Library Happenings

Henning Library

Mrs. Jorgenson is just one of Craig Johnson’s biggest fans for his ingenious concept of the Longmire Series. Walter “Walt” Longmire is a widower that has given himself completely to his career. Going so far as to skip going home, and just sleeping in the empty jail cells of the Durant, Wyo. sheriff’s office. His best friend, and spiritual guide, Henry Standing Bear, seems to be able to keep Walter alive, run the Red Pony and Continual Soiree bar and grill, and take care of the people on the Cheyenne Reservation located right on the Montana/Wyoming border.

Why choose the book and not just the TV series?

Why am I drawn to these books? Craig Johnson can suck you in so fast with the exciting elements of these stories. His character development for Walter was so great, that they adapted the text for TV. What is really interesting, is that other than his first book, The Cold Dish, there are VERY few elements of the written series that line up with the dramatized one. The characters are similar, Walt is portrayed VERY well, as is Victoria Moretti, Henry Standing Bear, and Cady, Walt’s daughter. The written series is completely in a world of its own. The dramatized series has its own storyline, which is what makes it enjoyable to read the books, because the producers didn’t mess anything up that way. 

After beginning the series, did you discover you had an interest in a particular book?

I had started reading this series as Mrs. Quammen, our former English teacher, had asked if I would like to read them together and discuss them afterward. I love how our point of views differ. One of my favorite texts was The Depth of Winter. I won’t give it away too much, but the story brings us to Mexico. Walter is on the mission of a lifetime, attempting to bring back home his kid-napped daughter. Each story is a complete connection to the last, so I strongly encourage you to read them in order. This story was really the only grotesque and gory one in his series as of yet. There was some intense, triggering visual imagery, which is not the case with the rest of the stories, in my opinion. While I was reading this story, it really brought me to my college years when I was planning to go to school to eventually become a criminal profiler for the FBI. I loved the cartel piece that Johnson has been carrying throughout the books before this, and how real he makes the main setting become in this text. I love the raw, gritty reality of this story line, whereas Mrs. Quammen didn’t seem to care for it as much. 

Because you read this with another person who loves to read too, did you both end up liking any of the  same books? 

We felt the same about a spiritual journey that Walter takes in Hell and Back and Daughter of the Morning Star. Walter goes on this very spiritual journey in his own mind, while in a coma, and Henry and Victoria Moretti (Walter’s undersheriff), are on a very concrete, real journey trying to find Walter. In the end, Walt discovered some secrets that connect deeply to that of the Native American children of the area. Hell and Back was an incredible story that really takes you through the ins and outs of consciousness and subconsciousness. This was also the book where we finally learn the back story to a character that has been with us since the beginning…nearly 18 books later. 

The Main Character is Walter Longmire, what draws you to him?  

The most interesting thing about Walter, to me, is that he loves Shakespeare. I, too, am a fan. I think the way that Johnson intertwines Walters’ love of the Bard in and amongst his clues is enlightening. I really liked Junkyard Dogs, which was very reflectionate of several of Shakespeare’s best pieces. I loved the hilarity in this text, that there was comic relief in the characters. Another favorite of mine is Next to Last Stand, a book based in Cody Wyoming and the surrounding area. Why I think this book is so significant to me is my connections with Montana and the Battle of the Little BigHorn being so near to Cody. While I was reading this text, I was actually in Cody, WY on a trip with my husband. We couldn’t actually make it to the Cody Museum-that is where the story takes place. It was such a rich experience to read about all of the area while I was there. Chief Joseph Highway, the main road on which Tanner and I traveled, was named aptly for another of the chief’s that participated  in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. It was just an incredibly rewarding read, rich with historical and present times. 

What can you suggest to the Citizen’s Advocate readers regarding this series of books?

If you are looking for a western mystery series that follows a very slow love story, you will find that the Longmire Series is for you. I would love to talk about any of the books with anyone interested.