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A review by uncle_remus
The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman
3.0
I did not like this one as much as the previous ones. More than half of the book is set in LA. About 40 pages describes a hitman taking his target; both of which is uncharacteristic of this series.
What makes this book a downer is the depressing state of the Navajo nation as exposee'd in this book. On one hand the Navajo nations faces a slow attrition of cultural mores due to competition with the enormous backdrop of "The American Way" -such as Navajos directly moving off the reservation to fall prey to the 'easy way' of commericalism, captialism and moving to the cities where you don't have to live in poverty. On the other hand, fewer Navajos on the reservation means fewer people and gradually aging population of Navajos to understand and learn the traditional ways, as illustrated by the ever-shrinking list of people capable of executing 'sings'... not to mention the total loss of more obscure 'sings'. In short, stand by your morality but live in poverty, or live in physical comfort but lose your roots and your mental comfort.
Another book solely with Jim Chee.
What makes this book a downer is the depressing state of the Navajo nation as exposee'd in this book. On one hand the Navajo nations faces a slow attrition of cultural mores due to competition with the enormous backdrop of "The American Way" -such as Navajos directly moving off the reservation to fall prey to the 'easy way' of commericalism, captialism and moving to the cities where you don't have to live in poverty. On the other hand, fewer Navajos on the reservation means fewer people and gradually aging population of Navajos to understand and learn the traditional ways, as illustrated by the ever-shrinking list of people capable of executing 'sings'... not to mention the total loss of more obscure 'sings'. In short, stand by your morality but live in poverty, or live in physical comfort but lose your roots and your mental comfort.
Another book solely with Jim Chee.