Sunday, June 27, 2010
Reading Response: Indian Killer
Sherman Alexie delivered a top notch piece of literature when he wrote Indian Killer. It was a fast read that gives you a look into the culture of urban Native Americans. I did enjoy the homeless aspect that was emphasized, it makes them human. A lot of people assume that all homeless people are alcoholics and drug addicts however this is completely untrue. Some at one point in time were respected parts of their community however were caught in a cycle of bad luck that they were unable to recover from. It touches on the social etiquette of native Americans and also an insight into the inner workings of a serial killer. I think it was smartly written however I was not sure what to make of the ending. Did I miss something? .. or did the author simply want to leave the end open to interpretation. If so I am not sure what to think. Either John did it the entire time and scars Wilson because of his harmful writings towards Native Americans, or Wilson was the murderer and John scars him and kills himself because of his own inner turmoil. I enjoy this version the most however I find it unlikely because of the strength that the killer would have needed to carry his first victim on the trail. I do not believe that Wilson is capable of such feats being an overweight cripple. Although as much as he wanted to be an Indian it would make sense that he want to do something over the top to win over the favor of Native Americans.
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I don't think it could be Wilson because the one clue it gives is that the killer has long hair, which leaves it open to be Marie, John, Reggie, the professor, or one of the several other long-haired characters in the book. When I first started reading the book, I was expecting some big twist at the end with the killer turning out to be Father Duncan. However, by the end of the book, I decided that I don't think it was any of the major characters I previously mentioned. There were hints throughout the story that seemed to rule them all out.
ReplyDeleteI gonna goes as far as to say that Alexie had to make the story open ended. To me, it never becomes important to know who the killer was. I see this book as less a piece of fiction, and more of an insight into the problems with reservation life and Native American socia issues. It goes alone with the motif that was set up in the beginning and the end when he writes, What reservation, any reservation, a particaular reservation. It could have been, What Indian, Any Indian, a particular Indian.
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