I started the next Bagels & Books book, Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman. So far, so good. I started this book (i.e. read a few pages) a couple years ago, but I am on track to finish it this time. No, really!
It takes place in the southwest, which is a beautiful and culturally rich location. I have never been to Arizona or New Mexico, but reading about it makes me yearn a little for the dry desert air and the plume of red dust that billows behind cars on old dirt roads. (I might have idealized it just a little.) Thief of Time is a mystery cloaked in Anasazi culture and the allure of cliff-side dwellings. I have actually visited cliff-side dwellings in Manitou Springs, CO. They were legit Anasazi, too, so that draws me to the story even more. Dwellings are fascinating; it is mind-boggling to imagine their construction without modern tools or technology. But their construction is impeccable, and the spaces are beautifully sparse. I will upload some photos when I find them (they are on CD somewhere).
At any rate, one other book, also "set" in the southwest is among my favorites: Between a Rock and a Hard Place. This memoir chronicles Aron Ralston's survival after being trapped, incidentally, between a rock and a hard place (i.e. another rock). The memoir is a reminder of the harsh realities of adventure in such a barren environment, but it also reminds the reader and adventurer to maintain reverence for the place.
If you have not picked up a copy of Thief of Time, consider grabbing one. As always, see Mrs. Howell for more information. The next Bagels & Books meeting is February 24, so you have plenty of time to read this casual, fun story.
Take care, bundle up, and happy reading!
-- Fo
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