Laughing Boy by Oliver La Farge Fabulous, one of the best novels I have read, 11 out of 10!!

 Laughing Boy by Oliver La Farge

Fabulous, one of the best novels I have read, 11 out of 10!!

This book has had a big emotional impact on me.
It is not just one of the best books I have read, but also one that has made me joyful and then sad in turns.
And it made again very clear why it is so exhilarating to read great literature:
-          When you read a wonderful masterpiece, you engage with it and reach a state of Flow, as described in the psychology classic of the same name
-          The reader has the fantastic chance to live a few lives, together with the heroes that populate these awesome stories
In this particular case, one is getting so close to Laughing Boy that it is amazing, considering that he belongs to a totally different culture.
Indeed, as a Native American Navajo, Laughing Boy is quite often not just in opposition with the American way, but is fighting it.
There is a dangerous conflict, which originates in a strange, outlandish threesome with Slim Girl and an American enemy and –weirdly- lover.
Laughing Boy is a young, brave and gifted man who becomes famous for his skill in the work with silver.
He is also very good with horses, winning an important race and becoming a well known horse breeder and trader.
At a Navajo traditional event, he meets Slim Girl, an attractive Native American who has gone astray from The People.
The People is the name given to the Native Americans and the blame for the girl’s departure is not her own.
As a child, she was separated from her own and has grown as an American, but in an excellent manner, the author reveals the whole story only towards the end.
Having been raised by Americans, the Navajo feel distant to her, and even more so when the stories about her point out to bad habits.
In spite or because of advice from various men, Laughing Boy decides to marry the attractive and very different girl.
They settle down in a house which Slim Girl has, disregarding to some extent the traditions that require a different procedure.
After they start their life together, there is a series of incidents that keep the reader enchanted and wondering what will come out of all this.
Some experiences are funny and also point to a variety of bad things that the white people do to themselves and brought upon the Natives.
One is alcohol, which is a new thing for Laughing Boy, who is introduced to the drink by his wife, who knows the American ways.
That does not prevent him from a couple of excesses when he is sick after drinking too much.
What still puzzles me is the attitude of the girl, which is explained in great part in the final chapter, but still appears strange.
Slim Girl is clearly in love with her husband and wants to keep him and makes every effort to get more money for a good life for both of them.
But in the process, she maintains an extra marital relationship- I would not call it an affair- with another man.
-          Why do that?
-          Even if there is a lot that I learned about this I am still somewhat flabbergasted
We learn about her terrible suffering in childhood, a need for closure and revenge, but I still say that she shouldn’t have done it.
 The book is wonderful from another point of view too- the author depicts with superb gift the traditions of the Native Americans.
Some of them are outlandish for a Westerner and I cannot express unlimited admiration, but we can still be in awe at some aspects.
They have a profound understanding and a deep, magical connection with the Earth, The Wind and life itself.
Having said that, I was upset when Laughing Boy killed a pony, albeit it was in the name of tradition and rituals.

Mesmerizing book!!

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