Pre-Read Notes:

I don't have much info going in and I'm glad. The opening, including the author's intro, hits hard and says a lot about colonization through language.

"All three of their cards had arrived in the mail on the same day, numbered one after the other. They’d jumped around the kitchen, waving the letters from the tribal clerk over their heads, yelling, “We’re Indians, we’re Indians!” and laughing at the absurdity of it all." p40

"There’s no Mohawk word for love so let’s say I’m so very lucky to be alive while you are."1 p242

Final Review

My 3 Favorite Things:

✔️ I adore how much space this narrator makes for considerations about language. It's brilliantly meta and decolonizing at the same time as this narrator argues with an invisible reader that doubts the book's claim on language-- that it belongs unquestionably to the author.

✔️ Brilliant form, a complete mashup of brutally sharp prose and poetry that makes you reach for meaning. A gorgeous read. Also, so much to learn about the history of Indians in this country.

✔️ For thousands of years, Mohawks have known trauma lives in the body and is passed on to future generations. Whitescience never listened to us. Thankfully, Whitescience “discovered” epigenetic trauma by torturing mice, so we can add that to the Natives-told-you-so pile. p143 I can't begin to describe what this book is doing to me. It's jarring to read something so powerful and subversive that is also completely relatable and accessible.

✔️ This read expanded my mind on a huge number of things, including (most surprisingly) polyamory. I really enjoyed the close analysis of sexual politics portrayed in that part of the book. I learned a great deal from how this element evolved throughout the book. I've never seen a writer attempt to decolonize so many ideas at once-- sex, English, the Akwesasne language, love, fiction, poetry, and genre, and form in general. It was such a successful choice

Notes:

1. content warnings: colonization, racism, addiction, alcoholism, polyamory, cheating, open wounds

2. This book contains open door sex scenes, but don't mistake it for smut. It has an important point.

I found an accessible digital copy of OLD SCHOOL INDIAN by Aaron John Curtis in Libby. Thank you also to the author and publishers, Zando Books, and NetGalley for a digital arc. All views are my own

Although I was unfortunately not able to read much more than 20% of this book due to formatting issues, I really enjoyed what I did get to read. The main character, Abe, is a very unique but relatable protagonist. The author breaks the fourth wall frequently to discuss indigeneity, oftentimes in a manner that is simultaneously tongue-in-cheek and earnest. I definitely think it's worth a read!

For some reason, the idea of a coming-of-middle-age story captured me when I read the blurb for "Old School Indian", and I knew I had to request a galley of it. Maybe it was the spin on the typical coming-of-age genre, or maybe it's because I, myself, am approaching the years in which the main character, Abe, finds himself rethinking and revisiting his life.

I'd describe the structure of this book as meandering--the main conflict of resolving his disease (which serves as a larger central metaphor) drifts between flashbacks narrated by Dominick Deer Woods (the Indian as perceived by the White gaze), and he's in no hurry to get there. I loved the narrative voice of Dominick as both an internal and external perspective of Abe. While it did take me awhile to figure out who was narrating and what the purpose of the intercalary poems/chapters was, once it's revealed, it adds more depth to the understanding of the themes, social commentary, and character.

This book wasn't a particularly happy read, and many of the events and characters made me upset or mad. (Don't get me started on Alex...) But despite that, I found myself writing down many passages from this one, and not just in the more reflective moments, but within the dialogue too. While this isn't a book I'd recommend for a classroom, I can see taking sections or chapters from it to pair with other texts for a comparison or a supplement.

This book was even better than I hoped it would be! I didn’t know that it was autofiction when I picked it up and I sometimes have mixed feelings on that genre but this book absolutely sold it to me.

Our main character, an Ahkwesáhsne guy figuring out life as he finds himself dying, shares his story comedically but with the absolute ring of truth brought by the author’s real experience and understanding. The “fiction” side of the genre does its job perfectly, bringing truth closer to the audience (by telling it slant).

The book is educational without forcing or pushing, mostly teaching through teasing and matter-of-fact truth. It is powerful, emotional, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. If feels like a gift/offering to anyone who picks it up and I’m very grateful that I did.

Thanks to Net-Galley and Zando Projects for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This had a bit of a slow start, and the pacing took some getting used to. That said, when it got going the commentary was funny in a wry/ironic way but still covered serious topics in an insightful way. It was v very interesting and informative to hear the commentary on life, on indigenousness, and on Abe’s different experiences being indigenous. I liked the casual and darkly humorous tone used to describe serious/intellectual topics like commodification and objectification of indigenous experience/culture and reification of ceremony. I loved the random sidebars that would eventually, usually, come to a point.

Regarding critiques, I didn’t really follow some of Abe’s decisions as totally reasonable (aka his lies to Alex when he meets her), and I found the description of his illness to be a bit gratuitously gory and difficult to read at times.

I would recommend this if you’re interested in meditations on life, indigenousnouss, mortality, family, and artistry, all with a touch of humor.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zando Hillman Grad Books for the eARC!

Old School Indian dives head first into the life of Abe Jacobs. He's a 43 year old Native American man from the Mohawk tribe at Ahkwesáhsne. This story is told in past/present perspective which I enjoyed. I loved reading Abe's coming of age exploration as he leaves the Rez and goes to college, meets his first love, and experiences the dynamic world tilt that happens when he faces culture shock. It's a common experience that I think most people from rural areas face, but I think I enjoyed this book because I could see my own experience mirrored in Abe's.

There are countless characters that are in Abe's life throughout the book that each offer something fresh and unique. His partner Alex is a free-flowing, love everyone type of gal, and she transforms his life in ways I don't think he really expected her to. He's "eyes wide open" when it comes to Alex, and even though some of their experiences can be a bit awkward and stressful to read, I love how they fully encompassed all that is Abe's life.

His family back home all become a life of their own, strongly imparting themselves into his life and evoking a beautiful sense of feeling seen and belonging. They're supportive to him in ways that he needs, but also mind their business as well. When Abe gets sick, something draws him home.

Without giving too much away, this book ebbs and flows through the intricate details of Abe's life. His coming of age discovery in college, his eye-opening and adventurous relationship with Alex, his ongoing discovery of his own indigenous identity, and his physical and spiritual battle against a disease that's threatening to take his life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Reading this book, it's easy to recognize many pieces of my internal self and face the fact that our "home" is something we carry inside ourselves. The recognition that Abe's "home" is the last place he ever thought he'd return to gives readers the insight Aaron John Curtis displays as he tells us the story of one man and his quest for life as he faces death.
Abe Jacobs is 43 years old. Facing imminent death, Abe and his alter ego, Dominick Deer Woods, return to the reservation where he grew up. Abe is surprised to find that he believes in the spiritual side of his upbringing and has returned to seek treatment from his Uncle, a healer.
Dominick is the narrator of the story. His insights into Abe's thoughts and the community of people found on the rez shine a huge spotlight on the differences between popular fiction and the reality of living on the edge as outcasts. It is this story within a story that adds so much depth to OLD SCHOOL INDIAN that you'll finish Abe's story in one sitting and immediately start a list of the people who need to read this book. I know there are several people who are going to receive a copy from me.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this, it felt fresh. Harmoniously brutal and beautiful. Loved the writing and the story and the things it made me think about regarding native lives and what we’ve done to them on this soil. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 5/6

Book Review: Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis

Rating: 5 Stars

I just finished Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis, and wow—just wow. This debut novel grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. The story follows Abe Jacobs, a 43-year-old man who’s been given a grim prognosis by his doctors: he’s dying, and quickly. After trying everything modern medicine has to offer, Abe makes the reluctant decision to return home to the Ahkwesáhsne reservation where he was raised, seeking healing from his great uncle Budge Billings—someone Abe never thought he’d turn to.

Budge is no sentimental healer; he’s a tough, straightforward man who’s battled his own demons as a recovered alcoholic. Abe’s hope for a cure is fragile, tangled with years of distance and unresolved feelings about leaving the reservation at eighteen. But as he reconnects with Budge and confronts his past, Abe embarks on a deeper journey of self-discovery, grappling with family, culture, love, and history.

What really sets this book apart is the voice—Abe’s sharp-witted alter-ego, Dominick Deer Woods, brings an inventive and often hilarious perspective that adds layers of humor and insight to some heavy themes. Curtis’s writing reminded me of the emotional depth and cultural resonance found in Tommy Orange’s There There and Louise Erdrich’s The Sentence, while also channeling the unforgettable character-driven storytelling of Ocean Vuong and Barbara Kingsolver.

And can we talk about that cover? Seriously, it’s stunning—one of the most eye-catching I’ve seen all year. To think this is Curtis’s debut novel is just incredible. The writing is phenomenal, weaving heartbreak and humor in a way that feels raw and authentic. This book is heavy but also full of wit and moments that made me laugh out loud.

In short: Old School Indian is one of the best books I’ve read this year, hands down. If you want a story that’s powerful, funny, and deeply moving, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I can’t recommend it enough!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

4.5 stars

43 year-old Abe Jacobs, a bookseller in Miami, is seriously ill suffering from an apparent autoimmune disorder that his doctors have yet to identify. Awaiting a diagnosis, Abe leaves his wife, Alex, behind in Florida and returns home to Ahkwesáhsne (also known as the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation) in upstate New York on the US/Canada border. Abe is out of options and, although skeptical, agrees to undergo a traditional healing from his Uncle Budge Billings.

