Scan barcode
A review by milktoast
War Dances by Sherman Alexie
4.0
Alexie is one of my favorite authors, and this book did not disappoint. I saw him speak shortly before I read War Dances and he talked about wanting to create a new type of Native literature--one where the characters are film editors and lawyers, one where they have hardships and joys that are understandable in a modern world instead of only stories of genocide and reservation hardship.
This book does a good job of that. The stories are well-written and captivating; the poetry playful and sometimes sad. Overall, though, this book doesn't "pop" the way some of his previous works do. In getting less angry and more intellectual, Alexie's voice is not as well realized. Hopefully in future volumes he'll find a way to achieve his previous emotional highs with his new tempered mind.
This book does a good job of that. The stories are well-written and captivating; the poetry playful and sometimes sad. Overall, though, this book doesn't "pop" the way some of his previous works do. In getting less angry and more intellectual, Alexie's voice is not as well realized. Hopefully in future volumes he'll find a way to achieve his previous emotional highs with his new tempered mind.