Friday, June 23, 2006
In Plain Sight
C J Box writes a series about a Wyoming game warden named Joe Pickett. Joe is a warm likeable guy who loves his job and hates the bureaucracy that he feels sometimes works against him. He is happily married to MaryBeth, and the father of two daughters, Sheridan and Lucy. Joe's partner in the pick-up is Maxine, his dog.
Each of the books in this series tells a great story about what it is like to live in the west. There are hunters, fishermen, poachers, wealthy ranchers, small town sheriffs, people just trying to hide out, extreme weather, and majestic scenery that Box describes so well I feel I've seen it.
Box manages to weave his stories around real political issues in Wyoming without coming off as heavy-handed. He carefully lets you see both sides of the issue without telling you which side is right and which is wrong. Of course his protagonist has opinions, but his job as game warden makes him uphold the law regardless of what he thinks of it. Box has included issues such as endangered species, eco-terrorism, methane drilling, and primogeniture.
It is my firm belief that Box is the king of the opening lines. See what I mean...
In Plain Sight (2006)
"When ranch owner Opal Scarlett vanished, no one mourned except her three grown sons, Arlen, Hank, and Wyatt who expressed their loss by getting into a fight with shovels."
Savage Run (2002)
"On the third day of their honeymoon, infamous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his new bride, Annabel Bellotti, were spiking trees in the forest when a cow exploded and blew them up. Until then, their marriage had been happy."
So, am I right???
If you haven't experienced Joe Pickett yet, start with the first one, Open Season. Some of the characters from earlier books show up in later books and there are some spoilers if you read them out of order.
Having said that, I have to admit that I am a stickler about reading series books in order. I will almost never pick up a recommended book without going back to the beginning. I do sometimes find it doesn't really matter but I expect to see the protagonist affected by the things that happen to him and to grow from the experiences. Reading out of order spoils that for me.
So what are you reading?
Each of the books in this series tells a great story about what it is like to live in the west. There are hunters, fishermen, poachers, wealthy ranchers, small town sheriffs, people just trying to hide out, extreme weather, and majestic scenery that Box describes so well I feel I've seen it.
Box manages to weave his stories around real political issues in Wyoming without coming off as heavy-handed. He carefully lets you see both sides of the issue without telling you which side is right and which is wrong. Of course his protagonist has opinions, but his job as game warden makes him uphold the law regardless of what he thinks of it. Box has included issues such as endangered species, eco-terrorism, methane drilling, and primogeniture.
It is my firm belief that Box is the king of the opening lines. See what I mean...
In Plain Sight (2006)
"When ranch owner Opal Scarlett vanished, no one mourned except her three grown sons, Arlen, Hank, and Wyatt who expressed their loss by getting into a fight with shovels."
Savage Run (2002)
"On the third day of their honeymoon, infamous environmental activist Stewie Woods and his new bride, Annabel Bellotti, were spiking trees in the forest when a cow exploded and blew them up. Until then, their marriage had been happy."
So, am I right???
If you haven't experienced Joe Pickett yet, start with the first one, Open Season. Some of the characters from earlier books show up in later books and there are some spoilers if you read them out of order.
Having said that, I have to admit that I am a stickler about reading series books in order. I will almost never pick up a recommended book without going back to the beginning. I do sometimes find it doesn't really matter but I expect to see the protagonist affected by the things that happen to him and to grow from the experiences. Reading out of order spoils that for me.
So what are you reading?
# posted by Kim Reis @ 3:06 PM 
