Feature Title
War Dances
by Sherman Alexie
With unparalleled insight into the minds of artists, laborers, fathers, husbands, and sons, Alexie populates his stories with ordinary men on the brink of exceptional change. In a bicoastal journey through the consequences of both simple and monumental life choices, Alexie introduces us to these personal worlds as they transform beyond return. In the title story, a famous writer must decide how to care for his distant father who is slowly dying a “natural Indian death” from alcohol and diabetes, just as he learns that he himself may have a brain tumor. Alexie dissects a vintage-clothing store owner’s failing marriage and his subsequent courtship of a married photographer in various airports across the country; what happens when a politician’s son commits an unforgivable hate crime; and how a young boy learns his self-worth while writing for the obituary department of his local newspaper.
Brazen, and wise, War Dances takes us to the heart of what it means to be human. The new beginnings, successes, mistakes, and regrets that make up our daily lives are laid bare in this wide-ranging and provocative new work that is Alexie at the height of his powers.
About the Author
Sherman J. Alexie, Jr., was born in October 1966. A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, he grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA, about 50 miles northwest of Spokane, WA. Sherman attended Washington State University where he planned to become a doctor. After a number of fainting spells Alexie searched for a new calling. Inspired by a poetry teacher he discovered writing. Thus began his prolific writing career. He is the author of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight In Heaven, Reservation Blues, Indian Killer, The Toughest Indian In the World, Ten Little Indians, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, and Flight. He wrote and directed The Business of Fancydancing and also wrote the award-winning screenplay for Smoke Signals. Sherman lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and two sons. His website: www.fallsapart.com
$28.95 cloth, 256pp
978-0-8021-1919-3
Grove Press