New Mexico Books

Young people will be delighted in addition to being informed. And even adults will be charmed by the personal history of Gwinn Vivian, who grew up in glorious, mysterious Chaco Canyon and became the "living history" reporter on this amazing place. We are so lucky to have this book to enlighten our minds and our hearts.

Young people will be delighted in addition to being informed. And even adults will be charmed by the personal history of Gwinn Vivian, who grew up in glorious, mysterious Chaco Canyon and became the "living history" reporter on this amazing place. We are so lucky to have this book to enlightened our minds and our hearts.

It's not often that you pick up a book which changes your entire notions and preconceptions about a part of the world, you thought you knew, so close, yet so very far away. It also is rare for two artists (Barbash the narrator, and Ragan the art photographer) from one culture to become so aesthetically and spiritually attached to artists from a completely distant mileiu, the rural wood carver artists and their uniquely varried, extended families in Oaxaca Mexico. Yet, this book maintains that curiosity over close to two decades. Even ten years of which, in a rapidly changing community such as this, is in many ways a lifetime of change, struggle, dreams of the past and the hopes for the future.

The story continues and widens and weaves, like the lives of the artists themselves. It describes their often unknowable treacherous travels to El Norte, primarily to support the future of the villages they are formed by. The story is of multiple generations of Oaxacan folk art families and, how their art, the land, the traditions, the pressures of survival and, the often unpredicted trajectory toward the futures of their children dominate their lives. The stories effect an entire poetic, family-centric, agrarian society in one of the poorest, yet colorful, regions of southern Mexico. One with little wealth, but great pride.

This is the kind of book that makes you want to escape your predictable, comfortable, materialistic, ordinary urban life and take a journey to a place you haven't even imagined yet. Isn't that what life is all about? It made me discover another world so close, yet so psychologically distant. I highly recommed this book. I couldn't put it down. By the way, the black and white photographs are most sensitively created and beautifully printed and are full of unique stories all their own. Go for it. I'm glad I did.

John Dean
Atlanta Georgia

This is not simply a beautiful coffee table book, though it is that. Barbash and Ragan return to the site of their previous "Magic in the Trees," which was the definitive photojournalistic account of Oaxacan wood carvers and their oneiric, arresting creations. This sequel chronicles, in richly composed pictures and prose, the lives and work of the subjects of "Magic in the Trees" some 20 years later. The result is a handsome volume that succeeds on at least three levels: 1) as a portrait of a no longer pre-industrial society adjusting to the 21st century; 2) as a further chronicling of an important and probably dying art form; and 3) most mystically, as an account of the passage of time in individual lives, along the lines of the Apted 7-up series, in which we suddenly see the kindesseses and unkindnesses of passing years in side-by-side portraits and essays. An unusual and beautiful work.

I love all of Aimee and David Thurlo's books. Excellent writing and knowledge of the subject area. The Ella Clan books are all wonderful mysteries written around the Navajo traditions. Great books!

Life on the Navaho reservation in New Mexico is never easy but this winter is particularly hard. The weather is abnormally cold, unemployment is up, and many people are forced to choose between eating and heating up their homes. The Tribal Council, responsible for the welfare of the people on the reservation, debates whether to legalize gambling as a way of bringing in revenue.

Navaho Special Investigator Ella Clah knows that the Indian Mafia is behind the wave of vandalism that is concentrated in the Shiprock area. The thugs hope to intimidate the people and the Tribal Council to vote for gambling and they are willing to escalate the level of violence to achieve their goals. Between tracking down the leaders of the criminal element and avoiding snipers and other assaults on her life, Ella has a thirty-six hour day just staying alive.

Amy and David Thurlo have created a mystery series that gets better with each book written though the previous novels are all top quality. Ella Clah is a fascinating character who endears herself to the audience by adhering true to her values even defending the rights of those who disagree with her. Fans of Tony Hillerman and Southwest mysteries will appreciate CHANGING WOMAN.

Harriet Klausner

Written for readers of all backgrounds, A Cherokee Encyclopedia is a one-volume quick reference to the different groups of Cherokees within the United States and their history. Entries are listed in alphabetical order and include brief biographies of famous individuals in Cherokee history, different bands of Cherokee Indians in the past and present, Cherokee societies, and more, illustrated with occasional black-and-white photographs. From Keetoowah News, the official newspaper of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, to modern "tradition bearer" of old songs, tales, Cherokee hymns, and flute melodies Tommy Wildcat, A Cherokee Encyclopedia is an up-to-date resource highly recommended for modern Native American reference shelves.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in the Cherokee. Also highly recommended is Walking the Trail, One Man's Journey Along the Cherokee Trail of Tears, by Jerry Ellis. The book is about his 900 mile walk along the Trail of Tears and it was nominated for a Pulitzer and a National Book Award. At long last, books about the Cherokee are starting to get the attention they so deserve.

