Quoting Alexie's wife from chapter 71, 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me' is (a quilt constructed of words); a reflection of his mother's craft.

The advantage of audio for this book is hearing the author's emotions and tears as he painfully tells the stories of his mother, alive and dead, in the anger stage of grief. There will never be peace. Not alive. Not dead.

Not only is this an amazingly honest and interesting memoir of Alexie and his family and their life on the "Rez"; it is funny. You owe to yourself to listen to Sherman read it.

Honest, sad, happy, sarcastic and painful. A full-time fan of Alexie, this memoir reveals the man behind the novels and poetry and makes his writing and impact even more meaningful.

Gut-wrenching, funny, tragic, revelatory, poetic, moving memoir of Alexie's youth, relationship with his family - especially his mother, grief and his identity as a First Nation's man and author. Beautifully read by the author. A not-to-be-missed audiobook!!

This painfully honest memoir was written shortly after the author's mother died in 2015. As Alexie grieves his mother, he explores his complex and, often brutal, relationship with his mother and the reservation he left at age 13. This journey of an author is revealed through short chapters that include memories, poems, and songs. Although I originally had the book, I switched to the audio version once I saw that various literary formats were used. It was a good decision.

"Arghhh." Listening to Sherman Alexie read this book sometimes feels like trespassing. This book is intensely personal and revealing, poetic and defiant, honest and fictional. It is aimed at your heart and your mind.

An achingly sad but beautifully written story of loss. Sherman Alexie has a complicated family and his relationship with his mother was perhaps the most complicated of all. This memoir is obviously an attempt to sort through the web of memories and emotions he experiences at her passing. I felt that at times it almost bordered on the self-indulgent but not quite. Alexie's craftsmanship with words and vulnerability made it a privilege to look into this window of his life.

Sherman Alexie ranks near the top on my list of fav authors. I've read all his prose and seen him speak/perform live many times. And yet, so much of this memoir was a shocking surprise. It is horrible to imagine the depth of pain experienced by so many in a similar cultural milieu. I marvel at his resilience, insight and self awareness. He observed that he's funniest when afraid, and yet he has made public speaking a part of his professional life.