The first time I read a Sherman Alexie book, I was in my second year of college. We were looking at his book, Indian Killer, which somehow managed to touch on about a hundred different topics at once. A professor with a sconce of Indian blood in his body writes half-baked Indian novels. An adopted Indian attempts to come to terms with his white parents while working on skyscrapers in downtown Seattle. A rabid anti-Indian radio host stoking racist flames. An Indian student confronting her university's approach to Native American studies. And of course a killer on the loose, who leaves behind ceremonial feathers.
I remember all that from memory, I kid you not. The reason? It was a fantastic novel. It encouraged me to pick up another of his short story collections (Ten Little Indians) and his recent award-winning book The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian.
Alexie's got a good sense of humor, a great writing style that's easy to get into, and he's worth seeing live. I missed the chance to see him speak while I was in college in Eau Claire, but I heard great things. I'm going tonight, and I encourage you to as well.
Where: Boswell Books
When: 7 p.m.
Why: Because he's a fantastic author
See you there!
(The photo I borrowed was taken by Rob Casey)
