Bad Medicine

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book, great companion to Hillerman
Review: I read Bad Medicine immediately after finishing Tony Hillerman's "Last Eagle"...it was a wonderful week of reading and becoming immersed in Southwestern Indian culture. I can't help but want to compare the two novels, but that would be unfair: they are two entirely different fictional types, and they each must stand alone. Together, though, they are complementary experiences. Of the two, Ron Querry has a more lyric, almost poetic style. The plot is thinner than Hillerman's, and perhaps doesn't even do very well at bringing superstition, medicine, and folk healing together. That criticism (if it is one) is irrelevant to the impact of the book, with it's beautiful prose and sharp characterization. Of particular note is the chapter "Hashke", which takes place in the Short Mountain Cafe, populated by the smoking, vacant eyed waitress and the gum popping cashier in her tight plum-colored jeans and decorated fingernails. Like the rest of the book, it's great prose--evocative, precise, and moving.

Rating:
Summary: Dissapointing
Review: The book is written entirely in the present tense, making it utterly unreadable. I consider this extremely poor writing.

Rating:
Summary: How it really is . . .
Review: This is THE novel for people to read if they want to know how it really is on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations--I can't understand how the author knows the voices and the feelings of these Indian people so well. This is a great book . . . believe it!