Only the Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

 Review: Only the Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

From the Washington Post

I really enjoyed this book for many different reasons. I read excellent reviews about this book, and it lived up to those expectations. One of the most interesting parts of this book was Jones’s ability to play with genres—like horror stories and Native American folklore and history. I don’t know a whole lot about Native American folklore or history, but I am interested in it. Much like Treuer’s The Heartbreak of Wounded Knee, Graham Jones’s book challenges how Indigenous People’s lives are presented as entertainment and history. He frequently makes references to portrayals of Indigenous People in movies or Cigar Store Indians, and talks about common stereotypes about life on the Rez. Despite these misconceptions, Graham Jones presents a group of guys who share an important hunting experience in their early adulthood. They go on to have lives, are married, have kids, jobs and other responsibilities. And while not all of them had similar outcomes, the unique experience that they shared comes back to eventually haunt them, each in their own unique way.

 

The horror reminded me of Stephen King’s It, although the Elk Headed Woman seems to have more of a purpose and drive to commit her evil than Pennywise. In this way, readers can understand the importance of balance and harmony in life, and how disrupting that balance, going against the rules and laws of tradition seem to upset the balance and have dangerous consequences. In particular, the events and consequences were surprising and thrilling. I was not expecting many of the twists and turns that the book took, and the suspense in the book kept me turning pages. In addition, I enjoyed reading the afterword, especially looking at the books and works that influenced Graham Jones during his writing. I made a note to track down Erdrich’s The Antelope Wife. However, I was instantly reminded of John Landis’s episode of Masters of Horror The Deer Woman when some of the deaths start to occur. Graham Jones confirmed the influence in the afterword.

 

Beyond the horror and the folklore, I really enjoyed how much the characters liked basketball. Graham Jones had some interesting descriptions of basketball, and there is a pivotal game that has some vivid descriptions of shots and moves. The writing was compelling. I also really appreciated his description of the sweat lodge. It was interesting to hear about some of the purposes of a sweat lodge and what the participants sought out. In particular, it was great to see how supportive and communal the reservation can be, especially when some of the members experience trouble.

 

After reading this book, I am looking forward to reading more from Stephen Graham Jones. His creative play on different genres, poetic and detailed descriptions and unexpected humor made this a fun and interesting read.