Title: The Challenge of Crafting a Reservation Blues Thesis

Crafting a thesis on Reservation Blues can be an intricate and demanding task, requiring a deep
understanding of the novel's themes, characters, and cultural context. Navigating the complexities of
this literary work demands a comprehensive analysis that goes beyond a surface-level examination.
As students embark on the journey of composing a thesis on Reservation Blues, they often encounter
numerous challenges that can make the process overwhelming.

One of the primary difficulties lies in dissecting the multifaceted themes embedded in Sherman
Alexie's novel. Reservation Blues delves into issues such as identity, cultural assimilation, and the
impact of historical trauma on Native American communities. Conveying a nuanced understanding of
these themes requires careful research, critical thinking, and the ability to connect disparate elements
into a cohesive argument.

Additionally, the intricate characterizations in Reservation Blues pose another hurdle for thesis
writers. Alexie presents a diverse cast with unique perspectives, adding layers of complexity to the
narrative. Analyzing characters like Thomas Builds-the-Fire, Victor Joseph, and Junior Polatkin
requires a keen literary insight to unravel their motivations, relationships, and contributions to the
overarching narrative.

Cultural sensitivity and a profound awareness of the historical context are indispensable when
tackling a Reservation Blues thesis. The novel addresses the challenges faced by Native Americans in
a post-colonial society, touching on the legacy of oppression and the struggle for cultural
preservation. To do justice to these themes, writers must navigate the intricacies of indigenous history
and contemporary issues, demanding a level of research and understanding that can be both time-
consuming and mentally taxing.

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compelling and academically sound thesis on Reservation Blues.
He and Junior leave to get drunk, while Chess, Checkers, and Thomas return to the hotel. Humor,
memory, loving, heartbreak, beauty, tragedy, white stuff, Native American stuff, on the rez, off the
rez, the Old West and the Old Ones, white religion, First Nations religion and spirituality. Only this
time, these three misfits magically become rock musicians by the random appearance of blues singer
Robert Johnson’s guitar. I like to think Big Mama showed us the way with Father Arnold in the very
end of the book. The guitar changes hands and creates problems, more than they already had, for the
Indians that use it as a way off of the reservation. In Fistfight, you’re buoyed by the narrator’s
survival and the artificial decorum of a brief visit. Then the BIA poured those tears into beer and
Pepsi cans and distributed them back onto the reservation. From my culture-centric point of view, it’s
hard to understand the racism and cultural and economic forces that keep the Indian wars going even
today. The bitterness and well as the resent I imagine that Native Americans feel, is well represented
in this book through their disdain for their government distributed foods. I love how Alexie weaves
between various stories seamlessly and how the mythology and the reality of Native Americans blurs
hazily together. Thomas thought about all the dreams that were murdered here, and the bones buried
quickly just inches below the surface, all waiting to break through the foundations of those
government houses built by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The story line
explores and demonstrates these larger themes: What is the Indian soul. They start to get pretty
famous and some issues of marginalization and racial exploitation begin to arise as white record
executives try to influence the group. (There's a lot more to it than this, but I don't feel like
explaining.) There were some good characters in the book and I liked how Alexie wove Native
American folklore into the story. If we look for a more universal term, the “magical realism” of
Gabriel Garcia Marquez comes to mind and explains what Alexie probably meant when he coined
the term “reservation realism.” Some folks have probably criticized Reservation Blues for being too
preachy and heavy-handed but we’re talking about a couple hundred years of brutality and genocide
so I think it’s fair to cut Alexie a little slack. The straight forward plot is layered with metaphorical
connections to a general Indian past, while each character is forced to confront haunting personal
issues. Oh, it'll be formulaic drivel, but it'll describe THIS and THAT. And there's a reason he's
survived-- he writes with a sort of Murakami sense of archetypes freely floating around, traditional
stories colliding with rock musicians and corporate brands, and it's all tempered with the sort of bitter
sense of humor that comes from the bitter truth of life on the Res. They’re a terrible band, but the
Indians on the rez appreciate them when they play in an abandoned grocery store. As I musician, I
felt closely related to Robert Johnson. Chess cries against the fact that, Indian men prefer the White
man to the Indian woman. He'd go on and on about some dream sequence and then another dream.
