Tag novels

Part-Time Indian: Absolutely, You Should Read This Book

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

During her Master Class writing course that I recently finished, author Judy Blume recommends one book: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

So I looked it up.

I learned it was one of the most-taught novels in secondary schools in America and beyond. And one of the most-often banned.

So I bought it.

But I screwed up. The book was supposed to ease me to sleep as I lay in my bed. Hours later, I still turned the pages on my Kindle Oasis.

Like Bloom, I will mention just the basics. No plot summary. No hints about the characters. No colorful phrases of recommendation.

Only these words: You should read it.

‘Just a Regular Boy’ Is No Regular Book

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

No spoilers here. Except for one: Just a Regular Boy could spoil you by setting a bar so high you may have trouble topping it in your future reading.

The book, by Catherine Ryan Hyde, grabbed me from the opening pages and, days after I finished it, I still feel its pull.

Remy Blake is five years old and has lost his mother when his survivalist father moves him to a remote Idaho cabin devoid of modern facilities. His father tells Remy he is finally free, but that he should fear the world and trust no one. In fact, he and his son stay sealed off from the outside.

You will cheer, worry, and feel his fear as the boy takes on the characteristics of a feral animal. When his dad’s heart gives out, Remy is just seven years old, and when he runs out of supplies, he must venture into the “evil” world. His dad’s old truck is his only way out, but he is too short to drive and crashes off a road, breaking his leg, adding to the broken ribs he sustained while trying to survive.

Remy fights for his life, even as he wonders if it is worth living. He is desperate and the depth of his character reveals itself. Will anyone help him? Will the goodness at the core of his heart find a chance to shine? A warning: If you are determined to keep your eyes dry, Remy Blake’s story may not be for you.

Hyde, who has penned more than 40 books, is the author of Pay it Forward, which was adapted into a motion picture. You’re right; I look forward to reading more of her books.