[Book Quotes] from Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven

Just finished reading Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven. Read the review here. Below are some notable quotes that stood out for me.

"While my aunt held her baby close to her chest, the doctor tied her tubes, with the permission slip my aunt signed because the hospital administrator lied and said it proved her Indian status for the BIA" (81).

Has NO race been spared in the countless acts of eugenics in America? Jeez.

"What was God but this planet's maid?" (133)

A severely underpaid one at that.

"There is more than one way to starve" (177).

 Truly powerful statement, no?

"I didn't really fit the profile of the country..." (183).

 Does anyone? Why is there even a profile in place when so many do not fit into it, yet belong (or should anyway) just the same?

"Most of all, I had to find out what it meant to be Indian, and there ain't no self-help manuals for that last one" (211).

If only, if only self-help guides existed, then we could cure Adolescence forever.

[Book Rant] The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven is a collection of interconnected short stories about Native Americans and reservation life.

What I like best about this work was Alexie's poetic language use in his storytelling. It's crystal clear that storytelling is more than a hobby or even a passion, but a vital piece of heritage. Alexie's prose is beautifully haunted and poignant as he narrates life on a reservation from the point of view of a few of its residents. We get a glimpse (because only a small glimpse is possible into something so vast and deep) into the strength, coverage, and bravery of Native Americans as well as the extreme suffering, injustice, and pain. I'm not much of a poetry person, but Alexie's writing made me gain a better appreciation for the naturally poetic nuances of language.

The main thing that stopped me from loving this book was the format of the novel. I'm not much of a fan of short story collections. Often the disjointed interconnectedness is confusing for me and it makes it hard for me to follow what I'm reading. In the case of The Lone Ranger and Tonto, I was mostly confused by which of the characters were speaking in each given story. In the beginning, it was clear that Victor was the narrator, but for the second half I couldn't figure out who was speaking. It made it difficult for me to fall into the stories. I'm not sure if it was due to not reading closely enough, but even re-reading didn't help.

Going back to the writing--The stories themselves, if I forced myself to see them as unconnected, stand-alone stories, were quite enjoyable. I loved the quiet, unassuming strength of the narrator voices, especially as they used humor as a strong weapon against the many issues in their lives. The comic relief was poignant in highlighting the stark reality, leaving readers with a bitter sweet feelings. By the end, you know that things may not necessarily change for the better, but that the narrators will continue to fight with insurmountable inner strength and heart.

FINAL VERDICT:

Princess Reads A Lot LIKES this book a whole lot!
It made her smile and she's sure glad she read it.

[Currently Reading - Book Quotes] The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie

Started reading this yesterday on train ride from work. Currently up to page 29. Below are some quotes that made me react in some way:

"Indian tears" (5).

What are Indians tears? Tears steeped in history and never-to-be-forgotten pains and slights? How different are they from other tears? African tears? Asian tears? American tears?

"Just one word. Just the color of his skin. Red, white, black, or brown" (25).

As if that's all we need to know about a person and everything else could be guessed. =(

"I was conceived during one of those drunken nights, half of me formed by my father's whiskey sperm, the other half formed by my mother's vodka egg. I was born a goofy reservation mixed drink, and my father needed me just as much as he needed every other kind of drink" (27).

Aw?

"And besides, why the hell would you want to fight a war for this country? It's been trying to kill Indians since the very beginning" (29).

True. Wish there was a way to teach American students the truth. Even if not learned in the classroom, you learn about others by interacting with them. However, most of us don't interact with Native Americans day to day. In my 21 years, I've never met someone who identified as Native American. Reading is as close as I can get. And that saddens me.


(WOW. As soon as I posted this. I saw following link on my Facebook feed: Chelsey Ramer, 17, Fined $1000 After Wearing Eagle Feather At High School Graduation. Check out Not About the Feathers too. Ms. Valerie RedHorse says exactly what I was trying to express above!)