While at home, Abe spends time with friends and family, confronts his fears and reconnects with his Mohawk heritage finally coming to terms with how leaving the reservation at the age of 18 has impacted his life. The story is narrated by Abe's alter ego Dominick Deer Woods who shares snippets of Abe's poetry as well as sidebars about the lives of Indigenous peoples in the US.

This is a compelling and thought-provoking story about a man dealing with a rare life-threatening illness who is afraid that he has run out of time without having accomplished anything which also provides fascinating insight with respect to the contemporary Indigenous experience in the U.S. Old School Indian is well-written, emotional as well as witty and the snarky Dominick Deer Woods is such a distinct voice. I loved this exceptional debut novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Ma7 8 update: posted to TokTok

A rich journey into identity, traditional beliefs, desperation, losses, family, self, and love. Drastic experiences crack Abe's life apart and we go on the journey home with him to explore traditions he's not sure he believes in but might need more than he's ever needed anything in his life. The book's humor, resilience, family lore, and weaving together of past and present in mesmerizing storytelling transmutes heavy, potentially isolating struggles into an enlightening novel.

This ARC had me at “coming-of-middle-age debut.” This is a dispatch from an obscured life passage, and I’m craving maps. Here swim the behemoths of all monsters, the ones that start with symptoms you’ll want to ignore. Aaron John Curtis’ writing carves the page with such purity. His prose is fine quality, and enough. It’s the right weight for the subjects, from Abe’s skepticism about the possibility of healing, through contemplating death and examining his relationship and sex with his wife.

The strong, exact language combined with raw emotion cuts as sharp as a boning knife. Chapter after chapter split my heart open.

Powerful poetry adds further syncopation, one-two punches in the chest. Here we are, we’re alive, and one day, we’re not going to be.

This is one of the most honest books I’ve read, honest in the ways that matter. It’s only recently I’ve found myself resonating with books that take on the largely ignored expanse of midlife.

It’s a gift to experience a book that handles many kinds of losses head-on. I found in Old School Indian an antidote to avoiding issues of mortality, illness, and loss of power, loss of life. This passage, too, can be faced.

A line about Abe mourning himself remains lodged in my chest. I’m grateful to Aaron John Curtis. This is strong work, a phenomenal debut. I’m looking forward to his next book.

Highly recommended for adult readers of all genres who are comfortable with potentially disturbing material.

My thanks to Zando for the e-ARC of Old School Indian via NetGalley for consideration. These opinions are solely my own.
I'll add the TikTok link

Abe returns to the rez due to an incurable autoimmune disease. He needs family and friends to help him navigate this awful disease. The book has many parts and each is very eye opening, sometimes hard to digest but over all one that we can all connect with.

As a Mexican raised on Los Angeles and then coming back to Mexico, this book really resonated with me. The similarities in our practices, our elders, how we cope with death, not being American or Mexican enough and all those experiences that we encounter with racism in all it's forms is was what made me enjoy this book so much,even the hard parts.

Sometimes leaving and coming back home isn't always easy.

Thank you Netgalley and Zando/ Hillman Grad Books for my arc.

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis takes you through a journey of coming home and what you're looking for. Going home is not as easy as you think, especially being Indigenous. What answers are you looking for in going home, you may get more than you look for. The book's narrative is so engaging that it prompts readers to reflect on their journeys. What I enjoyed about the book is that it takes you into an unfiltered, unapologetic approach to indigenous life.

4 stars

_Old School Indian_ is a debut that features a clear and compelling voice and plot. For me, this was a heavy but engaging read.

Abe is a fascinating character whose interest in identity, romantic and physical connections, and general approach to life make him intriguing to follow. As he continues to face life's challenges - some of which are unfairly placed on him and others he brings on himself - he gets closer to finding answers about who he is and how he operates with others.

In addition to Abe, there are a number of ancillary characters who add texture to this read. Alex, Abe's long-term romantic partner, was my favorite of these to read (though she has some solid competition). The poetry serves as another form of voice, and it becomes one of the most unique and appealing aspects of this text as both Abe and the plot evolve.

I took my time with this one because of that aforementioned heaviness, but this is a great read for those in the right headspace to encounter the material. The revelations about growth, self-discovery, and identity are particularly well articulated, and these will be just a few of the areas I highlight when recommending this novel to students.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this ARC. All views and opinions are my own.

“Old School Indian” is a fascinating story of a Native American man who returns to his hometown while dealing with a seemingly incurable disease, and pondering his life choices, his identity and his career and relationships.

