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Shed is a 'half-breed' who lives in a whorehouse in Excellent, Idaho with an eclectic mix of people that make up his family - "better than any Mormon family." He is bisexual and (along with everyone he knows) extemely open with his sexuality. The novel tells the story of his search for his identity, for his "human-being story" and his "human-being sex story." There is a lot going on here; many characters - white, Indian, and black; several adventures on horseback and in blizzards, and an extreme amount of both sadness and hope in the end. This is a prime example of magical realism. Themes: Indian vs. "tybo" (especially Mormon), the moon and what it tells you to be and do, sex and love and "berdiche", family, knowledge becoming understanding, telling your story, identity, "killdeer", what is real I completely fell in love with this book and can't wait to pick up some more magical realism. This story was extremely well-woven and the truth was there throughout - everything was true - despite the sometimes unreliability of what was being said. I loved Shed's thoughts and actions and his ability to be so many things to so many people, through his silence and also his ability to give love, unconditionally. Shed is completely unselfish and was therefore the perfect character to tell this story. The dynamic between the white people and the Indians/whores was really intriguing, as was the sheer amount of sexual openness in this story. I loved the parts about knowledge becoming understanding, and having a chance to tell your story to death before you die. "The only thing that keeps us from floating off with the wind is our stories. They give us a name and put us in a place, allow us to keep on touching."

2022-11-14 16:53