Customer Reviews
"Blessed are those who expect little" - By: B. Chandler, 21 Apr 2003 
"For they are seldom disappointed"
I started with the recorded book 11 CD set & listened to the book read by Tony Hillerman. Then I bought his book (ISBN 0-06-050586-9) for the pictures of family & friends, & to look at the spelling.
There are many five star books out there. However this book excels beyond the five stars. Being the memoir of Tony Hillerman this is really several booksin one as he remembers his several lives from impoverished childhood through military, through collage student, through reporter, now writer.
This memoir gives us many insights as to what Tony draws on for materialin his books. And many aspects of his childhood can be related to by any child. His war experiences would rival "All Quiet on the Western front" & reflects the experiences of the most recent wars. I am now reading some of the source materials that he read for background of his novels.
. "Seldom Disappointed" actually enhances the enjoyment of reading the Tony Hillerman novels.
Essential reading for fans and not-yet fans - By: , 07 Jan 2002 Seldom Disappointed
How did you get here?
Are you a fan oF Tony Hillerman's Navajo Tribal Police books, or his non-fiction publishings? If you are either, buy the book, if just to provide for all those expensive American medical expenses that afflict the more senior members of the population. We want Mr. hillerman to go on for a long time producing more absorbing copy.
Seriously tho', if you relate to his work, you will want to know more of the man. If you have stumbled upon this by happenchance, search Amazon & zshops for his titles. Good Reading!. By the way, thanks to BBC Radio4 for introducing me to this author.
The jacket of this hardback edition is colourful, with the author's name & book title printedin relief.
The author leans against a gatepost & presents himself to the camera with an open, frank expression which reflects the contents of this absorbing autobiography.
Tony Hillerman, nowin his seventies, recalls his life experiencesin a rare mix of matter-of-fact modesty, stoicism, beliefin his faith & the love of his family.
The book recalls the formative years of a childin the 1930's, tough to our modern conventions, but couchedin the warmth of his father, mother & siblings' support. The passage through high-school education & the seemingly inevitable, though not entirely unwelcome call to arms for the duration of his Second World War is well written, even we Brits can identify with the mid-west of that time.
Tony Hillerman was a decorated survivor of the conflict, though his sometimes ambivalent recollections reinforce the reader's respect for the author. The chapters covering this period come across as factual, unembellished & sometimes thrilling, without any self-aggrandizement.
When duty is done, we find the author ready to apply himself to whatever job is available until he can enrolin college, where he is introduced to the next phasein his life experience, journalism.
I am not a journalist, but the narrative provides some insight into that profession; the layman will find thought-provoking accounts & it is during these recollections that the life-changing experience of the author occurs. He meets his wife, establishes his family & gets on with life. (My wife bought me this book for Christmas)
Next is acadaemia & a toe-dipping into fiction writing. Fate plays a helping handin these endeavours & the author metamorphosizes into: successful crime fiction writer.
Okay, i've left a lot out. Buy the book!
I'm just waiting for the next episodein the Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn series outin late spring. Seldom Disappointed?, make that Never
