Southwest Books of the Year 2009: Picks by Bill Broyles & Patricia Etter

Long-time Tucsonan Bill Broyles is a research associate at the University of Arizona’s Southwest Center. An occasional writer himself, he says, “I hold books with awe and cradle them in my hands with care, for I have an idea how precious yet precarious they are for their anxious authors wondering ‘Will they love me? Will they hate me?’ God bless readers. Books are like sleds at the hilltop just waiting for daring readers to ride them to the end. Books scream, ‘Try me! Try me!’ ” Broyles selected the first three titles on this list. Patricia Etter is a member of Arizona State University’s Emeritus College. She serves on the Board of Advisors for Arizona State’s University Club, on the Board of Directors of the Oregon-California Trails Association and on the editorial committee of the Western Historical Quarterly. She recently edited and wrote and introduction to the journal of William R. Goulding which was published this year by the Arthur H. Clark Co. under the title California Odyssey: An Overland Journey on the Southern Trails, 1849. One favorite activity is talking books with the panelists of Southwest Books of the Year. Etter selected the last two titles on this list.