Leaving their instruments behind, the band flies back to the reservation, where many tribe members
wish to excommunicate them. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. I was easily
charmed with the dialogue and the subtle humor of a culture and history that I haven't encountered
before, at least not like this. The novel follows the story of the rise and fall of a rock and blues band
of Spokane Indians from the Spokane Reservation. Sherman's best known works include The Lone
Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Smoke Signals, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian. The episode refers to the Faustian “Crossroads Legend” around Johnson (who died in 1938 at
age 27): He met the devil at a crossroads (in Mississippi), and made the deal. He replied, “To have
ambition means to accept the world of the people who destroyed you. I had friends from both tribes
through most of my public school years. When was given this guitar, he too felt the music radiating
with its strings.
From the get-go, I was pulled into the story by Alexie's prose and his talent for dialog. For more of
my reviews, please visit: 52 likes Like Comment Nathan Author 51 books 77 followers July 25, 2008
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked this up. This was indicative of the plight of Native
Americans in what is now the United States. Activate the desired contents for one session only or
allow the website to remember these settings. Thomas thought about all the dreams that were
murdered here, and the bones buried quickly just inches below the surface, all waiting to break
through the foundations of those government houses built by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development. I offer the magic guitar of opportunity that promises hope but will turn on you
eventually. He looked at his own white hands and saw the blood stains there. Careening nearly out
of control, Alexie's text playfully mixes past and present, fanciful dreams with the harsh reality of a
tribe whose traditional livelihood is fishing and who are now stuck on land with dammed-up rivers.
I've been reading it off and on for a while now and I liked picking it up and having a read whenever
I felt like escaping for a bit. Chess tried to motivate Thomas on the growth of the band as she
reminded Thomas of his real aim of forming the rock band, which was ultimately to become famous.
The stranger turns out to be the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, who made a scant 29
recordings before dying of poison in 1938. Two of his former bullies and two women from another
tribe, joined together to form Coyote Springs. So, yes, I went into reading Reservation Blues with
high hopes. White people owned everything: food, houses, clothes, children. I also love how Alexie
always ties the present into the historical. He replied, “To have ambition means to accept the world of
the people who destroyed you. Chess was more like a motivating factor as she tried all that was
within her power to spur the band to success. From here, Alexie tinkers with his fictional reality,
imbuing his band with talent and popularity that accrue far faster than one might expect. Betty and
Veronica return to Seattle, to the bookstore that they co-own. Alexie is a talented writer whose gift
for storytelling is enhanced by his social commentary and his humorous presentation. Most of their
meager funding and motivation also come from him. The devil tuned his guitar for him and Johnson
became a great player. Johnson seems sick and hurt, and Thomas offers to help. The music rose past
the hitchhiker up into the sky, banged into the Big Dipper, and bounced off the bright moon. All the
other Indians on the reservation heard those stories so often that the words crept into dreams. An
Indian telling his friends about a dream he had was halfway through the telling before everyone
realized it was actually one of Thomas’s stealth stories. I had read some of Alexie's short fiction
anthologies and enjoyed them. He sold his soul to the devil in 1931 and claims to have faked his
death seven years later. The settings will be remembered for the next time you visit our online shop. I
cherished all those little moments of magic that I felt while reading this book. I had read some of
Alexie's short fiction anthologies and enjoyed them.
