2009: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time IndianNational Book Award Winner

“The story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.”-from the author’s web site

“So original…I laughed consistently from beginning to end.”
Amy Sedaris, actress, comedian

Williams Reads The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

 

Where to pick up a copy of the book?
800 free copies have been purchased for the college community. You may pick-up a book  during Opening Night, Tuesday Jan. 6.  Additional copies will be available on Wednesday January 7 at the following locations:

12 noon – 1:30 p.m.
Paresky Center
Mission Park
Science Center Atrium

10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sawyer Library (Circulation Desk and Research Help Desk)
Schow Science Library

About the Book and the Author

Reviews:
New York Times. November 11, 2007
NPR. All Things Considered, October 1, 2007

Readings and Speeches:
2007 National Book Award Acceptance Speech
Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX. November 3, 2007

Interviews:
NPR Morning Edition, September 21, 2007
Colbert Report, October 28, 2008

Biography:
Author’s web site

Schedule of Events

A variety of events will take place during January 2009 including: book discussions, film showings, faculty discussion panels and a community read evening.

Tuesday January 6, 7:00 p.m.  – Paresky Baxter Hall
Opening Night — Community Reading
Pick-up your free copy of the book, participate in a community read while enjoying hot cocoa and cookies.

Wednesday January 7
Books available for pick-up:

12 noon – 1:30 p.m.: Paresky Center, Mission Park,  Science Center Atrium
10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Sawyer Library, Schow Science Library

Friday January 9, 8:00 p.m. – Bronfman Auditorium (change of location)
Film showing:  The Business of Fancy Dancing
Written and directed by Sherman Alexie

FILM TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmnog4aZQnY

REVIEWS:
“POETIC. A touching and often funny tale — and a promising directing debut from a multitalented local treasure.”
–Moira MacDonald, The Seattle Times

“GREAT! The film is charged at every possible point by Alexie’s poetry. Alexie is a great writer and the film is able to transmit that greatness through the dialogue. The movie is not really a movie, nor is it a documentary, but a new medium to redistribute Alexie’s marvelous (and at times shocking) poetry.”
–Charles Mudede, The Stranger

Monday January 12, 5:00 p.m. – Images Cinema
Film Showing: 
Smoke SignalsBased on Sherman Alexie’s collection of stories The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

FILM TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-XJjwiQJGY

AWARDS:
“Audience Award” and “Grand Jury Prize” nomination, 1998 Sundance Festival
“Best Film”, 1998 American Indian Film Festival

Wednesday January 14, 4:00 p.m. – Griffin 3
Williams Faculty Discuss The True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
With professors Vincent Schleitwiler (English), Guillaume Aubert (History) and Karen Swann (English).

Friday January 16, 12:00-1:00 p.m. – Hardy House Living Room
Community book discussion

Hosted by Wendy Raymond, Professor of Biology and Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity and Rob White, Director of Communications and author of the book Tribal Assets: The Birth of Native America.
Lunch sandwiches served. RSVP requested: Christine Ménard

Thursday January 22, 4:00-5:00 p.m. – The Log
Community book discussion
Discussion led by Lili Rodriguez, Associate Director of Admission, and Cindy La Rosa, sophomore and President of VISTA.
Cookies and snacks by the fire.

Questions or Suggestions, email Christine Ménard

Off campus? Use the Proxy Server to get to Williams-only resources.