New Mexico Books

"Dorothy Cave uses her extensive experience and travel of New Mexico to show the world the beauty she has discovered. She skillfully spins a story rich with cultural and linguistic details. She expertly captures the innocence of small town life. Cave brings Descano alive with her vivid description of its residents and their customers. By the end of the novel, the reader dreams of giving up the hustle and bustle of today's world and going back to 'that forgotten pocket of God's overall,' where nothing is too important and everything can wait until manana."

Dorothy Cave has given us an unexpected gem, a work that radiates with a love of the blended cultures of the remote villages of Northern New Mexico. In "Mountains of the Blue Stone", we experience life as seen by an Anglo man, Drake, as he discards the trapping of his own life in hopes of finding his true self. Drake becomes "Carlos" and discovers the roots of his own soul, and in so doing, finds that life lived simply, near to the old gods of the earth, is life at its best. Ms. Cave demonstrates considerable talent as a mature writer who knows and cares deeply about her subjects. I look forward to her next work.

If you enjoyed Rudolfo Anaya's "Bless Me, Ultima", you will treasure this work.

I recently lived in El Paso and traveled throughout New Mexico. And Dorthory Cave's novel, Mountains of the Blue Stone, captures the land, the people, and the intense mystical spiritual realism of New Mexico. Through the eyes of Drake Cavanaugh, a near burntout "modern man," we view the book's main characters: the people of the land who are still giving meaning and birth to the spiritual.

The book is a journey of the soul, a trip up one of the many paths of the mountain to meaning. "But first we have to find the mountain!" Cave has found the mountain, and she and Drake happily allow us to travel with them and the proud and beautiful people of the "Land of Enchantment."

You are going to love this book. I am an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and my wife is a school teacher. We have both read this book and found our way up the mountain enlightened. Perhaps you will too.

I agree with both previous reviews. Cannot really add anything other than it was completely enjoyable to read and certainly sheds new light on many aspects of how we have viewed and are now viewing the Maya and their spectacular civilzation...so nice toknow that the longer the culture existed the better off the lot of the common people.

There are many books written on the subject of the Maya civilization. What sets

Jeremy Sabloff's book apart from the rest is how he approaches the subject. He refers

to his book as a story, and provides his reader with a very concise overview of the Maya

civilization. The clarity of his text enhances the usefulness of the book, which in turn

broadens the audience from anthropology students to anyone interested in learning

about the Maya. Sabloff sets out his `story' to combine history, theory, methods and

fieldwork and best describes the text in his own preface, an "attempt to explain how

early archaeologists arrived at the `traditional model' of ancient Maya civilization that

was popular in the first half of the century and how fieldwork has given birth to new

discoveries of the Maya." (Sabloff, preface). The text is broken down into six chapters

and in each chapter he uses subheadings to organize his interpretation of the

information and to reveal an accurate knowledge of Maya studies.

Using Maya archaeology as an extended study, Sabloff uses relevant sites

during specific time periods as case studies to examine the area he wishes to describe

to his reader.

The first chapter is entitled `Growth of Modern Scientific Archaeology',almost

beginning were the preface left on in terms of what Sabloff views as the `traditional

model' of early Maya archaeology. This begins with the idea of what stream of

questions the archaeologist should ask. In the `traditional model', Sabloff shows that

the `what' and `where' questions of the past are no longer as relevant as the newly

replaced `why' and `how' shift. It is in this chapter that Sabloff introduces the first of

many different scholars to emphasize each section. Schiffer and Binford are discussed

as well as one of their more popular methodological issues of the past, linked cultural

activities.

The next two chapters give the reader a contrast with the `traditional model' of

ancient civilization and new views of the classic period. With these topics, Sabloff

refers to the findings of Morley and Thompson in chapter two and Willey and

Proskouriakoff in the following section. The way he introduces these scholars is one of

respect. Sabloff does not bash the early ideas of archaeologists (knowing now that the

information is not thorough), he describes their work prior to the archaeological

revolution as successful and that many of their ideas were not wrong, just not

developed enough. With regards to the later of the four scholars, Sabloff explains

Proskouriakoff's remarkable findings from the Usumacinta River sites of Piedras and

Yaxchilan and the breakthrough idea that Maya texts record history. What Sabloff

seems to stress is that with each decade, the scholars and the information they have

gathered help the next generation of archaeologists in their quest to better understand

Maya civilization.

Chapter four evaluates new views of the Pre-classic and Post-classic period.

Sabloff introduces specific case studies such as the areas of Chichen Itza and

Cozumel. By focusing in on these areas, Sabloff is able to convey to his reader an

understanding of what archaeology can accomplish.

The remaining two chapters analyze the emergence of a new model and takes a

look at archaeology under this new modern world. Sabloff highlights the scholars

Webster and Gonlin and their research on the emergence of more distant rural

areas among the Maya subareas.

