Sarah, Meredith and Kim hold the final discussion on Kim’s Season Three book pick: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The girls discuss the complexity of being human and how multifaceted people and relationships are. As usual, the conversation veers off topic and the group considers the origins of the middle finger. Returning to the book, the discussion covers friendship, trials and tribulations, the moral of the story (or lack there of), hope and what exactly does “absolutely true” really mean? Finally, the girls share whether they would recommend the book or not. 

This book is critically acclaimed and has appeared on the annual list of frequently challenged books since 2008. It became the most frequently challenged book from 2010 – 2019. Most of the controversy is based in how the book describes alcoholism, poverty, bullying, violence, and sexuality.  

Discussion Topics:

• Character Stereotypes and the binary of good and evil


• The history of the middle finger


• Friends, matching and Malcolm Gladwell


• 1999 & Y2K


• Winning & Losing

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted: 

Book Interrupted 

Book Interrupted YouTube Channel

Book Interrupted Facebook Book Club Group

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

The history of the middle finger 

Friends, matching and Malcolm Gladwell 

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell