horror story, either. Not really. It does represent his writing style more than The Dead Zone. Though there are some supernatural/fantasy/suspense scenes in it, it’s much more about the life of two people, how they grow and intersect with one another over a long period of time. I really enjoyed it. If you’ve seen the show Carnivale, it kind of reminds me of that.
And that’s to say nothing of The Shawshank Redemption or his innumerable short stories. He’s been fairly prolific, and not all of them are horror stories.
Here’s an easy entry into Stephen King for you, a YA epic fantasy that he wrote in the 80s for his kids: The Eyes of the Dragon. Here’s the affiliate link: http://amzn.to/2bLcABm
Interesting tidbit from wikipedia:
Bunnybean is 12 and LOVES The Eyes of the Dragon. Plus, it’s a good stepping stone to some of the more “epic” King novels, as we see a recurring character here.
Also, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Different Seasons (has the novellas that turned into Shawshank — as mentioned above — and Stand By Me), or his new detective trilogy might be a good place to start!