He'd go on and on about some dream sequence and then another dream. Thomas intervenes, and gets
into a wrestling match with Victor himself. A easy read and the story is written with unique type of
humor; early on, Thomas build the fire in the book made me think of an anime protagonist and I
wanted to keep reading it. You don't have to be an Indian to enjoy the masterful story told in this
book. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. You don't have to be an Indian to enjoy
the masterful story told in this book. Alexie avoided easy stereotypes, calling out both Whites and
Native Americans. He sold his soul to the devil in 1931 and claims to have faked his death seven
years later. And because of this dependency on music, the link between music and Satan is easily
identifiable and understandable. Sign in using your Kirkus account Sign in Keep me logged in.
Victor dreams of his mother and stepfather, who are both absent, and of a group of frightening men
in black robes. Alexie is now very much an “urban Indian,” of course, a world-renown and much-
honored writer. Lack of ambition, even alcohol and drug addiction and suicide, are acts of rebellion
against that.” I was skeptical. “Are the people really thinking that way,” I asked? “Subconsciously,”
he answered, “always.” I was still skeptical, but I believed him, because I believe him. Then the BIA
poured those tears into beer and Pepsi cans and distributed them back onto the reservation.
Meanwhile, Robert Johnson is rehabilitated by Big Mom, although details are sparse. After Thomas
leads Johnson to Big Mom, he inherits the singer's guitar. From here, Alexie tinkers with his fictional
reality, imbuing his band with talent and popularity that accrue far faster than one might expect.
Chess cries against the fact that, Indian men prefer the White man to the Indian woman. In his own
original and comical way, Alexie uses a pick-up game of basketball which pits Thomas' father and
the rez drunk, Leonard, against the half-breed Tribal police force. This image is not only cliche, but
its out dated and inaccurate of the average Native American. Alexie is now very much an “urban
Indian,” of course, a world-renown and much-honored writer. This guitar possesses skill, precision
and soul, no matter who its owner is. If you want to go there then Sherman will take you. This entire
review has been hidden because of spoilers. This book successfully represents that and does it with
engaging, likeable characters, stimulating imagery, original and sincere writing, and amazingly, with a
light, humorous tone. We use cookies to create the best experience for you. They’re a terrible band,
but the Indians on the rez appreciate them when they play in an abandoned grocery store. I offer the
magic guitar of opportunity that promises hope but will turn on you eventually. Chess was more like
a motivating factor as she tried all that was within her power to spur the band to success. As I
musician, I felt closely related to Robert Johnson.
Johnson seems sick and hurt, and Thomas offers to help. This was a management fault, caused by
the transfer of the airline's 840,000 files which contained data on transactions for earlier customers
who had previously purchased flights from its old reservation structure servers at Calgary to servers
in Oklahoma. The description of Checkers as a beautiful lady cleared the air on whether Native
Americans were attractive or not as she was depicted as a damsel with long hair. So, yes, I went into
reading Reservation Blues with high hopes. Thomas is the bass player and the “story-teller”
(songwriter). A drunken Victor and Joseph are confronted by an enraged Michael White Hawk, the
nephew of David WalksAlong. The guitar wouldn’t play and the magic that the band had once
poured from their original songs was if it hadn’t existed. In this book, Thomas is given an enchanted
guitar and forms a band with Victor and Junior. The next morning, on-edge after staying up all night
and fed up with Victor’s insensitivity, Checkers attacks Victor violently in response to a rude
comment about Thomas’s father, Samuel. The two sisters were used to remind readers of the
impression that, the church had on rock music as they had the belief of it being an evil music. They
savagely opened cans of commodities and wept over the rancid meat.” I was first introduced to these
characters when I saw the movie Smoke Signals, which was originally a book (that I didn’t read).