I really like the way the author wrote Abe as a main character, including his internal thoughts that one can’t help but root for his happiness and healing, even if he is flawed and sometimes makes choices that are self-sabotaging. I also enjoyed the slightly humorous, “tongue-in-cheek” and satirical references to Native American stereotypes in a way that helps educate the reader and take a jab at colonialism without sounding like a heavy-handed lecture.

What made the story also really interesting were the supporting characters in Abe’s family. I think it would have been easier to keep track of how everyone is related to each other if the author could include a family tree in one of the pages, but that’s just a minor suggestion on my part.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I hope the author can share more stories using his trademark wit and candor.

In this novel, the protagonist returns to his Mohican roots after he's diagnosed with an incurable disease. His uncle is a native healer and he goes to him as a last ditch effort to heal but healing requires his belief in native spirituality. The spirituality theme is hit hard here and the most compelling theme for me was the return to roots and making peace with where you come from and the pressure of modern western life to buy in.

DNF - I feel quite conflicted by this book. At times, the style allows the narrative to flow in a genuine & immersive way, granting the reader intimacy with the characters. Yet, this same narrator undercuts the reader & it seems, he does not have a firm grasp on who might be absorbing the tale at hand. I found it odd that the narrator would pretend that vulnerability was currency, for example, as when broaching the situation between Abe & Alex (see their discussions about/around mental illness & therapy). This approach was not an isolated incident, in fact, the narrator often looks over his shoulder taunting the reader he accuses of not having an attention span to be able to grasp the minute details of the story - of which there are none, because he speaks everything that comes to mind. I suppose my qualm here is that the narrator's insecurity regarding the trajectory of the story & the information, has left me displaced. I am not the target reader here, one who needs a play-by-play or the repetition of information to grasp what is happening (see the definition of Mohawk terminology, for example). I came to find that the story's insecure pacing, its assumption that the reader was non-Indigenous, while teetering on its own heels through lack of fortitude in what it wanted to say, was not meant to be read by me but by a reader who would forgive it for presenting a story in a format that is highly utilized, predictable, & hollow if not employed with care.

The use of an alter-ego, or perhaps the vision Abe might have of himself had he been "more" of the elements that were meant to consist of who he was (the child of an alcoholic, a man, a brother, a poet, a Rez kid, etc.) made the story tired & dragged. I am inclined to believe that this format might work in an audiobook format but while reading it myself, I became annoyed by this version of Abe, one who always pretended to understand more than Abe, although they were the same person. This comes down to the tone; Domminick had value to bring as an essential part of Abe but he did so in a way that highlighted that he had maturing to do beforehand. That being said, I can appreciate that this is the way life goes, one is not always primed to share or reflect when comes the time to do so.

My conflict arises because Curtis is not a bad writter. He has a firm grasp of what he was trying to say & relies on the backdrop of a landscape he knows well, intimately I would wager to say. Yet, the plot itself is loose; editing & reshaping who his characters are would firm this story into the deliverance of a reality it wishes to be. Then again, reviewers already love what Curtis has written & I appreciate that not every reader is like me, & all the better are the libraries because of it. My criticism arises because I see that inside Curtis' chripy quirky narrators & the self-loathing that is all-too common among people (characters) who struggle with their identity & how the world interprets it, there lies the crux of the narrative - that very gem that glistens. Ultimately, because of everything I've said & that which I have left to the side, I leave off here. This book will be beloved by many readers & as a debut it is a wonderful effort (genuinely). I appreciate what Curtis has brought to the forefront of his writter's mind, the story he has to tell. I will be eager to see what he produces through his writing in future.

Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis is a deeply introspective novel that explores identity, homecoming, and personal transformation.
Through the lens of Abe Jacobs, a Kanien’kehá:ka man facing a life-threatening autoimmune disorder, the novel delves into the complexities of family, belonging, and self-discovery.
The narrative is rich with humor and heartfelt moments that i have come to really enjoy. though its nonlinear structure with frequent flashbacks, it can be quite some time til you follow. This may challenge readers who prefer a straightforward timeline like myself.
However, Curtis’s storytelling remains compelling, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the realities of Indigenous life.

Old School Indian - what does it mean to be an Indian, or Indian enough? Curtis's autofiction explores these notions as Abe Jacobs, a Kanien’kehá:ka from Ahkwesáhsne, travels back home to the Res when faced with a fatal autoimmune disorder. His family, identity, relationships are examined as things fall apart and he needs to pull himself back together. Hopeful and uplifting.

The story of Abe and his midlife crisis, hesitancy to return to his home, the family dynamics and the memorable characters made this a good read. But it was too slow for me especially in the beginning and the flow hampered by so many flashbacks. This back and forth plus side stories can be distracting to a reader who's interested in chronological tales. The character building and humor added to the story. If you don't mind the method of this storytelling you'll probably like the novel.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read Old School Indian.