New Mexico Books

Joseph Marshall has a unique way of writing. He writes about many things that Native people don't talk about. Joseph has a way of writting that flows and is very natural. I highly recommend this book to those who are intrested in Lakota culture from someone who recieved these stories first hand.

"These are the real stories of a Sichangu Wischasha who knows himself well and a haunting story of a people who have survived on the Northern Plains against all odds." INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY MAGAZINE

I loved these stories. They have magic. I think they are unique. I highly recommend them. Ilan Stavans is an original. Did he write all of them in English? His style is great.

I heard Stavans read several stories in Washington, D.C. He was marvelous. His stories are mysterious, mystical. They take the reader through unexpected paths. He reminds me of the Hassidic masters.

"An Owl on Every Post" has been my favorite book for thirty years, since the day I randomly perused it at a small local bookstore. I couldn't stop reading it. I was 14 years old. The authentic, straightforward account of a young girl's hard, yet magical, life on the plains sang to me as an adolescent and again years later when I read it aloud to my six year old daughter. It immediately became, and remains, one of her favorite books as well. She is twelve now and we are once again revisiting the Colorado territory. I guarantee you'll find something new and wonderful in this book no matter how many times you read it. Though it is written in a straightforward, unsentimental style you'll find yourself moved to tears, laughing aloud, staring wide-eyed with anticipation and fear, and experiencing monumental awe and wonder.

_An Owl on Every Post_ is a must-read book that captures the essence of life on the Great Plains in the early twentieth century. When the Babb family moved to rural eastern Colorado from a small town in Oklahoma, they couldn't have realized that they would lose nearly everything they had in the process. Babb relates her family's story from a child's eye perspective, and does so with enormous sensitivity and clarity. Hers is a moving story, beautifully told.

I have this book for one of my college classes, and it is really interesting to have a book that is not just a dry ethnography. I think it holds true to how it describes itself in the introduction: "We want to investigate one central and fundamental theme--the persistence of ethnic identity in the face of constant change...about groups of people who have maintained a strong sense of their own ethnic identity in the face of conquest, persecution, exile, and in some cases attempted genocide." Interesting insights and analysis. Tells of past, current issues, contact with Euro-Americans, and possible futures of these peoples. An interesting read even outside of class.

I bought this as a textbook for a class, but would highly recommend it to anyone interested in southwestern American Indian cultures.

This is a book that needs to become a movie but a film just couldn't capture the raw truth of this man's experience. Written in retrospect A Patriot After All covers a Chicano's life from emerging from an agriculutral family, to low level working class to a family striving to become typical Americans, yet held back by the realities of rascism, discrimination and their working class background. The writer embraces his own frailty to reveal the humanity of his family trapped by Society and repressed by their own shortcomings. Through it all he continues to try and be an American and never blames America for the abuse and self abuse he faces. Wow, what a story!

RAMIREZ HAS BRAVELY WRITTEN AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY PLOTTING HIS LIFE'S PILGRIMAGE FROM CHILDHOOD TO SOBRIETY. AS A TRUE AMERICAN VIETNAM WAR HERO, HIS VERY PERSONAL TALE IS INTERTWINED WITH MOMENTS OF GREAT JOY, CONFUSION ABOUT HIS HERITAGE AND SELF-IDENTITY, DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR AND HIS ULTIMATE SURVIVAL. I FOUND MYSELF ENTHRALLED BY RAMIREZ' WRITING STYLE. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION, RAMIREZ' PROSE AND TIMING, IN THE MIDST OF THE MOST UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, RIVALS THE BEST. EVEN THOUGH I LAUGHED AND CRIED WITH RAMIREZ, HE NEVER LOOSES SIGHT OF WHO HE IS AND RECOGNIZES MILLIONS OF WAR VETERANS FOR TAKING A SIMILAR JOURNEY.

MY HAT IS OFF TO MR. RAMIREZ FOR WRITING A POIGNANT AND COMPELLING BOOK THAT FREELY EXPOSES HIS INNER FELLINGS. HIS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE HIS LIFE, FOR GOOD AND BAD, IS TRULY STIMULATING AND INSIGHTFUL.

As a member of the Zuni Pueblo, I validate the position and tone set forth for the Zuni people in the text. In addition, this book exemplifies the issues the Zuni Pueblo faces today (2005) on paper rather than by death. This is an excellent book that gives a true representation of the history of Zuni Pueblo and the people. This is truely for the benefit of Zuni Pueblo.

