Week 3- Post 2- Taryn

I finished the book last night and absolutely loved it. I really like Alexie's style of writing; the storyline itself was also fun to read-- Is that weird to admit that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I have enjoyed many "adult" genre books? I found myself laughing out loud at certain parts and feeling terribly sorry for him at the same time. Obviously, good authors can make their audience feel emotion, but I think Alexie did an excellent job of making us feel more than one emotion in a given situation. The chapter "And a Partridge in a Pear Tree" cracked me up and made me feel horrible for Arnold at the same time. It begins, "When the holidays rolled around, we didn't' have any money for presents, so dad did what he always does when we don't have enough money. He took what little money we did have and ran away to get drunk..." After his dad saves the five dollar bill for Arnold upon returning from his drunken week, Arnold narrates, "He could have spent that five bucks and stayed drunk for another day or two. But he saved it for me. It was a beautiful and ugly thing." I really think these last lines set the overall tone for the story. It's true that the Indians on the reservation were dirt poor, had drinking problems, and were generally depressed about their social conditions, but at the same time, they stuck together like no other culture. "It was a beautiful and ugly thing." Overall, I have great admiration for Alexie and his ability to turn a terrible situation into something witty. If any of his other works are like this, I'm going to have to check them out pronto.

P.S. Leo- Thanks for letting me borrow your book. It came in handy on my trip through the Amazon Rainforest where I held it above my head as not to get wet...oh, and also to lure fish in for food. I'm sure that it will still be readable if you can get the pages to separate again.