I had a crazy week pitching the asexuality flick I am working on at Independent Film Week. I am going to write a long entry about all that later but for now ...
I am totally in love with this book I just finished. It is Sherman Alexie's book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I randomly bought a hard cover copy at Strand. I just wanted a new book.
It is the coming of age story of Arnold Spirit, a 14 year old kid who lives on a reservation in a small town outside of Spokane. He decided to go to a high school outside of the res and the year he spends there is chronicled in this book. I don't want to give too much away because the book is small and I want you to have the surprises I did. Apparently it is highly autobiographical. Apparently it is also young people's literature (such strange phrasing -- not mine but The National Book Award folks).
This is the best book I've read in a year when I've read some great ones. I've been on a roll, really. But this book made me laugh and it made me cry. (And I'm not a crier when it comes to books.) This book made me see my life differently. Not in a "I am grateful for all that I have because other people don't have that much" kind of way. No, I truly felt like the protagnoist was a true kindred spirit.
A few great lines:
"If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing."
"The quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor."
"Who cares if a man wants to marry another man? All I want to know is who is going to pick up all the dirty socks?"
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