Book Review: Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

[5 stars]

Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Tony Hillerman
Class/Genre: Non-Fiction Biography
…

This is a perfectly delightful autobiography written by the creator of the popular Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee books set in the Navaho country of New Mexico & Arizona. Hillerman begins with his post depression childhood in a very small community in Oklahoma, moves through his teenage years, service in the infantry in WWII with action in Italy and Germany, postwar college studies on the GI bill in Oklahoma, work as a journalist with United Press and later with a newspaper in Santa Fe, a return to school for a masters's degree prepatory to fulfilling a dream to write saleable fiction, an appointment to the faculty of the University of New Mexico, and his eventual success as the mystery writer his fans are so familiar with.

He includes many pleasant asides containing loving tributes to his wife of 53 years, and tales of his delight in his six children, including updates on their respective adult accomplishments. He includes several hilarious episodes, some portraying the enlisted man's thinly disguised impatience with "West Point" decision making, and one especially memorable dash to get to his wedding on time.

I listened to this book on my Walkman as I made good on a promise to myself to take daily walks. The audio version is read by the author himself, and this really enhanced the book for me! He has a folksy, "down home" style of delivery - a testament, I'm sure, to his Oklahoma roots. The epilogue lists all his published books in order of publication, (including several non fiction anthologies) and includes short summaries of how the books were conceived and brought to the page. The principal text itself describes in detail the creation of two of the mysteries; the first his "breakout book" A THIEF OF TIME, and the second FINDING MOON.

Hillerman fans should put this one on their "don't miss" list.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM