cdeane61's review against another edition
4.0
My initial reaction, when I began this book, was that it was a YA title. I've been known to read YA fiction from time to time, just didn't think that was his audience.
Having finished the book, I no longer feel that way. This book puts new meaning to "walk a mile in their shoes" as the protagonist ("call me Zits"), after committing a heinous crime, finds himself doing just that. He jumps back and forth through time experiencing lives and situations not of his making.
And now the hard part. I admit I have had a book or two bring me to tears, usually a slow, build with watery eyes....
This book, with one line, had me spontaneously sobbing in my living room. I had to put it down and go to my basement to get ahold of myself. I can only imagine the explaining I would have had to do had any of my family been in the room.
In the end, a powerful and heartfelt read for me.
Having finished the book, I no longer feel that way. This book puts new meaning to "walk a mile in their shoes" as the protagonist ("call me Zits"), after committing a heinous crime, finds himself doing just that. He jumps back and forth through time experiencing lives and situations not of his making.
And now the hard part. I admit I have had a book or two bring me to tears, usually a slow, build with watery eyes....
This book, with one line, had me spontaneously sobbing in my living room. I had to put it down and go to my basement to get ahold of myself. I can only imagine the explaining I would have had to do had any of my family been in the room.
In the end, a powerful and heartfelt read for me.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
3.0
What do you get when you put Slaughterhouse Five, Catcher in the Rye, and a Native American in a blender? Why, this novel, of course.
Like the protagonists of many of Alexie’s works, “Zits” is an alienated Indian youth. He is constantly fleeing from foster homes and having run-ins with the law. After getting shot while robbing a bank, he is transported back in time. Throughout the course of the novel, Zits flashes to important periods in Native American history and periods that are more personal to him.
This novel was satirical and poignant. It was meant to be funny . . . but the gross, teenage boy schtick gets old. Based on the three pieces that I’ve read, Alexie tends to write on the same issues each time: alienated Native Americans who are all violent alcoholics and suffer on a reservation. I would be curious to hear what a Native American thinks of Alexie promoting many of the worst stereotypes about his own people.
Like the protagonists of many of Alexie’s works, “Zits” is an alienated Indian youth. He is constantly fleeing from foster homes and having run-ins with the law. After getting shot while robbing a bank, he is transported back in time. Throughout the course of the novel, Zits flashes to important periods in Native American history and periods that are more personal to him.
This novel was satirical and poignant. It was meant to be funny . . . but the gross, teenage boy schtick gets old. Based on the three pieces that I’ve read, Alexie tends to write on the same issues each time: alienated Native Americans who are all violent alcoholics and suffer on a reservation. I would be curious to hear what a Native American thinks of Alexie promoting many of the worst stereotypes about his own people.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I read this pretty much non-stop. Zits (the name we are given from the start) has been bouncing from foster home to foster home for years. He has become hardened over time and hasn't much hope for anything to change for the better. He has become more and more destructive and he is ready to harm not only himself, but many others.
This is when things become very interesting. He begins to travel through time. He meets up with many people and has to see many situations from a perspective he has not experienced before. He is given the chance to see through the eyes of people he would have considered enemies. He is also given the opportunity to exact revenge on those who have harmed others. Through this he goes through a lot of introspection.
Alexie provides some humor in the midst of the tragedies. He also plays into some stereotypes.
This is when things become very interesting. He begins to travel through time. He meets up with many people and has to see many situations from a perspective he has not experienced before. He is given the chance to see through the eyes of people he would have considered enemies. He is also given the opportunity to exact revenge on those who have harmed others. Through this he goes through a lot of introspection.
Alexie provides some humor in the midst of the tragedies. He also plays into some stereotypes.
quarkie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
littlemisslibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Confusing and interesting until the end of the story. The reader has to get to the end for the story for it to make sense.
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good piece of literature, and very difficult to read. It's a dark, slightly hopeful look at human cruelty and how our choices throughout time have affected us. And how they affect children, which made it feel almost too brutal. Not as much humor as other Alexie.
mandler_'s review against another edition
4.0
This book reminds me of Alexander Lloyd’s Time Cat—although it has been a long time since I read the book, so someone correct me if I’m completely wrong.
The book tells the tale of 15 year old Zits, a Native American who is in foster care and has a difficult life. He doesn’t feel loved or taken care of and is frequently in trouble with the law. He meets another teenager who gives him guns and tells him to go shoot up a bank. While Zits goes to do so, he has a magical moment wherein he “jumps” into the bodies of other people in other places throughout time. Through these experiences, he learns empathy, kindness, patience, and to see the world through other’s eyes. He wonders if we aren’t all, “at war” within ourselves about something and finds a changed attitude on his life, situation, and the people around him.
The book does a great job emphasizing the major point that author Sherman Alexie wants to hit. Self-love, acceptance, generational trauma, and empathy for others are all highlighted. I started this book hesitantly, however as it moved, I enjoyed it more. I think it teaches many important points, however, there are some parts that I didn’t enjoy or thought may have come off differently than the author intended—or perhaps Alexie did intend these things. Women are one dimensional and regarded as sexual things, and while yes, the character is a 15 year old male, the question remains, is that the author attempting to tell the story through a 15 year old’s point of view or is it Alexie’s point of view on women? Additionally, I know many native American’s have dealt with alcoholism and substance abuse. I know this book was written many years ago, but I wonder if that has changed. If “life on the rez as an Indian” has changed or if it is still a massive problem like Alexie insinuates. I don’t want to read things and fall into stereotype.
That being said, the book was entertaining. Zits was a fun, humorous narrator and the magical realism in the story gave the messages power. I wish I could jump into others’ bodies and experience life for a little bit as they experience it.
The book tells the tale of 15 year old Zits, a Native American who is in foster care and has a difficult life. He doesn’t feel loved or taken care of and is frequently in trouble with the law. He meets another teenager who gives him guns and tells him to go shoot up a bank. While Zits goes to do so, he has a magical moment wherein he “jumps” into the bodies of other people in other places throughout time. Through these experiences, he learns empathy, kindness, patience, and to see the world through other’s eyes. He wonders if we aren’t all, “at war” within ourselves about something and finds a changed attitude on his life, situation, and the people around him.
The book does a great job emphasizing the major point that author Sherman Alexie wants to hit. Self-love, acceptance, generational trauma, and empathy for others are all highlighted. I started this book hesitantly, however as it moved, I enjoyed it more. I think it teaches many important points, however, there are some parts that I didn’t enjoy or thought may have come off differently than the author intended—or perhaps Alexie did intend these things. Women are one dimensional and regarded as sexual things, and while yes, the character is a 15 year old male, the question remains, is that the author attempting to tell the story through a 15 year old’s point of view or is it Alexie’s point of view on women? Additionally, I know many native American’s have dealt with alcoholism and substance abuse. I know this book was written many years ago, but I wonder if that has changed. If “life on the rez as an Indian” has changed or if it is still a massive problem like Alexie insinuates. I don’t want to read things and fall into stereotype.
That being said, the book was entertaining. Zits was a fun, humorous narrator and the magical realism in the story gave the messages power. I wish I could jump into others’ bodies and experience life for a little bit as they experience it.
cluna's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
marmoset737's review against another edition
3.0
Not as strong as Reservation Blues or Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian mainly because I didn't really get a strong sense of Zits as a character until the last five pages or so. Alexie is gifted at writing deeply flawed characters, but Zits wasn't so much simply flawed as kind of flat and boring - more of a storytelling, hatred-spewing device rather than a multi-faceted character with deep-rooted issues to overcome. Still though - an interesting introduction to many historical violent events in Native American history and a relatively quick-read.
collkay10's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/3 loved how quick this was to read and Zits’ narrative voice was so strong. The plot was a little strange, but I still feel confident with a 4 based on the ending and the issues related to foster care as well as stereotypes for American Indians that are brought up.