Customer Reviews

The Indian Lawyer.

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By the second page, I was drawn into this strange world of prisons, Indian Reservations and Helena, Montana (circa 1990).

The story is about two men, Sylvester Yellow Calf--Native-American-ex-high-school-basketball-star-turned-lawyer and Jack Harwood--college-educated accountant with a penchant for felony crimes and doing hard time. Caught inbetween them is Jack's wife, Patti Ann Harwood. Sylvester is an up-and-coming trial lawyer with his sites set on the traditionally Democratic congressional seat in western Montana. He also sits on the parole board that is reviewing Harwood's case. Harwood manages to convince his wife, Patti Ann, into orchestrating an accidental 'meeting' with Yellow Calf. He wants her to get close to Yellow Calf so that he can blackmail him to use his position on the Parole Board to get Harwood released early.

Things take a turn for the worst, when Patti ends up fulfilling her husband's wishes too well. Suddenly, she is caught between the man she is married to and the man she is falling in love with. Harwood and Yellow Calf, too, are caught in a deadly dance of blackmail and power plays.

All in all, an excellent book. The only downside is that you know it eventually ends and the windows on these characters that are so well-fleshed out will be closed. Small price to pay, though, for such a compelling story.

The Indian Lawyer is a great book for many different reasons. I think the book holds a lot of emotional impact for many different people and you don't have to be a fan of James Welch or Montana Literature to enjoy the book. I recommend anyone who just wants a "good read" to read this book- I guarantee you won't be able to put it down!

I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. The novel painted an intricate web of characterization between prison life, growing up on a reservation raised by grandparents, the contrast between native and white cultures, politics, and confused romances. The plot was provoking, the story well written and cast fully human. I put the book down feeling exhilerated, wanting to explore Mr. Welch's other works.

Jim Welch was a classmate of mine back in Montana (I'm originally from Helena and I spent 33 years unaware that not everyone owned four sets of clothes - depending on the season, two sets of tires, ice scrapers, snow shovels, and insulated boots), so naturally I tend to be biased towards the late Mr. Welch's books.

Nonetheless, books about Native Americans have always been amongst my favorite reads ever since "Stay Away Joe" hit the shelves some 50 years ago. The late Tony Hillerman was also one of my favorite authors. Sherman Alexie is wonderful in his self-depricating way as well.

And speaking of Sherman, it occurs to me that Jim Welch was essentially ahead of his time with his half-dozen or so novels about his own experiences having grown up in Browning, MT, heart of the Blackfoot reservation.

Most people tend to root for the underdogs, and the Native American people of this country have been underdogs for nearly 200 years. In the late 19th and all through the 20th Century, the White Man's law has been used to put them down and keep them down.

In Jim's "The Indian Lawyer", the protagonist tries to turn the tables and, in certain instances, does so with a vengence. You cannot help but cheer him on. But honestly, this is not Jim's best novel per se, so I gave it three stars; some of you may give it more. If so, read his other novels when the fancy strikes you.

This book surprised me in how well it weaves an ongoing, moving story. It has all the elements a good book should have: good guy, bad guy, a woman who will sleep with a man to manipulate him later, haughty, prejudiced women, violence, a glimpse at the seedy underside of our culture and prison system. A huge glimpse into Indian life and struggles. I highly recommend it as a good read.

This book was a very gratifying read.The misconception of tradition against contemprary society shows through loud and clear.Welch depicts the Indian Lawyer as someone that we all know in our every day lives.The predjudice and shame that "Yellow Calf' faces is very apparent.