#4

          While reading chapters 8-10 of Reservation Blues, I realized this book actually connected to my life and a book I have read this year in English class. When Chess and Thomas felt like their was nothing left they could do to save Junior and Victor they decide to call it quits. "Forget them, its all over now, anyways. Cant you feel it?" (p. 231) This quote reminds me of myself in a way. When things get tough I was always the first one to give up. It may just be me, but once a situation is no longer able to be fixed or just doesn't go my way I lose all motivation to try and fix it. Chess and Thomas also quit looking for their friends when they realized how hard it was going to be. Even though you shouldn't give up on anything before you try, sometimes people just cant resist it.
          This section of the book also reminded me of the Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. "I can't marry you. Lynn had said. You're an Indian, (p. 240). Lynn, a women Junior dated, and was in love with, announced that she could no longer be with him because he was an Indian. She had this perfect picture painted in her head that society had influenced of a white women and a white male happily together. Therefore, she couldn't try to change the perfect societal picture by marrying an Indian man. This chapter reminds me of Daisy and Gatsby in the Great Gatsby. Daisy was truly in love with Gatsby, but couldn't marry him because he was from new money instead of old money. Society has complete control over someone's love for one another. Just because society tells you what the norm is doesn't mean you have to follow it, be a conformist and stick up for something you want to.

Reservation Blues #4

In the beginning of the book, I didn't understand the significance of the horses in the book. Throughout the novel, the horses kept coming up, along with their "screaming" songs and the story of their passing. I never understood Alexi's reasoning behind until the very end of the last chapter of the book, when Thomas, Chess, and Checkers leave the Spokane Reservation for good. The horses are a symbol of the dreams and culture of Native Americans throughout the nation and how over the years, those dreams and that rich culture was slowly chipped away at by white men until there was nothing left but the ghosts of the past. The horses are now those ghosts and all that Thomas, Chess, and Checkers can  do now is hold,"tightly to the manes of those shadow horses," (Alexie 306) while they leave behind their former poverty in hopes of a new and brighter future.

Reservation Blues #4

After finishing Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie, I feel as though the story ended in a tragic state. For example, at the very start of chapter 9, one of our main characters dies. After stealing a rifle and climbing up the water tower, the author explains, "Junior unshouldered the rifle. He felt the smooth, cool wood of the stock, set the butt of the riddle against the metal grating of the floor, and placed his forehead against the mouth of the barrel... He flipped the safety off, held his thumb against the trigger, and felt the slight tension. Junior squeezed the trigger" (247). The fact that at almost the very end of the story Junior kills himself shows that the story is almost in complete tumult. They were given numerous death threats, the priest is resigning from his job, and Junior is now dead. Also, it is clear after finishing the book that whites have assumed many  racial stereotypes towards Native Americans. The record that Betty and Veronica send Thomas is used with stereotyped Indian images: Father Sky, Mother Earth, four directions, tobacco, pipe, sweetgrass, eagle, buffalo, etc. These traits are the ones that white people use to simulate authentic Indians.

"Can you hear the eagle crying?

Can you hear the eagle crying?

I look to the four directions

And try to find some connection

With Mother Earth, Mother Earth

I offer you tobacco and sweetgrass

I offer you tobacco and sweetgrass

I pray to the four directions

And try to find some connection

With Father Sky, Father Sky" (265).
These words indicate that American popular music prefers style and images rather then actual meaning.

Post #4 - From Dreams To Nightmares

The chain of events that happen upon arrival from New York to the end of the novel are disturbing.  To start, I believe it is very sad when Coyote Springs loses their chance at freedom.  They have just been brought New York, only to fail miserably under pressure.  Sheridan ends up saying that "'I tried to help these goddamn Indians.  But they don't want help.  They don't want anything'" (Alexie 229).  It saddens me because, unfortunately, that is the way things are in life.  Many people are given the chance to succeed but somehow pressure gets to them and ruins this chance.  It's unfortunate, but it's also life.  From that point forward, however, things just get worse.  The night before Coyote Springs leaves New York for home, Sheridan practically rapes Checkers.  In context, the author reveals that "Sheridan kissed Checkers, bit down hard on her lips.  He was pulling at her clothes" (Alexie 241).  Not only did Sheridan just fire the group, he also tries to rape one of the women.  If not for George Wright barging in when he did, Sheridan would have completed his evil deed.  Some of the events appall me, yet this scene has some symbolism behind it.  I feel as if the author is trying to portray the white man as believing to be inherently powerful, and that all other races are submissive to him.  This use of symbolism is very compelling.  Even further in the story, Junior ends up killing himself.  It saddens me when Junior's ghost talks with Victor, especially when he says "'Because when I closed m eyes like Thomas, I didn't see a damn thing.  Nothing.  Zilch.  No stories, no songs.  Nothing'" (Alexie 290).  Junior decides to kill himself because of the loss of his future.  He had dreamed of one day being at least a middle class citizen, however his dreams had been shattered and he has nothing to show for his hard work.  He can't see a future for himself anymore, so he kills himself.  It left me with goosebumps.