Completely convincing, fully-realized characters throughout, from Thomas, Victor and Junior to
General Sheridan, Robert Johnson and Big Mom. The record of their experiences therein is preserved
in Will's film The Davidson Record - which is the subject of an unpublished manuscript left behind
by a (possibly insane) old man, Frank Zampano - which falls into the possession of Johnny Truant, a
drifter who has survived an abusive childhood and the perverse possessiveness of his mad mother
(who is institutionalized). She quickly falls in love with the understanding priest. Later the man
faked his own death, in order to avoid the wrath of the Devil with whom they had a contract. The
band members seem to take on the gamut of problems faced by Indians on the reservation today,
battling everything from alcoholism to violence, political corruption to sexual abuse.Ghosts from the
past, both personal and historical haunt the musicians, serving both to hold them back and urge them
on. Inspired by this gift, Thomas forms Coyote Springs, an all-Indian Catholic band who find
themselves on a magical tour that leads from reservation bars to Seattle and New York--and deep
within their own souls. In a world of cruel realities a little bit of magic has to be cherished. In the
terminology of white American history, Reservation Blues is a Tall Tale with larger-than-life
everything. The group returns to the rez, failures, but the tribe resents them for having left at all.
Sherman's best known works include The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Smoke
Signals, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Two of his former bullies and two
women from another tribe, joined together to form Coyote Springs. It's thrilling to find a book that
changes the way you read. The novel tries to present a world view from the point of view of a young
reservation Indian, Thomas, who seems educated, sensitive, and thoughtful, and who doesn’t drink.
RB did not pull me in right away as I wanted it to. I kept on. I tried. But Alexie glossed over certain
parts and waxed poetic on others. The first is from Alexie’s imaginary (as far as I know) song,
Reservation Blues: “Dancing all alone, feeling nothing good, It’s been so long since someone
understood.” That summaries the theme, tone, and mood of the novel. Defeated by tragedy and the
memories of Lynn, Junior steals a rifle, climbs to the top of the water tower, and commits suicide.
From the get-go, I was pulled into the story by Alexie's prose and his talent for dialog. As I tried to
get into the story and failed, I felt awful knowing I was not going to finish the book. She resents
certain traits of Indian men, but she also resents the white women who make tokens of them.
Oh, it'll be formulaic drivel, but it'll describe THIS and THAT. Seriously, I actually sat in my car
waiting for the story to finish. Show full review 4 likes Like Comment Joe Fahey 35 reviews
December 29, 2014 This is one of those books I didn't want to end. A easy read and the story is
written with unique type of humor; early on, Thomas build the fire in the book made me think of an
anime protagonist and I wanted to keep reading it. Upon moving to Seattle and finding out that he
was a local, I picked this up at a used book store, figuring I'd give it a read. Thomas is somewhat of
an outcast on the reservation, and considered strange by many. As well, Reservation Blues gave the
reader insight into the lives of modern day Native Americans. Our Teacher Edition on Reservation
Blues makes teaching easy. Though his narrative is full of droll wit, his themes are profound. As
someone with ambitions to write but who always struggles with the damn telling a good story part of
it all, I appreciate how intricately every part of this book loose-threads together. The trio form a
band, later including sisters Checkers and Chess Warmwater; and their sad, desperately and human
story unfolds as a tale of trying to figure out what it means in going beyond skin-deep stereotypes. 4
likes Like Comment Bill 79 reviews 10 followers April 15, 2013 The Indian Wars Today (2012)
Alexie, Sherman (1995). Read Alexie's stories only partly for the larger plot. In Reservation Blues
you’re living on the reservation; tempted to turn away from particularly painful moments and
compelled to stand solemnly when “characters” you’ve come to care for fall beside you. It’s what
made the last line of the song, Reservation Blues, echo for me: “And if you ain’t got choices, Ain’t
got much to lose.” I also asked him about the lack of ambition that seems to inhabit reservation
culture and Indian life, as portrayed. There is no time.” I was stunned by the honesty, force, and
depth of his answer. Only this time, these three misfits magically become rock musicians by the
random appearance of blues singer Robert Johnson’s guitar. Alexie's grasp of his people's sense of
humor is unparalleled, and the jokes transcend racial and social lines. I was easily charmed with the
