Sherman Alexie on ‘Radio Times’: ‘We’re all storytellers’

 Author and filmmaker Sherman Alexie gives the keynote address at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, at Seattle's City Hall. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)

Author and filmmaker Sherman Alexie gives the keynote address at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, at Seattle's City Hall. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)

In his new memoir, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, author Sherman Alexie writes about his complicated relationship with his mother. Lillian was abusive, a recovering alcoholic, powerless at times, and yet had a unique way of protecting Alexie and his siblings.

Life was not easy. Alexie had several brain surgeries as a young boy and his family lived in dire poverty on an Indian reservation. And when he finally left in search of a better life, he returned home for Lillian’s funeral.

Earlier on Radio Times, host Marty Moss-Coane talked with Alexie about his book — which includes many poems — about how he remembers such vivid details of his life.

“We’re all storytellers. We’re all constructing the narrative of our lives minute by minute, and I’m really good at it,” Alexie said.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

@Sherman_Alexie joined us today, claiming that he lied to himself when writing his new memoir You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: pic.twitter.com/UAwHDgWuxD

— Radio Times (@whyyradiotimes) June 22, 2017

To hear more of the conversation, listen to Radio Times.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal