The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
Not the sort of book I would usually run out a read, but I heard fundies were trying to ban it from high school libraries. So I had to see what the fuss was about. I have just finished reading it. Genre is adolescent coming of age. An excellent book of the type.
Athletically inclined Indian boy goes to high school off the reservation. Genuinely likeable first person narrator. Not a whiny brat whose ass you want to kick like Holden Caulfield. Clearly intended to be heartwarming, and does not go over the line into schmaltz. Very well written. Realistic characterizations and no self indulgent soliloquies.
If I were a high school administrator, I wouldn't make it required reading because there are more important books out there. I would put it on the suggested reading list. Definitely it belongs in the high school library.
So what do fundies hate about it?
Well maybe it's too 'PC'? After all The New York Times Book Review et al like it. I suppose the Indian reservation angle makes it 'PC', but it's no political tract. I'm pretty sure that's not it.
Too much (or the wrong kind) of sex?
No obviously gay characters. No sex scenes. No implication of non-marital sex of any kind taking place among any of the the named characters. All in all, healthy and traditional in sexual matters without being all uptight.
But there is one point where the narrator gets a boner and is embarrassed. Also masturbation is mentioned in passing without dwelling on it (Portnoy's Complaint it's not). Could that be it?
Slightly homophobic banter about not being a pussy like the other guy, typical of adolescent boys. Is that it?
Oh well.
by Sherman Alexie
Not the sort of book I would usually run out a read, but I heard fundies were trying to ban it from high school libraries. So I had to see what the fuss was about. I have just finished reading it. Genre is adolescent coming of age. An excellent book of the type.
Athletically inclined Indian boy goes to high school off the reservation. Genuinely likeable first person narrator. Not a whiny brat whose ass you want to kick like Holden Caulfield. Clearly intended to be heartwarming, and does not go over the line into schmaltz. Very well written. Realistic characterizations and no self indulgent soliloquies.
If I were a high school administrator, I wouldn't make it required reading because there are more important books out there. I would put it on the suggested reading list. Definitely it belongs in the high school library.
So what do fundies hate about it?
Well maybe it's too 'PC'? After all The New York Times Book Review et al like it. I suppose the Indian reservation angle makes it 'PC', but it's no political tract. I'm pretty sure that's not it.
Too much (or the wrong kind) of sex?
No obviously gay characters. No sex scenes. No implication of non-marital sex of any kind taking place among any of the the named characters. All in all, healthy and traditional in sexual matters without being all uptight.
But there is one point where the narrator gets a boner and is embarrassed. Also masturbation is mentioned in passing without dwelling on it (Portnoy's Complaint it's not). Could that be it?
Slightly homophobic banter about not being a pussy like the other guy, typical of adolescent boys. Is that it?
Oh well.
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