Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Most of the time, unless you live or grew up on an Indian reservation, you would not be able to get a glimpse at that life. However, Sherman Alexie gave the public an opportunity to see what life was like for those from reservations in his book The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Taking place from the 1960-1980’s, the book allowed readers to understand many of the struggles that Native Americans went through. The book, made up of short stories, also puts the audience on the same level as the storytellers and let them understand the mindset and feelings of the main characters.

The stories all took place in or around the Spokane Indian Reservation outside of Spokane, Washington. The main character of the stories change regularly but all deal with many of the same characters. Much of the book is focused on characters Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds the Fire. Other members of the reservation are mentioned regularly like Lester FallsApart and Norma Many Horses. The stories follow both Victor and Thomas through their adult lives with many reflections of their past.

The book touches on many different topics, but some main points are about alcohol’s effect on the Native Americans and their intense relationships dealing with both love and hate. In the very first story, Every Little Hurricane, Victor is awoken by his drunken uncles fighting downstairs at a party thrown by his parents. He goes to find his parents and all of the adults he comes across are completely intoxicated. Once he finally finds his parents, they are both passed out on their bed and smell of liquor. In another story, The Only Traffic Signal on the Reservation Doesn’t Flash Red Anymore, Victor and his friend Adrian sit outside when the star of the high scho...

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... uncles slugging each other with such force that they had to be in love. Strangers would never want to hurt each other that badly.” It is something so true, but so unknown.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It helped give me a much better feel for how Native Americans felt and went through, even just forty years ago. The book did a great way of sharing Indian life, through comedy but also having very serious notes. One of my favorite lines was in the introduction from the 20th anniversary edition of the book. Sherman is reflecting on writing the book and what he though about his writing. He states that every character has black hair and refers to it as the “Stepford Tribe of Indians.” I thought that was such an amusing line. I feel I am more knowledgeable of the struggles of present day Native Americans and what it was like growing up on the reservation.