Indian Killer
Sherman Alexie
"John Smith is a young man who was adopted out of this tribe - he doesn't know what tribe - when he was a baby. At birth, he was taken from his mother and sent to a family in Seattle. As he grows up, it becomes more and more clear that he has a mental illness. He's mad. As Alexei follows his growing up and his descent into madness, a killer, a serial killer becomes active on the streets of Seattle. It's thought that killer is Indian because he leaves crossed owl feathers at the scenes of his crimes, and the owl is an evil bird to a lot of tribes.
We're made to wonder whether John Smith is the so-called Indian killer. Race war, a racial conflict, erupts in the streets of Seattle; and bands of Indians beat up white people. There's a sort of a Rush Limbaugh talk show host who whips up race hatred against Indiana, saying they've had special privileges too long.
I have some criticisms of the book. Even though it's a tremendously rewarding read, it's a novel of ideas; and that means it's a little bit clunky sometimes. I think that if he'd gone through a nother draft, he might have smoothed things out a little bit more.
I honestly think that everyone should read something by Sherman Alexie because he has such a strong and unique voice. Indian Killer is a very accessible book; he's also written wonderful poems. At least five stars I'd give to Indian Killer."
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