See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

16 used & new from £0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Indian Killer
 
See larger image
 

Indian Killer (Paperback)

by Sherman Alexie (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


2 new from £6.00 14 used from £0.01
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 12 used & new from £0.61
Paperback (Reprint) £10.09 £9.10 23 used & new from £3.64
School & Library Binding Order it used
Turtleback Order it used

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Rain God

Rain God

by Arturo Oslas
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £7.12
Reservation Blues

Reservation Blues

by Sherman Alexie
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £8.49
I am Woman: Native Perspective of Sociology and Feminism

I am Woman: Native Perspective of Sociology and Feminism

by Lee Maracle
£7.99
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

by Junot Diaz
3.9 out of 5 stars (16)  £4.79
The Antelope Wife

The Antelope Wife

by Louise Erdrich
4.4 out of 5 stars (9)  £8.09
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Minerva; New edition edition (4 Jun 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 009926823X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099268239
  • Product Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 469,843 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #9 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > A > Alexie, Sherman
    #33 in  Books > Fiction > World > American > Native American

Product Description

Review
A terrific second novel by the talented Native American author whose highly praised fiction (The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, 1993; Reservation Blues, 1995) has already moved him onto the short list of the country's best young writers. It's a rich, panoramic portrayal of contemporary Seattle that uses the form of the mystery to tell some uncomfortable home truths about Indian-white relations, and indeed racism in all its forms. Alexie begins by focusing on the ironically named John Smith, who was either given up for adoption by, or stolen away from, his teenaged Indian mother. He is raised by loving and conscientious white "parents" and finds himself in traumatized adulthood "an Indian without a tribe," a misfit who belongs to no culture, wandering the streets among the city's homeless, seeking an outlet for the unfocused rage he knows he can no longer suppress. Is John Smith the "Indian killer" who stalks and murders white men, scalping them for good measure, terrorizing the city and provoking a rash of racially motivated violence? Alexie teases us with that possibility right up to the last page, meanwhile populating his exciting story with a host of keenly observed and rigorously analyzed characters. The most memorable include Marie Polatkin, a fiery Native American college student and activist with no use for sentimental white liberals; Jack Wilson, an ex-cop turned popular novelist, whose exploration (and exploitation) of a small trace of "Indian blood" in his ancestry infuriates his full-blooded "brothers"; and John Smith's adoptive parents, Olivia and Daniel, whose decency and good will are portrayed with fairness and respect. Alexie succeeds brilliantly at suggesting the time-bomb - ticking character of John Smith's ravaged psyche, and the novel rips along at a breathless pace. Both a splendidly constructed and wonderfully readable thriller - and a haunting, challenging articulation of the plight and the pride of contemporary Native Americans. (Kirkus Reviews)

Product Description
A murderer is stalking and killing white men in Seattle, his calling card a pair of crossed feathers on the victim's chest. While this so-called killer terrorizes the city, its native-American population is thrown into turmoil by race-related revenge crimes.

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
contemporary native american

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Indian Killer
54% buy the item featured on this page:
Indian Killer 3.0 out of 5 stars (3)
Reservation Blues
26% buy
Reservation Blues 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£8.49
Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
20% buy
Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£5.99

 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A strange turnaround for Alexie., 3 Oct 2005
By Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)   
Sherman Alexie is a fantastically gifted writer, and Reservation Blues and his short stories are recognized as masterpieces. This book, however, is so different in its focus and execution that one wonders what Alexie's motivation was in publishing it. The main character is despicable--and obviously mentally ill. He brutalizes the most innocent of victims, shocking the reader with murders which could not be more loathsome in their graphic detail. This violence is gratuitous. We are given no understanding of the man or his motivation.

Some might argue that because he was stolen from his Indian mother and given to whites to raise that he never felt part of either the white or Indian worlds, and that this is his justification, if not his motivation. But he was an infant when this kidnapping happened, however disgraceful it was, and his adoptive parents were loving ones. It's the old Nature vs. Nurture theme, and Alexie seems to be saying here that Nurture counts for less than nothing if it takes place in a white environment.

Perhaps Alexie is trying to turn the tables by having an Indian exact the kind of gratuitous violence against the white world that has been exacted against Native Americans. If that is the case, he has confused the issue by having his killer be part of neither culture, with no social values from either culture infusing his actions. And if Alexie's point is that other Indians are justified in feeling like his killer, one wonders why his depiction of Indian life in Reservation Blues, for example, is so bleak and why his main characters there escape to the white world, "[singing] together...with the shadow horses....a song of mourning that would become a song of celebration." Mary Whipple

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars unremittingly tedious!, 12 Feb 2005
By still searching (MK UK) - See all my reviews
  
This review is from: Indian Killer (Paperback)
If there existed a prize for the most tedious book ever written then this book would almost certainly be shortlisted. It is quite simply pedestrian nonsense populated with the type of one-dimensional, stereotypical characters one normally associates with the worst daytime TV soap operas! It should be almost painfully obvious to those who have reasonably functioning senses that racism is endemic to all but the most enlightened societies: so that when we seek 'entertainment' from a novel we don't need to be battered about the head by an author who seemingly thinks he's doing God's work by grafting a so-called serial killer story onto a piece of poorly written and pedestrian soap-box tub thumping! If you want a good crime story turn (back) to Michael Connelly, John Connolly, James Lee Burke et al. If you want serious research into the social ills that afflict modern societies take a trip to your local library!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars couldn't put it down, 6 Feb 2009
This review is from: Indian Killer (Paperback)
I really liked this book .... it didn't really know what to expect what i bought this book, i only got it because i like sherman alexie and yet again, he failed to disappointment me =) I couldn't put it down! Basically the book is centred on John Smith who has been adopted by non-native american parents and the possibility that he indeed could be the so called "indian killer". I did like John but the other characters for me were just as interesting and sometimes when the narratives changed, i forgot all about john because i was so drawn into each character's life and perspective. Plus, there is also a chance that anyone of the charcter is the "indian killer". I think it a great book, i couldn't put it down and i would recommend it highly! Two thumbs up!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Understanding Sherman Alexie

Understanding Sherman Alexie

In this first book-length examination of Native American poet... Read more
£34.15

Find similar items

 

More From Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True...

The Absolutely True Diary of a...

Overflows with truth, pain and black comedy amid lacerating memories... Read more
£5.99 £4.49

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates