"Regional pride surrounds novelist Sherman Alexie, the latest local author to win a prestigious National Book Award for his autobiographical novel for young people, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian."
This region also owes a lot to Alex Kuo, the creative-writing teacher at Washington State University whom Alexie credits with starting his literary journey two decades ago with the gift of an anthology of Native American writing. Alexie, a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, devoured the stories about people whose looks, life experiences and geographical locations were familiar to him. It was, he has said, the moment when he understood he could be a writer. The rest is sweet literary history, spanning a collection of 19 books of fiction, poetry and essays.
This is the beauty of education: opening the eyes of every student to his or her full potential.
Alexie's stark, realistic and humorous portrayals of life both on the reservation and off have cemented his reputation as one of our best writers."
Get the Story:Editorial: Absolutely Alexie (The Seattle Times 11/21) Relevant Links:
Sherman Alexie - http://www.fallsapart.com Related Stories:
Sherman Alexie wins National Book Award (11/15)
Review: Alexie's 'Part-Time Indian' a gem (11/13)
Review: 'Part-Time Indian' worth rooting for (11/06)
Interview: Sherman Alexie's 'Part Time Indian' (10/31)
Review: 'Part Time Indian' gives taste of rez (10/24)
Sherman Alexie a finalist for National Book Award (10/12)
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Review: Alexie's 'Diary' of a nerdy Indian (09/24)
Review: Alexie's 'Diary of a Part-Time Indian' (9/17)
Review: Alexie's 'Flight' raw, vital and funny (05/28)
Review: Alexie makes readers laugh and cry in 'Flight' (04/25)
Review: Time travel in Sherman Alexie's 'Flight' (4/16)
Review: Native teen time travels in Alexie's 'Flight' (4/9)
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Review: Sherman Alexie on being brown after 9-11 (05/06)
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