"Superman and Me" by Sherman Alexie. Literature & Language Essay

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How Alexie’s “Superman and Me” Convinces the Author that Reading Saves Lives
Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me” depicts the significance of reading and how it saves lives. Were it not for reading, maybe Alexie would not have been an outstanding writer and poet. In his essay, the author portrays how he developed an interest in reading books at a young age. In particular, Alexie’s father was the one who influenced his son to start reading at a tender age. Although the author’s parents had no well-paying jobs, they strived to provide for the family. Since Alexie’s father was among the few Indians who were privileged to join the Catholic School, he liked to read many types of books, such as gangster epics, spy thrillers, basketball player biographies, and murder mysteries. The author says, “When he had extra money, he bought new novels at supermarkets, convenience stores, and hospital gift shops” (Alexie 1). As such, books were stacked everywhere in Alexie’s house, starting from the bathroom, living room, and bedrooms. Alexie’s “Superman and Me” succeeds in convincing its readers that reading saves lives since it reflects the life of a young Indian boy whose experience in reading significantly contributed to the person he is today.
When Alexie started reading books at the age of 3 years, he did not know that he was saving his life from being one of the Indian boys who would live to be pitied by society. In his case, Alexie was following his father’s footsteps since books were not a luxury in his family. He says that “My father loved books, and since I loved my father with an aching devotion, I decided to love books as well” (Alexie 1). At this juncture, it is clear that parents can be role models to their children without even realizing it. That is the reason why it is always important to handle young ones well and show them the right way. Due to starting reading books at a young age, Alexie was always a step ahead of his colleagues at school. For instance, in his kindergarten, when his colleagues struggled to read “Dick and Jane,” Alexie was comprehending “Grapes of Wrath.” Consequently, reading made Alexie different from other children at school in a good way.
Alexie’s life changed for the better when he understood the primary objective of a paragraph. Although the individual did not understand numerous vocabularies he came across while reading his father’...