An excellent, excellent book! This is an extremely well-written and very interesting book about a great man who played a very important role in the history of the Zuni tribe. This is a wonderful addition to the subject of Southwest U.S. history.

This is a must have book! The sheer variety of the photograhers and their representative work is stunning. For those who are expecting the run of the mill landscape book, you will be surprised, delighted and constantly fascinated by this book, as there is something to suit everyone's taste. Joel Peter Wittkin's photographs are not to be missed! As well, the articles on each artist are well written and edited, and essential to the appreciation of the artists. The quality of the book with it's hardcover case is among the best I've seen, making it an incredible value. I've ordered several as gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

Finally, a book that shows many of the finest photographers who currently reside in New Mexico and those who have had a major presence in the region. Thomas Barrow, curator of the book and a nationally known photographer, did a splendid job regarding his selections for the book. The quality and size of the images are outstanding. The book is long overdue and once again shows the importance of the art of photography in New Mexico in the genre nation-wide. Some of the photographers featured include Paul Caponigro, William Clift, Mendel Rubinstein, and Joan Myers. Photography: New Mexico is an excellent introduction for newcomers to the important photographers of New Mexico. It will also be a valuable addition to the libraries of professional and amateur photographers alike. Well worth the price!

Living in Las Vegas, my water concious conversion from grass
to drought tolerant plants and landscape had to be well
thought out. It also had to be an efficient, long lasting,
and effective action.
This book helped in all of those areas.

Judith Phillips books are a godsend to those of us who garden in the high desert. She understands our highly varied zones and which plants thrive in each area. The illustrations and codes are very helpful. I am a public librarian and have bought many copies of her three books for our library and to use at home. Rather than hitting your head against the wall and wasting precious water trying to make something grow that does not belong in your area, Judith helps you create a great garden that will thrive and be relatively low maintenance. Her suggestions on plant combinations are particularly useful. The only criticism I have is one that happened at the printers: the pages in the back of Plants for Native Gardens which lists a chart of adaptive plants are not numbered. I highly recommend all three of Phillips' fine books.

Having read the three other books focusing on the carnage at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in 1980 ("The Devil's Butcher Shop", "Descent into Madness" and "The Hate Factory"), Saenz' book offers a much-needed perspective of the horrific event ... the political side.

Saenz effectively gives the reader a birds-eye view of the horrific events unfolding those days in February 1980. From the gruesome, cruel and inhuman behavior occuring behind the prison walls to the dumb-founded ineptitude exhibited by government officials, who were completely helpless and pathetic in their actions prior to, during and following the riot.

You can't finish reading the book without shaking your head in anger ... at the corruption, nepotism, ignorance and arrogance of those in control of the prison system ... from low-level prison personnel to the governor. 33 men lose their lives in a horrific manner and, as usual, the only response from officials is finger-pointing and cover-ups ... only a handful of men responsible for the violence are prosecuted and relatively few lessons were learned by administrators ... it was "business as usual".

Saenz really makes your realize how fragile our prison system truly is and you end up hoping that his book is required reading by the governors of all fifty states.

I have read everything about the Santa Fe prison riot, and many other books about prisons. This is by far the best I have read. Why? Because Dolph Saenz was there, and because he puts effectiveness ahead of ideology. Unlike the politicians and idealogues, Mr. Saenz put his [rear end] on the line to help end the riot peacufully.
The Santa Fe prison riot is one of the most fascinating events in American penal history. Unlike Attica, which involved deaths only in the re-taking of the prison, this involved inmate on inmate and inmate on guard violence throughout the entire seige. I've visited the prison and received a tour by guards who were there. It is truly mind-boggling in the scope of the violence that occured.
My film production company has optioned the rights to Mr. Saenz' life story. As a former policeman in Albuquerque and Latin America, Mr. Saenz has seen many exciting historical events unfold. He has always confronted threats to public safety with bravery, humor and patriotism. This book is his true account of the grisly results of what happens when an apathetic public, opportunistic politicians, and negligent security combine to allow an explosion of epic proportions. Do not for a minute think it won't happen again, if we remain ignorant of the conditions that exist in prisons all across America. Read this book to gain a greater understanding of the tragic miscalculations that are still taking place today.

