The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Summary
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven was recommended to me recently. The recommender theorized that I might enjoy this humorous collection of short stories/essays by author Sherman Alexie. (I am indeed a guy who enjoys humorous essays.) The book explores the (fictional) lives of Native Americans in the Spokane Indian Reservation. It delves into themes of identity, displacement, and cultural survival. Below is my book review of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.
Each story in this collection paints a complex picture of Native American life. They blend humor, sorrow, and a deep sense of history. The essays often focus on the experiences of young Native American men and the challenges they face both on and off the reservation. There are a few different narrators/protagonists throughout the book. The majority are told through the lens of Victor Joseph, a young boy living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Most of the tales involve elements of alcoholism, poverty, and prejudice. The environment is bleak, and the descriptions of events, conditions, and relationships are eye-opening. Yet, the dark and disturbing stories are occasionally interrupted with humor, hope, and love. And sometimes they throw in dreams of basketball stardom, which kept my attention.
Alexie notes this book is fiction – NOT autobiographical. Well…sort of. The author claims: “This book is a thinly disguised memoir.” It’s a mix of real-life events, people, and experiences, twisted just enough until they become fiction. Alexie also states, “...stories are necessarily biased, incomplete, exaggerated, deluded, and just plain wrong.“
Who is Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie is a prominent Native American writer, poet, filmmaker, and performer. He was born on October 7, 1966, and grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. He is best known for his works that explore the lives, struggles, and identities of Native Americans, particularly those from his own background.
Alexie’s work spans various genres, including fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. His writing is characterized by wit, humor, and often biting social commentary. He addresses the complexities of Native American identity and the challenges Indigenous people face in contemporary society.
Learn more at Sherman Alexie’s website:
Now onto the rating of “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven”
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 1/5
Violence, drug and alcohol abuse, sex, profanity. The author even seemed to cite a preference for drinking Diet Pepsi instead of Diet Coke (OBSCENE and unhinged preference, in my humble opinion.) This was NOT a clean and wholesome read. However, the raw language and disturbing imagery were crucial in delivering the honest struggles faced by many Native Americans on the reservations. Gosh Darns and Diet Cokes would not have told the same powerful story.
Hilarity Score: 2.5/5
Sherman Alexie injects humor into many of the stories. I would NOT suggest that humor is a primary literary element of this book. But Alexie demonstrates that despite dire conditions and seemingly hopeless situations, people still laugh. Here are a couple of excerpts that made me chuckle:
She shook my hand, loosely, like Indians do, using only her fingers. Not like those tight grips that white people use to prove something. She touched my hand like she was glad to see me, not like she wanted to break bones.
“How come your fridge is always F____ing empty?”
Thomas walked over to the refrigerator, saw it was empty, and then sat down inside.
“There,” Thomas said. “It ain’t empty no more.”
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 3.5/5
I’m somewhat conflicted about the Overall Awesomeness rating of this book. It is not the type of book I typically go for. It was raw and sad and at times, difficult to follow due to Alexie’s poetic prose. (And I’m not smart enough to pick up on the author’s intended deeper message within the texts.)
But…I think this book will stick in my memory. Alexie’s vivid descriptions of life on the reservation were powerful. Bleak, yet at times hopeful and even proud. It wasn’t my favorite book, but I am glad I read it.
Things I liked:
- Honest and thought-provoking
- Occasional glimpses of hope, laughter and love
- Basketball
Things I didn’t like:
- At times, confusing flow
- Dark/Bleak setting
- Diet Pepsi
Conclusion: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven Book Review
“The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” was recommended to me because I’m a guy who likes humorous essays. Was it a worthy recommendation?
Yes.
But not because of the humorous nature of the essays. I certainly wouldn’t consider it a hilarious, knee-slapper. But it was a deep, thought-provoking book that I’m glad I read.
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