The First Eagle

Rating:
Summary: Where was the editor?
Review: As a longtime Hillerman fan, there some things I expect in his books (vivid descriptions of a land the author clearly loves, gentle and often humorous evocations of Navajo culture, compelling characters) and some things I know better than to expect (an unpredictable plot, a graceful conclusion). With "First Eagle," however, Hillerman managed to limbo under even my modest plot expectations, and he didn't have much to show me about Navajo culture in this yarn either. I won't hold it against him. I'll loyally read the next book, but I'm not so forgiving with the editor. All through "First Eagle" characters are surprised to discover something they were told two chapters back, and their short-term memories are clearly failing them when they recount events or conversations. It was a shoddy editing job if it can be called editing at all.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of Hillerman's best, but nevertheless hair-raising!
Review: I found this one not so easy to read, but maybe that is because the Hantavirus problem is not familiar to an European. Anyway, since we discovered Tony Hiller man's novels in a General Store on the way to Zion and Bryce Canyon in 1995 my wife and I are looking forward to each new one. We think that through reading Hiller man's novels we got a better insight into the problems of the American Indians. And it is fun to follow Chee and Leaphorn through the towns and country we have visited already several times.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of his best, but still pretty good
Review: I've been disappointed in Hillerman's recent Leaphorn/Chee novels: I felt that "Sacred Clowns" had a truly lame plot, and "Fallen Man" was better plotted but often read more like a rough draft than a finished novel. This mystery focuses on a compelling issue, the characters and settings are vivid, and both Chee's emotional roller-coaster and Leaphorn's developing relationship with his lady friend are well done. Unfortunately, if you're familiar with Hillerman's previous novels you'll figure out who done it, and why, about 1/3 of the way through -- but that doesn't necessarily ruin the book, as in these novels most of the pleasure is in watching the characters themselves figure it out! This isn't one of his best, but it's still head and shoulders above the past few novels in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Good Hillerman but not Great Hillerman.
Review: This is a good read in the Hillerman genre. But not as riveting as many of his previous books. Not complaining -- bad Hillerman is better than most books, and this aint bad at all -- but he's done better. Still, a very enjoyable read. A different Leaphorn and a different Chee. Good -- not great -- Hillerman book.

Rating:
Summary: One to pass the sleepless nights with...
Review: Okay, so "Eagle" and for that matter "Falling Man" weren't up to the standards set by "Talking God"/"Coytoe Waits," but it's still a fine read. The pages seem to turn themselves and suddenly what started as "only one chapter" has turned into half the book.

The Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn relationship is in top form, and I believe most people can remember a time when they were the very junior member of a working relationship. It's very easy to be dazzled and intimidated by someone for years. It's also understandible the inevitible dread that Leaphorn brings into Chee's life. Seeing him usually means that Chee messed up somewhere along the line, and nobody likes to be reminded of that.

Being from Shiprock, I love reading about my home. Hillerman's descriptions are dead-on of the land, the terrain and the people. I adored this novel for its sensitive handling of the hauntavirus crisis and the terror it invokes every year. Hilerman knows, understands.

I realize that anglos not native to the four corners area feel an intellectual pride in reading Hilerman. I wish they wouldn't. I don't know how many times people have given me some sort of spiel about how connected they feel to me because they read "Skinwalker". Hilerman's a great writer, granted, but I'm not a character in his book.

Rating:
Summary: Vintage Hillerman. Chee and Leaphorn together again.
Review: Reading Hillerman is both a pleasurable and spiritual experience, and his new novel is no exception. Favorite characters, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee join forces again. In the course of solving a new mystery, we learn about Indian lore, the beauty of the southwest desert and more. The fact that Hillerman's characters don't always win and succeed at everything makes them more believable and interesting. Leaves you anxiously waiting for the next adventure.

Rating:
Summary: End of Story?
Review: This may not be Hillermans best book, but it is certainly one of the saddest.Chee is back where he started, not knowing wahat to do with his life and his carreer.Leaphorn is still painfully bored and lonely. Moreover Hillerman is doing a lot of looking back and lets his protagonists reminisce whith him.Characters from earlier books reappear and time has not been friendly to them either. On the posiyive side Chee and Leaphorn finally come to a kind of understanding, but this more than anything makes me wonder if Hillerman could be wrapping up the series.There is a sad, autumnal beauty to this book, that makes it stand out from the other ones.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've read most of Hillerman's work, usually on a plane or in an airport. Like most of his readers, I enjoy the Chee/Leaphorn interplay and the depiction of the Navajo culture.

However, I found this book rather preachy and plodding. Several passages are devoted to the virus-are-going-to-get-us theme, and it takes a long time for much to happen.

Personally, I thought Leaphorn's girl friend was the most interesting character, and, like many other reviewers, I'm pulling for Chee to wake up and move himself away from the glorious Janet. I am, however, tired of Chee's awe of the Legendary Joe Leaphorn.

Is it just me or does it seem like there is always a thunderstorm boiling in the distance?

Rating:
Summary: A great fictional journey
Review: I've read every one of Hillerman's books and he keeps getting better and better. "The First Eagle" is so good I'm going to read it again, right after I read "The Triumph and the Glory", the other book I ordered last week from Amazon. I've heard a lot about it and hope it's as good as "The First Eagle".

Rating:
Summary: A familiar old friend
Review: I understand why some of the other reviewers say that this is one of Mr. Hillerman's weaker efforts, however, I disagree with the conclusion that he is coasting. When I first began the book it was like meeting an old friend, all of the familiar likeable characters are there as is the imagery. If they are present in a lesser degree than in earlier works, I think it because Mr. Hillerman is justifiably building on the earlier works. There is no need to re-invent the wheel. The work also shows its quality in the development of even minor characters such as Mac Guiness. He and his trading post have been seen throughout the series but in First Eagle Tony Hillerman has visibly aged each. You can almost see the dust in the trading post and smell the stale whiskey. This "character-aging" is poignant with the current condition of Jim Chee's uncle Hosteen Nicae. Moreover, the plot is chilling and intelligently developed. Tony Hillerman has hit upon a real, significant issue. The medical-scientific discussions were lucid and well thought out. Finally, Jim Chee should definitely dump Janet Peet.