The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
It is rare that a book can take a tough subject, make light of it, and still come off as heartfelt and genuine. Lots of writers poke fun of, point out the ironies in, or just plain opt to eschew racism, Sherman Alexie gives racism a swift kick in the crotch though, bringing it to the forefront without pulling any punches.
Arnold Spirit, the water on the brain having protagonist of Alexie’s newest novel, is chock-full of issues. He’s poor, he’s ugly, he’s got a terrible stutter, he’s a chronic masturbator, and worst of all for him, he happens to also be a Native American on a reservation, where even his teachers acknowledge that if he stays, it will “kill him”. So what does he do? He transfers to the all white school off of the reservation.
What makes this novel so different than other books which deal with issues of racism is its delivery and its intelligence. Arnold is a real boy, with real issues, and he deals with them with the same ineptitude that a real, awkward, 15 year old boy would. Although it’s been some time since Alexie was a teen, he manages to conjure up the life of a teenage outcast in a manner unparalleled by any other modern adult writer. This is no small task, especially since most folks try to block out many of their teenage memories, especially their most painful ones.
The move from the reservation school to the suburban white school ruffles more than just the white feathers as his own reservation companions have their own issues with him making the move. The result is a painfully hilarious account of his first year of high school. No issue is taboo, as Alexie addresses much more than overt racism, he tackles less talked about types of discrimination, he picks apart friendship and what it really means and the heartbreak that it can cause, and he clashes head on with the issue, and pain, of teenage love. Broken dreams and loss may be rife throughout, they are a part of life though, and they are rarely as realistically and eloquently stated as they are in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
This absolutely true diary may be a work of fiction; it is the most realistic work of fiction and by far, the most entertaining, to come out this year. Alexie has written a novel that at once entertains and educates, and one that should be required reading for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, age, sex, or race.