Sherman Alexie Entertains, Indy.com Annoys

So, I was going to link to Indy.com’s promo piece on Sherman Alexie, but then I actually looked on Indy.com and saw their event categories. Let me see, Live Music, Recreation and Fitness, Museums . . . .

No category for Readings. No Lit Events.

Perhaps under Art and Exhibits? No. Way down at the bottom, just above Additional Categories, I found Seminars and Lectures.

Seminars and Lectures? Why not just label it Things That Will Bore You to Tears? Things to Attend With Your Grandfather Hoping He Won’t Fall Out of His Chair Asleep Again?

Oh, Indy.com. Freaking karaoke gets its own category, but not readings? You get no link.

So I turn to Porter Shreve, who, you know what? Is cooler than Indy.com anyway. Also he rules karaoke night at Cox’s Pub. That’s called crossover appeal, baby.

Here's a taste:

Over the course of a full day that included a question and answer session, an awards banquet and an evening "reading," the 40 year old author of 18 books barely discussed his new novel. But no one was disappointed. In fact, Alexie proved to be the most entertaining writer/performer I've ever seen take the stage. Combining standup comedy with brilliant storytelling he let pretty much everyone have it: privileged liberals, holier-than-thou vegans, fundamentalists of every stripe, conservative zealots, gays and straights, anyone who perpetuates the Native American myth of the land and most of all, himself ("I'm a bad Indian. I can't stand nature. For me, the outdoors is a long hallway between buildings.")