This is a tale of an incredible journey which helps to explain the passion and durablilty of Jewish families from around the world. It is both inspiring and, at times, chilling.

POMEGRANATE SEEDS. LATIN AMERICAN JEWISH TALES
by Nadia Grosser Nagarajan
Introduction by Ilan Stavens
University of Mexico Press ©2005
Reviewed by Cherie Karo Schwartz
*In full disclosure, I am mentioned in the acknowledgements of this book.

POMEGRANATE SEEDS. LATIN AMERICAN JEWISH TALES is unique and amazing in its scope and depth, uncovering and recovering lost fragments of Latin America's Jewish culture's stories which have almost been forgotten. Taking tiny pomegranate seeds of tales she lovingly gathered in person all over Latin America, and adding tales from the Israel Folktale Archives in Israel, Nadia recreates a whole richly tapestried world. As she states in her introduction,
"I was touched by the generosity with which most of the people opened their hearts to me and shared their memories, anecdotes, and life experiences. I have retold the stories--that at times were only fragments, scraps of real incidents mingled with perhaps some fantasy, or sketchy and detached-- creating a background when necessary so that the tales come to life as distinct entities."
Nadia knows this world. Her family had escaped from Europe to Ecuador during WWII. Nadia speaks fluent Spanish. She is immersed in Jewish folk tales, history, and cultures. She is a consummate researcher, which is also abundantly evident from her beautiful and meaningful first book JEWISH TALES FROM EASTERN EUROPE. And most of all, she is a deep story listener. Upon hearing the stories firsthand, she has woven these story fragments into full evocations of various times and places, people and circumstances.
From this point, Nadia adds a magical ingredient that sets her work above and beyond: her fine, melodic, poetic writing. Her words are at once incisive and evocative; they draw us into the scene, the world, and the spirit of each particular tale.
Take this example: the fanciful beginning of "Icarus the Frog" (from a Brazilian tale from the Israel Folktale Archives in Haifa)
"In the old days when animals were still able to talk, Rana Icarus the frog, looked different from the way she appears today. She was round and fat and,
although small and not very prominent among the other creatures, was pleased
with herself and proud of her intense green coloring...."
Nadia has drawn broadly to gather and retell these tales from many Latin and Caribbean countries. The stories are from Sephardic, Oriental, and Ashkenazic sources, family stories, history, folk tales, personal tales, immigration stories, and more. The reflect the diverse cultural range of this area's relatively small and proud Jewish populations.
Each story is one seed, one piece of the Jewish Latin puzzle, as she says. One of the most intriguing stories is a misty childhood immigration memory from Argentina via Warsaw, "Sea Monsters". Before relating the immigration story, Nadia leaps forward to tell of us of a future time:
"...Years later, when Malvina had already lived in Buenos Aires for a long time, she could never forget Warsaw, the way it used to be, and neither did all the other Polish Jews there who felt the same attachment and had many memories
of the old country."
In the middle of a seemingly realistic family immigration tale, this fantastic image develops, reflecting perhaps the monstrous situation that was growing for the Jews in Europe:
"Looking at the blue, placid surface of the ocean, she should have known that the monsters were figments of her imagination created by the difficulties of her
voyage, yet in her heart she believed they did exist.... Somewhere far down, in the
remote depths of the seas, those mythical creatures were not extinct but in search
of victims, and she had been fortunate enough to escape that ordeal."
This is a book that shines with a brilliance of poetry and purpose, bringing honor to those whose tales have been shared in its pages. It is a treasure for those of Latin descent, lovers of folk tales and folklore, for Klal Israel (all Jews), and for anyone who loves story. Nadia has brought these tales and this many-faceted culture to life for us, to share and learn and retell..... and to remember. Her accomplishment in this important volume is summed up in one of her stories: the ending of "Albertito" (from Buenos Aires):
"Zaideh died at the age of seventy,and his family has missed him terribly since then.His "Albertito Tales"--and there were many of them-- live on, though, and will be told and retold from one generation to another. He might even be listening to the new renditions, assuming, of course, that he is not too busy playing soccer in the heavenly fields, chasing two stubborn cows that will not stay in one place and wait patiently till the game is ended."
May we all listen, read, and remember generation to generation. And may we soon have more tales retold by Nadia Grosser Nagarajan.