This is how all books should be like. It's too bad high schools don't use books like this one. Gomez-Quinones doesn't sugarcoat anything in his book.

This book is written on facts. I highly recommend it to others.

This book is a delight, and an essential tool for Santa Fe parents and visitors. Every home should have one. It's a complete, clear, and enticing guide to the things children of all ages can enjoy in Santa Fe. It made me want to borrow friends' children or be a kid again, myself.

D.Potter

This is one of two great guidebooks written for parents to help them select places to visit and activities to include when they take their children to Santa Fe. Both this guide and "Santa Fe with Kids" provide basic information about the usual activities and attractions popular with children in Santa Fe: the Children's mMseum, Palace of the Governors, the Plaza, and lots of others. You can't go wrong with either of these.

This guide is a little more "scholarly" than the other. It begins with several pages of child-friendly facts about Santa Fe's history, and includes more activities related to the arts and culture.

Both guides describe fun day trips from Santa Fe, but this one includes a good bit of information on attractions and activities for children in Albuquerque (and Los Alamos) that is useful if you plan to spend time there as well.

Overall, this guide contains more information than the other (it's longer and a little more expensive) and it has a wonderful drawing of the Plaza on the cover. It does lack the information about child-friendly restaurants that the other guide provides.

Of course, if you are looking for a guide that is written for children rather than for parents--one that can be your child's own--I recommend I See Santa Fe! A Children's Guide and Coloring Book

-Lynn Michelsohn, author of Roswell, Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!

This is my second novel by Loren D Estleman;the first being "Journey of the Dead" for which I wrote a Review on January 31,2007 and rated it 5*.
Although I enjoyed it more;this novel is somewhat similar in style.
Estleman includes a lot of historical connections,extensive ,almost to the point of excess descriptions. He spends a lot of effort in great detail on characters and other things;where in many cases I just wished he would get on with the story. As a result ,his writing,descriptions etc, outweigh the storyline.If that is what you like ,you'll really enjoy this author.
I notice from some of the author's other novels that he writes a lot of mystery and suspense;and this definately comes through in this novel;but less so in "Journey of the Dead".
Estleman combines historical facts,characters,events etc. with fiction and I find it somewhat of an aggravation to sort things out. In 1991 ,I spent a week in the area of Soccoro,Bosque del Apache,San Marcial,and Truth or Consequences; Birding.This is where most of this novel is set.There is still an Old Soccoro area,with many buildings from the 1880's,but I don't recall any Mesas,nor can I find any town of San Sabado on the atlas.The town of Truth or Consequences is still very active and it certainly was Geronimo's old stomping grounds. Actually,I remember seeing a spring where he came for water. The time period is 1881,and several references to the death of President Garfield are made along with those of Jay Gould,the Railroad Magnate,Lillie Langtree,the actress,Jack Rimfire a writer somewhat like Ned Buntline,Bill Cody,Billy the Kid ;just to name a few. Although I'm not positive, I doubt if Judge Blacktorne,Marshal Ortiz,Frank Baronet ever existed or were based on real characters. I'd like to know if otherwise.
Readers of the fast-ation westerns will note the similarity of the main character Page Murdock,to Curtis Long of "Longarm",Skye Fargo of "The Trailsman",or Ben Stillman and Lou Prophet ,Peter Brandvold writes about.
If your preference is descriptive writing,lots of historical association and mystery over barroom ,canyon and mainstreet fast-action and shoot-outs ;this novel should be right down your alley.
Estleman sprinkles his novels with great lines,such as these;

"Cheap meaning stole."

"Every great fortune begins with a crime."

"God's finger touched him and he slept."

"They were dressed all in black from bonnets to shoes,their dark
hems dragging like crow's wings in the dust of the street."

"California has its swallows and we have our magpies."

"Any town that is running out of widows can't be all bad."

"A man who arms himself in secret is a man who will come at you from
behind."

"Gold itself isn't wicked,only its source."

"There is no sport in hunting men.I never did it for sport."