dialogue and the subtle humor of a culture and history that I haven't encountered before, at least not
like this. I liked the movie, in part because I think the actor Adam Beach is yummy. And there's a
reason he's survived-- he writes with a sort of Murakami sense of archetypes freely floating around,
traditional stories colliding with rock musicians and corporate brands, and it's all tempered with the
sort of bitter sense of humor that comes from the bitter truth of life on the Res. Signing away your
freedom in exchange for an empty promise is an idea which transcends the generations for Indians;
the record contract and the peace treaty. Who did they think they were, attempting to have a
successful life off the reservation. The bitterness and well as the resent I imagine that Native
Americans feel, is well represented in this book through their disdain for their government
distributed foods. He said that he wants strangers to appreciate him and become popular, even
amongst people that were not of the same race as him. Keying off this opening scene, Alexie
develops a story in which Johnson gives Thomas his magical guitar, who gives it to his friend Victor,
a drunken lout who suddenly, though intermittently, becomes able to play fantastic blues. I love how
he touches on the irony of a situation that drives it deep into the loneliest part of your being instead
of just staying cliched and clever on the surface. What are the roles of music and storytelling, and
dreaming in the Indian cultural life. Humor, memory, loving, heartbreak, beauty, tragedy, white stuff,
Native American stuff, on the rez, off the rez, the Old West and the Old Ones, white religion, First
Nations religion and spirituality. Decorated veterans of that war between fathers and sons, Junior and
Victor knew the best defense was sleep. Reservation Blues. New York: Warner Books. 306 pages. I
confess immediately that I am a huge fan of Sherman Alexie and I think this book is an artistic
masterpiece.
Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan are classmates in the small Irish town of Carricklea, where
his mother works for her family as a cleaner. Big Mom takes a collection for them from the tribe,
some of whom donate out of generosity, but many, like WalksAlong, out of a desire to see the three
outcasts leave the reservation for good. When things seemed to turn up for them, everything tends to
fall apart. Oh, it'll be formulaic drivel, but it'll describe THIS and THAT. So, yes, I went into reading
Reservation Blues with high hopes. The episode refers to the Faustian “Crossroads Legend” around
Johnson (who died in 1938 at age 27): He met the devil at a crossroads (in Mississippi), and made
the deal. Reservation Blues acknowledged and considered oppression and privilege, reconsidering
history. Indian reservation exemplifies the 70s social atmosphere filled with civil rights struggles
from minority groups (Smith, 44). Why do Indians, even today, still see the white man as the devil.
As a concept, I love American magical realism (see also: Swamplandia!, which coincidentally is
about people who like to pretend they're Indian). Thomas is the bass player and the “story-teller”
(songwriter). Only this time, these three misfits magically become rock musicians by the random
appearance of blues singer Robert Johnson’s guitar. Music, characterized by his guitar, had captured
his being to the point where it became hard to leave the instrument’s side. A easy read and the story
is written with unique type of humor; early on, Thomas build the fire in the book made me think of
an anime protagonist and I wanted to keep reading it. With no other choice, they decide to sleep in
the van before the competition. This book, while flawed in its complexity and predictability, I liked
its array of situations and emotions afflicting Native Americans, a minority group often forgotten.
Plus, I loved--loved--Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. Sherman's best known
works include The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Smoke Signals, and The Absolutely
True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. At his funeral, Chess and Thomas decide to get married and have
children, but also to leave the reservation and move to Spokane. Oh, it'll be formulaic drivel, but it'll
describe THIS and THAT. Lack of ambition, even alcohol and drug addiction and suicide, are acts of
rebellion against that.” I was skeptical. “Are the people really thinking that way,” I asked?
“Subconsciously,” he answered, “always.” I was still skeptical, but I believed him, because I believe
him. The settings will be remembered for the next time you visit our online shop. They are an
opportunity to play with language: his words sounded like stones in his mouth and coals in his
stomach. This guitar possesses skill, precision and soul, no matter who its owner is. Thunder Boy Jr.
