This is such an interesting book and Frank Waters is an absolute legend. Sometimes writers are labeled as “regional” and get snobbed out by the New York literary establishment. I have no idea how Waters ranked with that crowd, but I think his writing, although reflecting the intimacies of the West and Southwest, is a great resource for all.
The Woman at Otowi Crossing is a novel based on the life of Edith Warner who was featured in the last book I posted here. This novel blends Warner’s life with a fictional tale of the birth of the atomic age. Although this is a novel, much of what is covered is based on the actual events. Warner was such a unique badass. One of those people I really wish I had a chance to meet.
This book has made it a certainty that I will be visiting the exact region she lived, AND this book gave me an idea for a new project I can’t wait to get started on. It could be a good one and a long-term one. Just imagine being at the intersection of pueblo life, the natural world, and the Manhattan Project. Good grief.
There were passages I read over and over again, always the sign that someone sees the world in a very specific way. One of the most interesting parts was the story of the testing that happened in Nevada near Las Vegas. So scary. My plan is to invest in the other Water’s publications and see what else he has to offer.
Get it, read it.
Comments 2
Since you’re on record as liking “The Razor’s Edge”, you might want to consider reading “The Yogi of Cockroach Court.” It’s a strange and fascinating book, one that you feel is driven by Waters’ obsessions as much as his craft, a story he must have felt he had to tell. I’m not sure if it’s his best work, but sometimes a writer’s second-tier novels tell you more about him or her than the acknowledged classics. I’m looking forward to reading “The Woman at Otowi Crossing.”
Author
Tim,
I will add it to the list. Thank you! And yes, books like Rum Diary and Hells Angels are Hunter Thompson classics but Fear and Loathing gets the buzz.