The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman - reviewed by Samantha_kathy
CharlasReviews reviewed
Únete a LibraryThing para publicar.
Este tema está marcado actualmente como "inactivo"—el último mensaje es de hace más de 90 días. Puedes reactivarlo escribiendo una respuesta.
1Samantha_kathy
Thoughts welcome on this review. I've tried to address several points I saw in the reviews here on LT, which I always check out before reading a book.
******
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (1970 - 3.5 stars)
Witchcraft appears to be involved in the death of an Indian, whose body is found in Many Ruins Canyon, and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is charged with the task of solving the crime.
A lot of reviews for this book say it’s not the best book in the series. Even Hillerman himself apparently agrees that it’s not the best introduction to the series, even though it is the first book. The reviews are right that Hillerman is still trying to find the best way to tell the story and as such, the story’s focus isn’t always as tight as it should be. But I’ve always liked to start at the beginning of a series.
A lot of the complaining in the reviews was that Leaphorn isn’t always acting like Leaphorn, and apparently shows characteristics of Chee, a character that comes later in the series. Another complaint often voiced was that Leaphorn wasn’t the main character of this book, but the Caucasian Dr. Bergan McKee. But if you’ve never read a book in this series before, like me, than none of these things are noticeable, let alone annoying! So please, don’t let the reviews stop you from starting this series at the beginning.
The Blessing Way has a well worked out plot, with a twist I didn’t work out until it was revealed. But what I liked most was the Navajo culture and way of thinking that was so central to the book. It felt like stepping into another world, or perhaps I could better say: seeing our world through different eyes. I liked this book and if the series gets better as is said, that’s a very nice bonus when I’m reading the rest!
******
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (1970 - 3.5 stars)
Witchcraft appears to be involved in the death of an Indian, whose body is found in Many Ruins Canyon, and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is charged with the task of solving the crime.
A lot of reviews for this book say it’s not the best book in the series. Even Hillerman himself apparently agrees that it’s not the best introduction to the series, even though it is the first book. The reviews are right that Hillerman is still trying to find the best way to tell the story and as such, the story’s focus isn’t always as tight as it should be. But I’ve always liked to start at the beginning of a series.
A lot of the complaining in the reviews was that Leaphorn isn’t always acting like Leaphorn, and apparently shows characteristics of Chee, a character that comes later in the series. Another complaint often voiced was that Leaphorn wasn’t the main character of this book, but the Caucasian Dr. Bergan McKee. But if you’ve never read a book in this series before, like me, than none of these things are noticeable, let alone annoying! So please, don’t let the reviews stop you from starting this series at the beginning.
The Blessing Way has a well worked out plot, with a twist I didn’t work out until it was revealed. But what I liked most was the Navajo culture and way of thinking that was so central to the book. It felt like stepping into another world, or perhaps I could better say: seeing our world through different eyes. I liked this book and if the series gets better as is said, that’s a very nice bonus when I’m reading the rest!
2jseger9000
I think the review could use a little more introduction between the first and second paragraph.
You start with a synopsis and then immediately leap to what other reviewers say about the book. I think addressing that in your review is good and valid. Just it could use a bridge. Maybe something like 'The Blessing Way is the first in Tony Hillerman's long running series about Detective Leaphorn and it is quite a bit different from the others.'
You mention all that later in the review, but as someone reading your review the switch felt jarring.
You start with a synopsis and then immediately leap to what other reviewers say about the book. I think addressing that in your review is good and valid. Just it could use a bridge. Maybe something like 'The Blessing Way is the first in Tony Hillerman's long running series about Detective Leaphorn and it is quite a bit different from the others.'
You mention all that later in the review, but as someone reading your review the switch felt jarring.
3Samantha_kathy
How's this?
******
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (1970 - 3.5 stars)
Witchcraft appears to be involved in the death of an Indian, whose body is found in Many Ruins Canyon, and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is charged with the task of solving the crime.
The Blessing Way is an old fashioned detective story which stands out because of the superb setting in the Navajo reservation. It's also the first in Tony Hillerman's long running series abour Joe Leaphorn and the later addition of Jimmy Chee, but it's quite a bit different from the others.
A lot of reviews for this book say it’s not the best book in the series. Even Hillerman himself apparently agrees that it’s not the best introduction to the series, even though it is the first book. The reviews are right that Hillerman is still trying to find the best way to tell the story and as such, the story’s focus isn’t always as tight as it should be. But I’ve always liked to start at the beginning of a series.
A lot of the complaining in the reviews was that Leaphorn isn’t always acting like Leaphorn, and apparently shows characteristics of Chee, a character that comes later in the series. Another complaint often voiced was that Leaphorn wasn’t the main character of this book, but the Caucasian Dr. Bergan McKee. But if you’ve never read a book in this series before, like me, than none of these things are noticeable, let alone annoying! So please, don’t let the reviews stop you from starting this series at the beginning.
The Blessing Way has a well worked out plot, with a twist I didn’t work out until it was revealed. But what I liked most was the Navajo culture and way of thinking that was so central to the book. It felt like stepping into another world, or perhaps I could better say: seeing our world through different eyes. I liked this book and if the series gets better as is said, that’s a very nice bonus when I’m reading the rest!
******
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (1970 - 3.5 stars)
Witchcraft appears to be involved in the death of an Indian, whose body is found in Many Ruins Canyon, and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is charged with the task of solving the crime.
The Blessing Way is an old fashioned detective story which stands out because of the superb setting in the Navajo reservation. It's also the first in Tony Hillerman's long running series abour Joe Leaphorn and the later addition of Jimmy Chee, but it's quite a bit different from the others.
A lot of reviews for this book say it’s not the best book in the series. Even Hillerman himself apparently agrees that it’s not the best introduction to the series, even though it is the first book. The reviews are right that Hillerman is still trying to find the best way to tell the story and as such, the story’s focus isn’t always as tight as it should be. But I’ve always liked to start at the beginning of a series.
A lot of the complaining in the reviews was that Leaphorn isn’t always acting like Leaphorn, and apparently shows characteristics of Chee, a character that comes later in the series. Another complaint often voiced was that Leaphorn wasn’t the main character of this book, but the Caucasian Dr. Bergan McKee. But if you’ve never read a book in this series before, like me, than none of these things are noticeable, let alone annoying! So please, don’t let the reviews stop you from starting this series at the beginning.
The Blessing Way has a well worked out plot, with a twist I didn’t work out until it was revealed. But what I liked most was the Navajo culture and way of thinking that was so central to the book. It felt like stepping into another world, or perhaps I could better say: seeing our world through different eyes. I liked this book and if the series gets better as is said, that’s a very nice bonus when I’m reading the rest!
4jimroberts
I agree with jseger9000 that you needed a bit more bridging material and I like the new version better. I'm not happy with the wording "series abour Joe Leaphorn and the later addition of Jimmy Chee", though. Maybe "series about Joe Leaphorn and, in later books, Jimmy Chee"?
5jseger9000
I would just cut and the later addition of Jimmy Chee altogether. He may be important to the series, but since he is not a part of this book at all and people who are familiar with the series will get what you mean without that part, it seems like a distraction.
I do like how you worked the new material in though. It flows much better.
I do like how you worked the new material in though. It flows much better.
Únete para publicar