This story would be Ideal for the film media. Though it is a western novel,it bears the stamp of authenticity due to the fact that it was carefully researched, the characters were not just cardboard figures with dialogue but human beings living in Western United States in the 1870-1880's. Its setting is after the Lincoln County Wars when most of the males were killed off
during the fueds. Enter U.S. Marshall Page Murdock who is undercover searching for the Baronette Brothers who were guilty of a murder in the North,he is supposed to have retired from law enforcement. He was commisioned to bring in the baronnete brothers but had to do so quickly because the statute of limitations for their crime was approaching expiration. He bought a third interest in a saloon with an ex-lover who proves treacherous and one of the baronetted brothers who happens to be the Marshall in a neighboring town. The action in this story leads to a credible climax, it is a story which will have you waiting for the next Page Murdock Novel.

This is one of the great classics of anthropology and Latin American studies. Largely ignored during the rush to make anthropology a science of culture, this is a description of Candomble and the women who led the spiritual life of Bahia in the thirties. Good to see that it is now available in this format.

If you are looking for an excellent book on the Candomble Orixa Worship of Brazil, then this is the classic. The book as the title states is of the power of the Brazilian Priestesses of the orixas, also known as orisha. Mai De Santos, or Priestesses of Orixas are as powerful, and as highly respected as the Babalawos of the Ifa and Babalorichas of Lucumi. I highly recomend this to all Voodoo Mambos, Santeria Santeras, and all Woman of the world, who believe in the power of Woman.

From a man's point of view this is a brilliant and inspiring work, and should be read buy all who honor the Ancient African Gods.

"Cloudcroft" was a great read. Enough suspense and drama to keep you entertained from cover to cover and a writing style that puts you in the character's shoes. If you've been to the area you will recognize the settings, if you've never been there the book will take you there.

Hanly's way of writing and developing characters is the best I read in a long time. When I finished the book I went back and read it the next week, still enthralled in the imagery and plain speak that makes this book stand out.
This is one of the best books out this year.

In this superb anthology of six of his short story collections, Moacyr Scliar presents readers with a panoply of themes, such as persecution, exploitation, and how ideologies mold our lives. Many of these themes reflect the times during which Scliar wrote -- a time when literary and other forms of cultural expresson were being surpressed under Brazil's military regime. In the first collection of stories, "The Carnival of Animals," Scliar uses allegory to explore the theme of persecution and exploitation, amongst other things.In his story, "The Cow," Scliar writes of a sailor who, shipwrecked with only a cow for company, comes to rely on that cow for his very survival. Like the loving, maternal tree in the classic, "The Giving Tree," the cow, named Carola, provides the sailor with food, clothing, fuel -- everything.The sailor readily exploits the cow --and ultimately destroys her to save his own life. But though he survives and prospers, the sailor lives a sad, empty life. Thus we are given a brief, anecdotal allegory of how exploitation dooms both the victim and the exploiter. Scliar, a Jew, also writes of Jewish themes, some of which are included in this collection. For example, The Ballad of the False Messiah is an allegory about the Jewish quest for redemption vis a vis a messiah -- and the ultimate futility of that quest. Casting the notorious, historical "false messiah," Shabtai Zvi, as one of his main characters,Scliar uses humor and irony to develop the theme that candidates for the Jewish messiah may come and go, but the Jewish people, with a messiah or without, will prevail. In "The Plagues" readers have an opportunity to see how "the other side fared" during biblical times when God smote the Egyptians with 10 plagues. Here we read of the tribulations of an average, Egyptian family that is arbitrarily being punished for the stubborness of the Pharaoh not to "let the Hebrews go." Again we have allegory, irony, and a true literary gem. Scliar uses biblical parables and elements of that particularly Latin American genre, magical realism, to entertain,enthrall, and enlighten. A wonderful anthology.

This book collects The Carnival of Animals, The Ballad of the False Messiah and The Enigmatic Eye which all are out of print in their English editions with The Tremulous Dwarf, the Dwarf in the Television Set and Van Gogh's Ear which have not to my knowledge been previously available in English. The fact that I would award Moacyr Scliar a Nobel Prize for literature in itself explains why 400 pages of his short stories is just right.

Scliar is a versatile author - Jewish and Brazilean - with a breadth of knowledge of history, medicine, psychology, anthropology and Hebrew scripture that both root his stories in the concrete and give them a universal understanding. He is comfortable in allegory, fantasy, magical realism.

All the traits of his better known novels - The Strange Nation of Rafael Mendes and Centaur in the Garden - are here in minature.

Given my interests, I particularly enjoyed the retelling of the ten plagues of Egypt from the perspective not of the Hebrews but of the Egyptians. However, were I to list all my favorites and explain why I'd exceed the Amazon word limit!

If you aren't up to this thick volume, read Centaur in the Garden ... then you'll want 400 pages more of his masterful writing.