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Loading... Indeh: A Story of the Apache Warsby Ethan Hawke, Greg Ruth (Illustrator)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Well, this just seems self-indulgent. Ethan Hawke hires a guy to draw him into a graphic novel adaptation of a screenplay Hawke was unable to get filmed. Despite promoting the book as the Apache Wars told from the perspective of the Apache, the book instead spends way to much time with Hawke's character and the other white military officers. (And, hey, didn't Jason Patric already star in this movie? Check out "Geronimo: An American Legend.") Individual pictures are nice, but the narrative flow left something to be desired. And that's probably a function of the writing, which just left me wishing I had read one of the books cited in the "Further Reading" section instead. I like Mr. Hawke. In regards to being an actor, he has not always taken the most convenient road in the movies that he has starred in. He seems very passionate in everything that he does. Therefore, I am not surprised that this book turned into a labor of love. It showed in the storytelling as well as the graphics. Mr. Ruth did an amazing job to tell the story through his illustrations. I am actually glad that Mr. Hawke was turned down by Hollywood to turn the story into a movie. I felt that this medium of a graphic novel was so much better than a movie could be. Which, this is a "graphic" novel in all aspects. There is nothing pretty about war. I did feel like a part of the "true" history was exposed with this book. Having not been very familiar with the Apache Wars, I am more intrigued to learn more about this history. Indeh is a tabletop book and conversation piece (in a good way). Full Disclosure: I got this book for free from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Second disclosure: I didn't really read the description of the book before I entered the giveaway. I saw that it was a history book, and clicked. As such, I was immensely surprised when a beautifully illustrated graphic novel showed up on my doorstep a few days later. Indeh is a work of art. Greg Ruth's black and white images are beautifully done and arrestingly composed. There is so much detail to each panel, whether in the subtleties of expression in a character close up, or in the grim background details of a two page spread depicting a massacre. You feel yourself lingering on each page, soaking in as much as you can. As to the story, Ethan Hawke (yes, that one. No "Gattaca" jokes, please) brings us the story of Goyahkla, later to be known as Geronimo, as the Apache people struggle to survive a war against the grinding machine of the American Army. The story is based on real events, though I am (I'm ashamed to say) unfamiliar with the Apache Wars. For those history-minded folks like me, Hawke provides a decent bibliography at the end of the book, allowing the reader to dive deeper in the story if they want. I expect I'll be reading quite a few of these books in the future. (As an aside, I love it when authors do this, even in fiction. The most recent example that comes to mind is the gloriously dark The Trench Angel by Michael Keenan Gutierrez) The narrative of "Indeh" is told primarily from the Apache point of view, focusing primarily on the deeds of Geronimo and Naiches (son of the Apache Chief). There are occasional flips over to the point of view of the American army officers tasked with subduing and "pacifying" the Apache, but this story is meant to be a primarily Apache one. In my view, the central Apache characters are treated well by Hawke. The Apache are eminently sympathetic; after all, their land, culture, and people are being systematically crushed by an armed force that considers them nuisances and savages. But Hawke doesn't fall into the trap of resting with the "noble savage" or "spiritual warrior" trope that so many (white) authors seem to. His Apache characters are sympathetic, and they are brutal. They are heroes, and they are ruthless. In other words, they are fully, simply, human. They are not perfect, but they are doing all they can to preserve their people and way of life. In the afterword, Hawke tells us that Indeh started as a failed screenplay. It seems that Hollywood felt that a movie about the Apache Wars, with a primarily Native American cast, would never get off the ground. From this disappointment, the book was born. I am glad this story is out there in this form. The visceral style of Ruth's illustrations paired well with the brutal realities of war, and the story, advanced through dialogue rather than exposition, is engaging. After reading "Indeh," I think there might be a market for narrative historical graphic novels (raise your hand if you'd like to see The Devil in the White City turned into a graphic novel). I also wonder if this would be a good medium for native artists to get these histories out in the public sphere. As I've said, Hawke does a wonderful job of telling this story from an Apache viewpoint, but I do wonder how an Apache author or artist would have told it. In sum, this is a great afternoon's read (and on top of that, you'll probably learn something). If you're into history, graphic novels, or war stories, this is probably a good bet for you. Just be warned that due to the limitations of the medium, Hawke has to simplify or skip over some bits, so you'll probably find yourself moving to the bibliography afterward, looking for more. no reviews | add a review
The year is 1872. The place, the Apache nations, a region torn apart by decades of war. The people, like Goyahkla, lose his family and everything he loves. After having a vision, the young Goyahkla approaches the Apache leader Cochise, and the entire Apache nation, to lead an attack against the Mexican village of Azripe. It is this wild display of courage that transforms the young brave Goyakhla into the Native American hero Geronimo. But the war wages on. As they battle their enemies, lose loved ones, and desperately cling on to their land and culture, they would utter, "Indeh," or "the dead." When it looks like lasting peace has been reached, it seems like the war is over. Or is it? INDEH captures the deeply rich narrative of two nations at war--as told through the eyes of Naiches and Geronimo--who then try to find peace and forgiveness. INDEH not only paints a picture of some of the most magnificent characters in the history of our country, but it also reveals the spiritual and emotional cost of the Apache Wars. Based on exhaustive research, INDEH offers a remarkable glimpse into the raw themes of cultural differences, the horrors of war, the search for peace, and, ultimately, retribution. The Apache left an indelible mark on our perceptions about the American West, and INDEH shows us why. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)741.5973The arts Graphic arts and decorative arts Drawing & drawings Cartoons, Caricatures, Comics Collections North American United States (General)LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Indeh succeeds in equalizing both the written and the drawn word thus earmarking it as an altogether different but more profound product of the genre.
Hawke initially wanted to make a movie on the Apache warrior Geronimo but was shot down by Hollywood executives. He then reimagined it as a graphic novel albeit with some minor changes ergo Indeh .
Graphic novels due to their picturesque nature deliver quite a punch when crafted with the right dose of enigma and skill. This one however is rare because it weaves a historiographical nuance previously unseen. It wouldn't be amiss on a historian's bookshelf.
An amazing recounting. ( )