I haven’t read Sides, but did enjoy Hillerman’s fiction, set in the Navajo landscape. You may know that Hillerman also taught at UNM before achieving fame as a fiction writer, and was well respected in the native community.
I second the Tony Hillerman recommendation. His work was a little uneven over the years, but his affection and respect for Dine beliefs, places, and people were always striking. Also the mystery plots are fun, real page turners, may be nice for the longer colder nights to come. I like that you usually follow one of two protagonists, both are Tribal Police but one is older and one is younger, and they see things quite differently. In his later books he also attempted to develop a much needed female perspective, with mixed success, but I’m glad he took on the task. His daughter Anne has carried on his work, though I don’t think she’s developed the same level of skill yet. Reading his books has made my New Mexico and Arizona travels much more fun and meaningful. If you decide to dip your toe in, I’d be curious down the road to hear your perspective.
I think Persian rugs, and similar carpets, also often deliberately incorporate “errors,” because we must not presume to be as perfect as God.
Japanese aesthetics takes the principle farther, seeking out asymmetry and roughness—letting nature shine through the cracks of art.
My favorite wildly eccentric mystery writer, Harry Stephen Keeler, used to make sure that he would write too much for every novel. Then the leftover “chunk” would become the seed of his next story.
Hm. I like that last idea. That was my strategy for writing articles. Create the seed for the next section before going to sleep. It made the next day so much better. No writer’s block.
A really great little book on Japanese aesthetics is In Praise of Shadows, by Junichiro Tanizaki. It’s more about negative space than about imperfection, but they’re related.
The Untimely Typewriter:Daily Writings Against the Tides of Distraction 
So now I have an excuse!
I haven’t read Sides, but did enjoy Hillerman’s fiction, set in the Navajo landscape. You may know that Hillerman also taught at UNM before achieving fame as a fiction writer, and was well respected in the native community.
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I have MUCH to learn, Joe. Thanks.
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I second the Tony Hillerman recommendation. His work was a little uneven over the years, but his affection and respect for Dine beliefs, places, and people were always striking. Also the mystery plots are fun, real page turners, may be nice for the longer colder nights to come. I like that you usually follow one of two protagonists, both are Tribal Police but one is older and one is younger, and they see things quite differently. In his later books he also attempted to develop a much needed female perspective, with mixed success, but I’m glad he took on the task. His daughter Anne has carried on his work, though I don’t think she’s developed the same level of skill yet. Reading his books has made my New Mexico and Arizona travels much more fun and meaningful. If you decide to dip your toe in, I’d be curious down the road to hear your perspective.
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Hillerman it is. Which novel would you suggest for my first read?
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What a beautiful idea.
I think Persian rugs, and similar carpets, also often deliberately incorporate “errors,” because we must not presume to be as perfect as God.
Japanese aesthetics takes the principle farther, seeking out asymmetry and roughness—letting nature shine through the cracks of art.
My favorite wildly eccentric mystery writer, Harry Stephen Keeler, used to make sure that he would write too much for every novel. Then the leftover “chunk” would become the seed of his next story.
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Hm. I like that last idea. That was my strategy for writing articles. Create the seed for the next section before going to sleep. It made the next day so much better. No writer’s block.
I did not know that about Japanese aesthetics.
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A really great little book on Japanese aesthetics is In Praise of Shadows, by Junichiro Tanizaki. It’s more about negative space than about imperfection, but they’re related.
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Thanks. I do find negative space fascinating. Sometimes I’m not sure that I can see positive space.
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Interesting thoughts in the post as well as comments.
Perhaps all of my typing imperfections are all spirit outlets.
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I now realize that this philosophy could put me out of work.
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I must be part Scot, part Navajo…
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