Reservation Blues

I already knew that I had a soft spot for Sherman Alexie’s work, having already read three of his novels (‘Ten Little Indians’, ‘The Lone-Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven’ and ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian) but, for me, this is hands-down the best of the four. It was the most wonderful surprise to be so blown away by the exceptional quality of this work.From his other novels, I already knew that Alexie has a habit of reaching for the abstract and intangible but ‘Reservation Blues’ takes this a step further: it is full-blown magic realism and, in my view, magic realism of the highest calibre - on par with the poignancy of South American writers like Marquez and Coelho and the dynamic edginess of the kind of gems Haruki Murakami was churning out during the 80s and mid-90s,At its core ‘Reservation Blues’ is essentially a rock-band-road-trip story charting the ups and downs, the dreams and terrors, of its five Native American members. But at the core of this core, it is also a story about centuries of persecution, forced relocation, cultural annihilation, spiritual deprivation and social injustice. Where another writer might have tackled these issues using poetic or politicised rhetoric, Alexie instead uses magic realism to convey his messages with metaphor. He does not beat the reader over the head or patronise us – he simply trusts the story to do its own telling.This is one of those preciously rare novels that had me laughing out loud in some places and in tears in others. It is, at once, a rollicking good read and a beautiful invitation to honour that which is sacred in our lives.

Alexie is an American Indian and when he writes of reservations and the poverty and the alcoholism that plague them, he is writing from his own experiences. This is a novel about those at the very bottom of the American social order, the dispossessed indigenous people who have a per capita income lower than any other racial group in the country. He doesn't tell you this in so many words, but he makes the social position of the Native Americans very, very plain. He has an astonishing knack for explaining not only how but also why things have gone so drastically awry for them.This novel is a slightly whacky tale about the varied adventures of a blues band from the Spokane Indian Reservation. It should, given its backdrop, be depressing, but it's not: it's very funny. I found myself laughing out loud at the antics of the characters and then, one line later, being painfully clouted right in the emotional solar plexus. The characters, as American Indians really do, live in two worlds at once: the modern one and, jarring with it in sometimes quite mind-bending ways, that of their own historical and cultural background. Alexie, quite without preaching, mildly and even wittily shows the reader why so many Indians turn to the bottle, run back to the rez after trying out the modern world and misuse power when it does come into their hands. It's heartbreaking.This delivered the sort of emotional twanging very few books deliver. I'd have liked a bit more in the way of description and scene-setting, and (I don't often feel this way about a book) I would have liked it to be a little bit longer, to fill things out a trifle more. These are fairly minor quibbles: better a bit too short than rather too long.There'll be another Alexie in my next Amazon order. I'm hooked.

Adore this book! Wonderful read, great writing, it's one that's stayed with me over the years - I've never forgotten how much I enjoyed this story and it's one I'll read again. I've gifted it to several friends also and they've really enjoyed it.

Such an enjoyable story about the life's of a group of friends living on a reservation. Humorous yet sad at times. A really good read,

This book is sad in places, but it is a great read, can't really say why, it was just so well written. If you're looking for something to read for the sake of reading pick this book!

Sherman Alexi is one of the best writers living today. He has the ability to capture the Native American experience in an often self deprecating, insightful and poetic manner. Reservation Blues is a thoroughly modern story of music, dreams and the journey taken by newly formed blues band Coyote Springs. It combines the poetry of On the Road with the comtemporary vision found in Custer Died for Your Sins. Another great book by a modern master.

A beautiful book about life, love and loss, redemption, rock and about being one of the most misunderstood group of people on the planet. Humour, pathos and Traditional spiritual thought thread their way throughout this so funny story.

Interesting concepts which I enjoyed