poignant/humorous portrayal of reservation life and cultural tension

Overdrive - e book - first recommended by Grandma Rose

Befitting my all things native reading and watching kick.... I started this book years ago but it offended my Victorian sensibilities. Those sensibilities are still firmly in place. I just try not to throw someone's story out if I want to learn about a sub culture which is different from my own. For goodness sakes, I read the Good Earth when I was in fifth grade and it was pretty "earthy," not titillating just accurate. 

Sherman Alexie has an authentic voice and I love his cartoons. Depiction of reservation life near Spokane Washington and the realistic tension between his desire to escape the downward spiral that seemed to trap his counterparts on the reservation and the part of himself that was firmly and deeply rooted to his heritage and people. He joins a "white" school and learns to thrive there, but this means facing derision at home and foregoing his best friend and protector "Rowdy." There is a reconciliation of sorts but the tension is visceral. 

 

Gritty Memoir

 

Was thinking about the PCT because I chatted with some hikers near Kernville a few weekends ago. I love hiking and the PCT is kind of a tantalizing dream of mine.

I had heard about this book some years back and had started the audio version but never finished. I read the e book version through overdrive. The author is poignant, personal, honest, and has plenty of dry humor which I appreciated. 

I admire her grit in taking on this challenge alone. It sounds like it was a healing and truly wild journey for her. 

Luck or the law of attraction is a thing - are you a believer?

 

I'm still trying to remember how I got my hands on this book! I thought my friend Emilee gave it to me for Christmas, but she didn't remember it.

Anyway, I read it very slowly in the mornings over this busy Spring and so I think the best way to make an account of it as I sit here procrastinating on other "admin" projects is to list the chapter titles.

1. The element - what it means to find your thing, your passion, your zone, 

2. Think differently - break out of the bonds of societal and traditional school emphases

3. Beyond Imagining - imagine it and do it!

4. In the zone - what can you lose yourself in?

5. finding your tribe - it's not just what you want to do, but who you want to be with.

 - he gives lots of good examples- Meg Ryan in this chapter! Love her.

6. What will they think? Let go of people pleasing

7. Do you feel lucky? - basically the attraction principle - the power of positive thinking - abundance mentality - serendipity - also known as luck - but it has to do with your posture and openness

8. Somebody help me - find a mentor

9. Is it too late - you're not too old to find your element - this is getting closer to home, ouch

10. For love or money - your "element" doesn't have to support you financially

that's what Liz Gilbert says in Big Magic too!

11. Making the grade - changing how we think about education - preaching to the choir!