I don’t usually go in for tributes in this blog, but I didn’t want to let the death of Tony Hillerman go unmentioned. He died back in October and I’ve been meaning to say something since then. Having just finished up his second-to-last book, Skeleton Man, now is a good time.
Not that I have much to say other than that I will miss him. His books are such great comfort reads because they are predictable enough that I can read them with very low stress, yet interesting enough (culture, history, geography, archeology, anthropology of the indigenous people of the American Southwest) that they keep me thoroughly entertained. Oh well. He had a long productive life and for that I can be thankful. I still have a few more of his most recent books to read but now I want to save them, since I know there won’t be any more.
This one was typical fare; a mysterious death, some missing diamonds, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee working together to figure out what happened. This one featured more of Chee’s girlfriend Bernie, whom I like a lot, so that was fun.
(Book 48, 2008)
Sunday, January 04, 2009
5 comments:
I was recommended to read Tony Hillerman by a colleague at work. I bought The Blessing Way but have yet to read it. Sounds as if Hillerman's series will make a good substitute for the Camilleris, when I have finished those!
I so enjoyed all of his books and was so sad to learn of his passing as I was Phillp Craig.
Thanks for this reminder, Becky. I have always wanted to read a Hillerman and must do so this year.
You deserve an award! Pick it up here!
I read my first Hillerman (Skinwalkers) and was so captivated I quickly read all the past (paperback) books to that date and eagerly waited each new installment. I was so impressed by the land and its culture that I asked to be transferred from my duty assignment in the Air Force in Alaska to Kirtland AFB in New Mexico and stayed there long after my retirement (almost 20 years. It is a magic place and Tony Hillerman has captured it and his beloved "Indian Country" like no other writer ever will. Thank you Tony for an amazing ride. As a white man I learned a lot and am a better person for it. RIP you King of the Western Mystery. For those of you who still have some Hillerman's left to read, well you a very lucky, enjoy the ride.
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