Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1929
Book Brief
193
Novel • Fiction
American Southwest • 1910s
1929
Adult
18+ years
810L
Super Short Summary
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge explores the impact of European incursions on Native American identities through the romance between Laughing Boy, a talented silversmith, and Slim Girl, a woman struggling with her Americanized past on the Navajo reservation in 1915. The novel delves deeply into their courtship, marriage, and efforts to reconcile their differing cultural identities.
Romantic
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
4,638 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Oliver La Farge's Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story is lauded for its vivid portrayal of Navajo culture and emotional depth. Critics appreciate its authentic narrative and richly drawn characters. However, some note its dated perspectives and occasional stereotypes. Overall, the novel offers a poignant, if sometimes problematic, glimpse into inter-cultural dynamics and love.
Who Should Read Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story?
Readers who enjoy Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Farge are typically drawn to culturally rich narratives, historical romance, and indigenous perspectives. Similar to those captivated by Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God or Willa Cather's My Ántonia, they appreciate deep character studies and evocative descriptions.
4,638 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
193
Novel • Fiction
American Southwest • 1910s
1929
Adult
18+ years
810L
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