post #3

        While reading chapters six and seven I was introduced to Big Mama a little more. In the beginning of the book she was mentioned briefly in the first chapter, but now she's interacting with the characters, in chapter seven, not just Robert Johnson. One of the scenes I had a question about was on the third page in for chapter six. The narrator states Robert Johnson's problems with his guitar, "He buried that guitar, he threw it in rivers, dropped it off tall buildings. But it always came back to him," (p. 173). If music was so important to the Native American tribes, why was he trying to get rid of this guitar that played such eat music? The text also said that he was able to fall in-love when he didn't have the guitar with him. Yet again, if the Native American tribes were based on music wouldn't that help Robert find love? Many songs give off a certain vibe that people can relate to, and I'm almost 100% positive a lady would have liked his music. In the sixth chapter, Coyote Springs was given the chance to be flown to New York to do studio work for Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Wright. They claim to like them for their voices but its clear that they just like them because they have the "Indian image." In the letter they sent it states, "Overall, this band looks and sounds Indian. They all have dark skin. Chess, Checkers, and Junior all have long hair. Thomas has a big nose, and Victor has many scars. We're looking at some genuine crossover appeal," (p. 190). These men just want to record Coyote Springs, regardless on how they sound, due to their native image. They know that this group will get many fans from all over with some auto tuning and tweaking little flaws.
        In chapter seven, Big Mama was finally described fairly well. "There were a million stories about Big Mom. But no matter how many stories were told, some Indians still refused to believe in her," (p. 200). Many Indians claimed that she was fake because she lived all by herself, all the way in the mountains, never came down into the village, and had visitors visit her at night. But when the members of Coyote Spring went to visit her they all learned she was real and knew everything about everyone. Because Victor was so rude to Big Mama she put him in his place by telling him to forgive the priest who molested him as a child. (which makes sense why Victor isn't very religious) Big Mama also knew Checkers and Chess's real names which are Eunice and Gladys. Clearly she shows them that she knows exactly what she's talking about. Big Mama is a gigantic legend in the Spokane Indian tribe.          

Reservation Blues #3

A major topic that appears in this section of Reservation Blues is opportunity. In this section Coyote Springs is finally offered a chance at a record deal, but that opportunity comes with some serious risks. For one thing, The tribe is starting to wonder if they should allow themselves to be represented by such a group of people. Also, the band must decide if they should leave behind what they know and are comfortable with in exchange for the opportunity of a lifetime. Its like Thomas says, "If an Indian chose the correct hand, he won everything, he won all the sticks. If an Indian chose wrong, he never got to play again" (Alexie 220). This means that no matter what, you only have one shot at life, there are no redoes. If you don't take advantage of the opportunities that are offered to you, life will lack adventure and excitement. Because there are no second chances in life, its imperative to go after your dreams and never give up on them. If you give up on the parts of your life most dear to you, your dreams, you will find it so much easier to give up on other aspects of your life that may seem less important. Giving up is never the way to go through life, and if Coyote Springs gives up on their dream of success, they will never be able to come back to the reservation.

Kayley 3

Chapter six starts off with Robert Johnson, a character only introduced in the beginning of the book with his magic guitar. He was at Big Mom's front porch which was a surprise. I remember him being on his way to her but there was never a passage that said he made it and now all of a sudden he's with her? His character is confusing to me as well as Big Moms because they both came out of nowhere and have been around for many years. They both seem magical in a sense which is cool. I always wished to live forever and be able to use magic. That's every little kid's dream. In the beginning of the novel the guitar seemed like the most amazing personified object belonging to a person. After reading, the guitar was a burden on Robert Johnson. The guitar kept him from living his life and from falling in love. When Johnson got rid of the guitar he enjoyed his glory days, but the guitar would always find its way back to him. That guitar, which now belongs to Victor, is like a curse. It made Johnson crazy and I'm curious to see what will happen to Victor. The guitar "held onto Victor even harder than it ever held Johnson," (174) which is a scary thought due to the fact that is made Johnson mad. He even lost hope and thought about suicide. Hopefully nothing drastic like that happens to Victor. Although I think he deserves it because of his negative attitude and bullying ways, when I found out more about Victors past I sympathized. Victor had a tough time growing up and was even touched by a priest at a very young age. Although a messed up childhood doesn't justify Victor's mean ways, I do feel bad for the guy and wish his childhood wasn't full of pain. I also had a rough childhood, seeing my parents’ divorce and then losing one. It was such a depression time in my life and I can connect to Victor in that way. It's funny how the Spokane Tribe thinks "that rock and roll music is sinful" (179). It's similar to those who view today's hip hop and rap as sinful. Many adults have this view but it great that Coyote Springs does not conform to what society thinks is right. It's awesome that their doing what they love. I mean yes they get drunk and basically rely on their music, but they're making something out of themselves and doing what they love with no regrets. With even casting a vote to excommunicate Coyote Springs from the tribe, they still found success. I can relate to having somebody knock you down but you get back up and try again. Coyote Springs never gave up and hard work paid off. They got their record deal they were longing for. I know how that feels to finally achieve what you have been waiting for your whole life. An important event was Coyote Springs going to see Big Mom. Big Mom symbolized God to me. She is "a part of every tribe," (199) as God is a part of everyone's lives. A lot of people don't believe in Big Mom just as a lot of people don't believe in God. I think its beautiful how Big Mom is so powerful and influential in Indian life as God is in ours.