Friday, March 30, 2018

Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie: A Review by Warren Bull




Image of Ely S. Parker from KNPR.com


Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie: A Review by Warren Bull

Alexie uses the form of a mystery/thriller to write about the issues of identity and racism. A serial murderer in Seattle terrorizes the city by hunting and killing white people. The crimes set off waves of hatred and violence directed at Native Americans.

The characters in the book include John Smith, a Native American raised by white parents who knows very little about his heritage, Jack Wilson, an ex-cop and novelist who wants so much to be Native American that he imagines a heritage in the group, Dr. Clarence Mather who teaches classes about Native Americans and thinks he knows more about them than his Native American students.

Also present are Truck Smith, a radio show host who vents bigoted rants against Native Americans that keep adding pressure to the community and Marie Polatkin, a Native American activist who struggles against the prejudices and ignorance of those in power.

Alexie writes clearly and vigorously giving readers a grim, realistic picture of being a minority in a predominately white society. He shows how racism and ignorance affect both majority and minority people.

That this book is written like a mystery is not important. What matters is what Alexie writes about. For a greater understanding of what Native Americans face in our society, I recommend this highly.



3 comments:

  1. Thanks, Warren. Lots of chatter on social media about this book. Good to read your review.

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  2. Warren, I wrote this down to order. I know it's a book I'd like to read and maybe one to pick for one of my book clubs to read, too.

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  3. I have Sherman Alexie's memoir, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, high on my TBR list. I've read quite a bit of his work. He does an excellent job of transporting the reader to his world, and his worldview.

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