Unlike other groups that have assimilated in America (e.g. Chinese, African, Jewish), Native Americans are separated geographically on reservations and culturally given the history of the "founding" of the United States.
Included in Alexie's stories are tales about an encounter with a man who earns a living by traveling to different reservations to fight, students transitioning to college life with the added adjustment of living off their reservation, and a man dealing with his father's death.
Whether a subtle or a crucial part of the narrative, the short stories are all from a Native American point of view. A common theme throughout each story is identity, with characters navigating life while grappling with what it means to be Native American.
Despite the lack of assimilation, many tribal traditions seem to be disappearing, leading to this struggle with identity.
Also contributing to this struggle is the poverty and poverty's children - violence, dead end situations, alcoholism - which are prevalent on reservations. The violence especially makes for tough reading, but the depictions are honest rather than gratutitous.
Some of the stories are captivating while others are more tedious, but since the mood and tone of the stories are a bit depressing, I decided to take a hiatus and start another book.
Miscellaneous Notes
My interest in this book was sparked by an exhibit on the Innu Nation of Canada where children were encouraged to document their life after the community had been forced to relocate.
Included in the exhibit were Facebook postings, which makes me wonder how the internet will impact a culture already facing so many challenges and struggling to define their identity.
One final note is that The New York Times released their 100 Notable Books of 2012 today, and Blasphemy made the list.
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