Reservation Blues

We had a shorthanded group at Tim's to discuss Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie. Terry, Cindy and Lexi couldn't make it.

    All present liked the book. Some of the discussion was trying to figure out the references to Armstrong, Sheridan and Wright and what the supernatural

appearances of Big Mom, Robert Johnson, the Gentleman and the magic guitar were supposed to mean. The interactions of the characters with the white world

were described in real time but also in dreams. Why did the guitar refuse to perform at the New York City recording studio? We were uncertain.

    Ed couldn't get into the mystical angle at all and saw the book as a poignant depiction of real life on an Indian reservation. All felt the characters and their

relationships were well developed. They had  been abused as children in one way or another and this was reflected in their adult lives. We were all floored

by Junior's suicide and were sympathetic even toward the flawed Victor and Junior. Mindy pointed out that in the end the only answer to the hopelessness

of the reservation was to leave it.

    An interesting angle picked up by several of us was the seemingly autobiographical aspect of the book. Alexie grew up on the Spokane Reservation playing

basketball and with an alcoholic father, managing like Thomas, Chess and Checkers to escape into the white world. Someone also pointed out that the wordsto blues songs at the beginning of each chapter were co-written by Alexie. A very rich book. 

Next meeting

is January 4 at Chrysanne's. Book is Commonwealth by Ann Patchett.

Thanks,    Ed!