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New meaning to myth in a changing world
Book Review
By Derryll White
Hillerman, Tony (2006). Skeleton Man.
This is the 17th novel in the Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series. Tony Hillerman does an incredible job here of taking a contemporary tragedy and demonstrating how it embedded in Hopi beliefs and folkways. It’s no stretch to have John Clarke’s arm become a part of the story of Massaw’s story as the Guardian Spirit of this world, the Skeleton Man.
Hillerman talks at length about the pollution of myth and alteration of the past by contemporary occurrences. It is easy to understand the strength and power of myth when reading Hillerman. There is a direct connection, cause and effect, between belief and action. Sergeant Jim Chee and former Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn act, but both cushioned and cautioned by an active Spirit world that brings into focus the awesome, massive expanse that is the Grand Canyon
Tony Hillerman brings new meaning to myth in a changing world. Wonderful work.
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Excerpts from the novel:
GREED – Always did think that was a good point we whites overlooked. I mean, when a fella had more stuff than he needed and was stacking more of it up with the people all around him hungry, that was a pretty good clue he had some of that greed sickness, and they collect these things to prove they’re better at being greedy than their friends.”
– Derryll White once wrote books but now chooses to read and write about them. When not reading he writes history for the web at www.basininstitute.org.