Sherman Alexie Echoes of Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian resonate in this
vibrant first-person tale, illustrated in a stormy palette by Morales (Nino Wrestles the World). The
record of their experiences therein is preserved in Will's film The Davidson Record - which is the
subject of an unpublished manuscript left behind by a (possibly insane) old man, Frank Zampano -
which falls into the possession of Johnny Truant, a drifter who has survived an abusive childhood
and the perverse possessiveness of his mad mother (who is institutionalized). This was indicative of
the plight of Native Americans in what is now the United States. The devil tuned his guitar for him
and Johnson became a great player. The opening imagery is fantastic, and sets the tone. Instead he
offers to take him to Big Mom, an enormous Indian woman who lives in a cabin atop a mountain.
You can change these settings at any time (fingerprint icon in the bottom left corner). Much of the
story’s narration follows his perspective to some degree, which is attentive to small details and the
spiritual resonances of the reservation. Keying off this opening scene, Alexie develops a story in
which Johnson gives Thomas his magical guitar, who gives it to his friend Victor, a drunken lout who
suddenly, though intermittently, becomes able to play fantastic blues. Everyone's a victim and they
are their own worst enemy in the end. 7 likes Like Comment Victoria Author 4 books 58 followers
October 19, 2016 I am very disappointed as I write this review. He replied, “To have ambition means
to accept the world of the people who destroyed you. The local youth starts a band called Coyote
Springs and head off on a musical and self discovery adventure that is quite fascinating and heartfelt.
Samuel and Lester nearly prevailed against the odds, but ended up having their victory snatched
away at the last minute in a nasty, dirty game. Can you feel the pain still, late at night, when you’re
trying to sleep, when you’re praying to a God whose name was used to justify the slaughter?”. You
are there for the awkward silences and shy smiles, the pettiness and jealousy of a small community,
the loyalty and tradition, the despair and depression. Johnson believes that would be a good idea
because he has had dreams of such a woman, someone who could reverse the bargain he made with
the devil, selling his soul in exchange for his otherwordly ability to play the guitar. A easy read and
the story is written with unique type of humor; early on, Thomas build the fire in the book made me
think of an anime protagonist and I wanted to keep reading it. I had friends from both tribes through
most of my public school years. Johnson ends up taking a back seat early on in the story, leaving the
stage open for a handful of characters who put a band together and start playing gigs on their
reservation. In 1995, Thomas Builds-The-Fire, Junior Polatkin, and Victor Joseph, who also appear in
Sherman Alexie's short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, meet
American blues musician Robert Johnson. Thomas later discovered that Johnson had left him a guitar,
inspiring him to hook up with other outcasts, such as Junior Polatkin and Victor Joseph. Alexie is
now very much an “urban Indian,” of course, a world-renown and much-honored writer. I won't be
finishing RB although I may pick up another book by ol' Sherman in the future. The bitterness and
well as the resent I imagine that Native Americans feel, is well represented in this book through their
disdain for their government distributed foods. The first is from Alexie’s imaginary (as far as I know)
song, Reservation Blues: “Dancing all alone, feeling nothing good, It’s been so long since someone
understood.” That summaries the theme, tone, and mood of the novel. Alexie avoided easy
stereotypes, calling out both Whites and Native Americans. They're like having in-class notes for
every discussion!”. I've been reading it off and on for a while now and I liked picking it up and
having a read whenever I felt like escaping for a bit. While I was disappointed that Robert Johnson
didn’t play as significant a role as I expected, the real Coyote Spring’s lyrics are fitting tributes to his
legacy. 10 likes Like Comment Theophilus (Theo) 290 reviews 24 followers December 26, 2016
Fantastic. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a
class.”. I enjoyed a couple of conversations with Alexie at the 2008 Port Townsend, WA film
festival, which focused on films by and about Indians. Two of his former bullies and two women
from another tribe, joined together to form Coyote Springs. Read Alexie's stories only partly for the
larger plot. One third of the way in and I'm moving on to another book. One third of the way in and
I'm moving on to another book. Johnson had given his soul to the Devil in order to acquire these
powers.