“If you ever get a chance to see Sherman Alexie in person, do it. He is the most amazing speaker: smart, funny, smart, opinionated, smart, provocative—did I mention smart??? But if you can’t see him in person, for goodness sakes read his books. (By the way, the Multnomah County Library system picked two of Alexie’s books for the 2013 Everybody Reads program: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, winner of the National Book Award for Young Readers, and Ten Little Indians, a collection of short stories.)
Alexie’s newest book is another collection of short stories, Blasphemy, in which he unites fifteen beloved classics with fifteen new stories in one sweeping anthology for both devoted fans and first-time readers. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly had this to say: ‘Alexie hammers away at ever-simmering issues, like racism, addiction, and infidelity, using a no-holds-barred approach and seamlessly shattering the boundary between character and reader. But while these glimpses into a harried and conflicted humanity prod our consciousness, there’s plenty of bawdiness and Alexie’s signature wicked humor throughout to balance out the weight.’
Alexie, who currently lives in Seattle, is a bold and irreverent observer of life among Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Blasphemy is published by Grove Press ($27) . . .”—Broadway Books, Portland.
Read more and buy Blasphemy, Dear Life, Birds of a Lesser Paradise, Shout Her Lovely Name, and This is How You Lose Her from Broadway Books.
Each day until Christmas, the tireless staff at Broadway Books will post a recommendation for a great gift book on the store’s blog, Bookbroads. 24 Days of Books posts are written by Sally McPherson, Roberta Dyer and Kate Bennison.