Reviews

I came across this little novel while searching for something to read on my vacation in Arizona! On the trip, we were lucky enough to visit Monument Valley, which is protected and cared for by the Navajo Nation. I was in absolute awe that the view outside our hotel window was the exact landscape on the cover of my book! My subsequent read was even more of an immersive experience, because I had the chance to visit the actual location of the story. Published in 1929, Laughing Boy is actually set in 1915 - chronicling the love story of young Navajo man, and his relationship with a young Navajo woman who grew up into forced assimilation of American culture at a religious school. The story is a fascinating look into the struggles of stolen identity, the beauty of the Navajo culture, and the resiliency of reclaiming personal destiny. Written by anthropologist Oliver La Farge, under a modern eye, the book can be seen as a white man’s attempt to portray a culture he can never fully understand. However, my own conclusion is that the author wrote from a position of respect and admiration for the Navajo nation, and did the best he could to share a story that was authentic. The fact that the book won a Pulitzer Prize in 1930, shows the positive impact it had on readers whose previous exposure to indigenous Americans in writing would have been as villains or caricatures at best. I think it’s a very interesting book to read, while remaining aware of the historical context, forgiving inevitable flaws and embracing the anthropological intent.

Favorite quotes:

“From time to time he looked at her as one might drink at a spring, and her occasional speech was like rain falling. She rode in triumph.”

“A man does not realize that he has changed himself, or only partially recognizes it, thinking that the world about him is different; a familiar dish has become no longer enjoyable, a fundamental aphorism no longer true; it is a surprise, then, when his eyes and ears report unchanged, familiar impressions. So the wonderful sameness of things, the unfailing way in which expectation was fulfilled, were proofs of something beautiful in the order of the world.”

nancidrum's review

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2.0

This was disappointing. It got such good reviews, but I didn't find it that magical.

brianharrison's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

alanawithdog's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

jessferg's review against another edition

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2.0

Definitely a love story - not my cup of tea. Helps if its read while keeping in mind that it was written in 1929. Would probably make a good classroom book for 7th-9th graders.

julle1980's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5 stars

moonrattle's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

2.5
I am impressed that this was written in 1929, because I was really put off by the disclaimer right before the book, but it makes a lot more sense given its publication date. This book, for that reason, was ahead of its time, exploring the complexities of being caught between two cultures, and the depictions of the love story were at times quite romantic. I can also give LaFarge credit for trying to capture the rhythms and the culture of the Navajo, but again since he was an anthropologist I also have to raise my eyebrows a bit at it too. And it seems that is the issue for me--there is something that is distant about this book, like the characters are impenetrable in their noble stoicism--like they are so composed and glorious, and while this is not a negative representation, it can a way of romanticizing that leads to stereotyping and trite inauthentic moments. Slim Girl shows no pain ever--what is up with that. Objectively, she had a tough and painful life. Anyway. The exploration of marriage--the mundane moments of marriage--between these two people were great, but the actual plot was too removed for me from the realities LaFarge was trying to capture. Glad I read it, but not something I would return to.

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