Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Laughing Boy is a 1929 novel by Oliver La Farge about the struggles of the Navajo in Southwestern United States to reconcile their culture with that of the United States. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1930.
The novel is set in 1915, when the first motorized vehicle was driven into Native American territory. It concerns a boy named Laughing Boy who seeks to become an adult who can be respected among his Navajo tribe. At a tribal event, Laughing Boy encounters a beautiful, mysterious young woman known as Slim Girl, and the two are soon attracted to each other. Complications arise immediately from her past experiences in the Indian Schools.

Movie: Laughing Boy is a 1934 film directed by W.S. Van Dyke.
Starring: Ramón Navarro, Lupe Vélez, William B. Davidson and Harlan Knight.

Up for a Pulitzer Prize-winning first novel?

I’ve recently read this one and recommend it :)

Annette wrote: "I’ve recently read this one and recommend it :)"

Annette did you do a reveiw?

I read this many years ago and enjoyed the writing and the story.

Lesle wrote: "Annette wrote: "I’ve recently read this one and recommend it :)"

Annette did you do a reveiw?"
I do very short reviews. GR is being a bit squirrelly with everyone doing their end of 2023 things so I'll just paste my review here:

4 Stars. "Very moving. I live in the Southwest and the vistas are as amazingly beautiful as described. And I feel that La Farge accurately portrayed the people as best as an outsider could."

Annette thank you for sharing that.

I like to read some reveiws beforehand that do not spoil the books plot, but sometimes it is good to know what your in for...in style and character descriptions.

I found ‘Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story’ by Oliver La Farge entertaining. (view spoiler)[The two lovers, Laughing Boy and Slim Girl, both Navajo, bring contrasting perspectives due to their distinct upbringings, offering insights into American and Native American cultures. Laughing Boy embraces his Navajo identity, cherishing its songs, way of life, and religious beliefs. In contrast, Slim Girl, educated in an American Boarding School, seeks acceptance within her Navajo culture through her marriage to Laughing Boy. However, the book, written by a white person, tends to romanticize Native American life despite touching on the impact of boarding schools on Indigenous communities and the historical attempt to assimilate them into American culture. It gives a picture of the Native American way of life that felt distorted. Finally, the writing is somewhat awkward and made it difficult for me to relate to either character. (hide spoiler)]

I'm reading 'Laughing Boy' right now, and it is completely different to anything else I've read, about Native American Indians, or about the collapse of their way of life.

What I like about this right now is the simplicity of the language, and the music in the rhythm of the sentences. I like the way la Farge almost turns your head away to look at trees or a bird or even a house with eyes that see.

Mbuye wrote: "I like the way la Farge almost turns your head away to look at trees or a bird or even a house with eyes that see..."

That is interesting. I was not planning on reading it, but now I am interested!! Thanks Mbuye :)

I just finished Laughing Boy, and have not revised my initial impressions. I found it lyrical and poetic, but I notice that quite a few reviewers find it is not realistic, to put it mildly. Since their knowledge must be greater than mine, I defer to their views on the character and customs of the people.

However, I hold fast to my statement that this is a fine bit of writing.

Lesle wrote: "Mbuye wrote: "I like the way la Farge almost turns your head away to look at trees or a bird or even a house with eyes that see..."

That is interesting. I was not planning on reading it, but now I..."

I agree. Mbuye, now I want to read this. January is just not long enough. Ha! Now there’s a phrase you rarely hear in northeastern US.

Funny Liane! I do not wish for a longer January. Too wintery.

I definately will be putting this read on my wish list.

I enjoyed this. I loved the writing and the feeling of discovering the characters that the style of the writing encouraged. I felt the writing expressed great appreciation for the beauty and ruggedness of the setting.

The story was extremely romantic and this was only heightened by the sadness of watching the last of a civilization. In an updated foreword in my copy, the author admits that as a young man he was quite taken by their friendliness and open culture and at the time of writing the book had expressed a hope that it all could go on 'if they were just left alone'.

In some ways Slim Girl was a good outcome of the attempts at assimilation, she knew how to navigate the white world, was able to think about how they could enrich themselves while still satisfying their own values in ways that Laughing Boy would never comprehend. I found it difficult to see the Navajo reject her rather than embracing her knowledge.

Unfortunately there is no lack of tragic endings in the decline of a hunter/gatherer culture.

Peaktopeak nice summary of your read on this classic! Glad you enjoyed it.

I read Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story several years ago. While I thought it a very good book with some excellent aspects, it had some weaknesses that kept it as a 3 star rating.
Here's my review:: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you Brian for sharing.

Review is excellent!

Lesle wrote: "Peaktopeak nice summary of your read on this classic! Glad you enjoyed it."

Peaktopeak , I share Lesle's assessment. You provided very nice insight into the authors' motivations to write this and how this was addressed in its execution. I especially appreciated the following comments from you:
- "the writing expressed great appreciation for the beauty and ruggedness of the setting."
- "the story was extremely romantic and this was only heightened by the sadness of watching the last of a civilization."
- "there is no lack of tragic endings in the decline of a hunter/gatherer culture."

Also, may I call you "Peaky" or "PTP." Peaktopeak is kind of a fingerfull.


Lesle wrote: "Review is excellent!"

Lesle, if I didn't already know you were an earlier riser, I would have thought your assessment of my review was the result of an all-night drinking binge.
I generally do recommend downing a few shots prior to reading one of my reviews though, as they somehow become clearer as the reader's focus becomes fuzzier.
Seriously, though, I do appreciate the time you take to read my reviews, and the reviews of other NTLTR members, especially considering your busy schedule.

Brian E wrote: "I do appreciate the time you take to read my reviews, and the reviews of other NTLTR members, especially considering your busy schedule...."

Thank you Brian.
You know I try to read the reviews of our Members as it really tells me their thought process on the reads.

It also feels like I get to know everyone a little more.
I do enjoy the thoughts that are in the reviews. Sometimes we compare something in our lives to what we have read.
As well as if I have read it or plan to read, it just a good way to understand what is about to happen or not miss moments.
Like a trailer to a movie!