4thace reviewed Flight by Sherman Alexie
Review of 'Flight' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This was one of those stories where the protagonist starts out unlikeable and unpleasant to everyone around him, but by the end you are hoping things turn out better for him. He is a fifteen year old orphaned by his mother and abandoned by his father who has known nothing but rejection by the foster system and society at large. He meets a boy a couple years older who encourages him to commit an act of violence as a way to bring back the power of his indigenous heritage over the white oppressors, and that's where it almost literally takes off in to past times and distant places seen through other people's eyes. It is as though A Christmas Carol happened to a violent teen rebel by teaching him about history and culture rather than about his personal shortcomings. The ending is happier than anyone has a right to expect …
This was one of those stories where the protagonist starts out unlikeable and unpleasant to everyone around him, but by the end you are hoping things turn out better for him. He is a fifteen year old orphaned by his mother and abandoned by his father who has known nothing but rejection by the foster system and society at large. He meets a boy a couple years older who encourages him to commit an act of violence as a way to bring back the power of his indigenous heritage over the white oppressors, and that's where it almost literally takes off in to past times and distant places seen through other people's eyes. It is as though A Christmas Carol happened to a violent teen rebel by teaching him about history and culture rather than about his personal shortcomings. The ending is happier than anyone has a right to expect taking his journey at face value, so I guess the author is not too concerned with realism when telling his tall tale. There are scenes of graphic violence and torture depicted as part of the pathos and at one point criminal child abuse is implied but not shown in detail, which might be deal-breakers for some readers. There is some sentimentality at different times but that is offset by the degradation so it is best simply to take it all in I think in order to sympathize with our protagonist. It is a quick book to take in and if you can get hooked by the idea of a tribal spirit quest you can finish it in short order.
