Book Excerpt for the Day

    Chee was conscious again that Bales was waiting for him to say something.  This white man’s custom of expecting a listener to do more than listen was contrary to Chee’s courteous Navajo conditioning.  He’d first become aware of it his freshman year at the University of New Mexico.  He’d dated a girl in his sociology class and she’d accused him of not listening to her, and it had taken two or three misunderstandings before he’d finally fathomed that while his people presume that if they’re talking, you are listening, white people require periodic reassurance.  Deputy Bales was requiring such reassurance now, and Chee tried to think of something to say.

    (from The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman)

    8½*/10.  The complete review is here.

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