With each chapter, Sabloff gives the reader a new finding in terms of Maya

civilization. He frequently looks for parallels between ourselves and the Maya which

make this civilization even more real and exciting to the reader. The `story' concludes

with Sabloff asking questions to the reader, and having read the book, the questions

encompass so much information in only a few lines. Sabloff leaves the reader thinking

as well as feeling confident enough to ponder the questions himself.

After the final word has been read, there are ten pages of further readings listed

by chapter, which include everyone mentioned in the book and then some.

`The New Archaeology and the Ancient Maya' is lavishly illustrated with

photographs, site plans and maps all of which are in colour. All of these visual aids in

conjunction with the accurate read, help to summerize this complicated subject with

success. Sabloff hits his target perfectly with how he feels this story should be told,

his story is "to understand the development of a past culture, not find lost arks".

I found this book very informative. It demonstrates how much archaeology and our knowledge of the Maya has changed since the Mayan ruins were first 'discovered' in the 19th century.

The cultural biases of the early archaeoligts now explain many of the 'facts' put forward in early books on this subject. Acutally many of these 'facts' were just guesses, but because they were put forward by prominent people they were taken on face value. Much of the work, especially since the 1960's has disproved or changed out of recognition these early 'facts'.

The last overview book on the Maya I read had them as peace loving people in lovely cities in the jungle, who just "gave it all up for no decent reason". This book completly changed my view on that. It made me realise on how slim a foundation many of the earlier works lay.

I'd reccomend this book to anybody who wants to know how much archaeology has changed - and why what these people have discovered is not only in the past, but also has a bearing on us today..

We had bought a couple of other guide books and this was by far a life saver for us on eating in New Mexico. The other books led us to expensive restaurants that left us unimpressed. New Mexico Chow hit the "good New Mexico cookin". Some of the places were out of the way but certainly worth the drive. We threw the other guides away after a couple of days and used New Mexico Chow for the rest of our trip. We were not dissappointed. I just wish this guy had chow books out for more areas.

New Mexico Chow: Restaurants For The Rest Of Us by Albuquerque-based food writer and chef Scott Sharot is a unique guide to a diversity of unique and sometime unexpected New Mexico dining establishments. While there are four-diamond restaurants with international reputations listed, there are also others which are Short's favorite and time-tested places that aren't really restaurants by traditional definition. Among them is a blue trailer that can be found (sometimes) parked on the side of the road near Santa Fe. Others are modest storefront establishments that double as ethnic food markets. Featuring almost one hundred restaurants (by what ever definition), New Mexico Chow showcases Sharot's short, succinct, energetic reviews delivered with wit, wisdom and humor. Sharot doesn't rate the different and differing restaurants other to guarantee that each and ever one of his selections offers "darn good chow" at a darn good price. If you are planning to eat out anywhere in New Mexico, then secure yourself a copy of Scott Sharot's New Mexico Chow!

This was my first visit to New Mexico. I traveled extensively and I could not imagine being on the road without this book. It was just as essential to me as a highway map.
Unlike other Restaurant guides , this book gives unique comments by the author about each restaurant as well his top menu picks , they helped me make the restaurant selection process effortless.
The book is wery well written and gives critical information that helps you select where to eat . I have not found any other restaurant guide as easy and enjoyable to use . Typical information given includes items like: house specialties ,vegetarian options,ambiance,type of service ,credit cards , getting there and many many other pertinent information.The author detailed comments are invaluable and concisely written .
As a visitor to New Mexico I enjoyed great food thanks to this guide . You know what to expect before you walk in the restaurant .I highly recommend this Book

I have scads of gardening books. When I moved South from Albuquerque and changed zones, I bought a half-dozen more.

As I slowly decorate my new desert I find myself constantly going to this one...rather than the giant tomes that I purchased.

Why? Because Ms. Phillips tells you how to grow the stuff. And, she's culled the zillions of plants down to the best...the easiest...the most forgiving. She tells you why, gives you the best cultivars, suggests companion plants. And, again, tells you why.

Every time I ignore her advice, I'm sorry that I did.

Such a great resource for plants and how to take care of them. This is my second copy, since my first has gotten a little ragged around the edges.
Also, eazy to use....

Great pictures and great format. There is a picture of the plant along with all information about the plant on the same page, no need to search to match the plant with its picture.

After book one, the author fast forwards a few decades and introduces the adult children of the first book. It is done very well, with enough of the familiar to make the reader comfortable, enough new to keep interest and more than enough intrigue for me!

There are, again, four short books in one. The first, The Heart's Calling, is Pamela's story. She is a rebellious young woman who loves the shady Brady. Her parents attempt to stop this destined to fail romance and send her away to live with her grandmother. While there, sulking and hoping to run away, she is suddenly abducted, but not by the man she hopes has come for her. Threading the story back to book one, the reader immediately knows why the kidnapping happened and who it was intended to save. However, I am not sure who was the more surprised, the kidnapper or the victim!

Forever Yours follows, with 23 yr. old independent, stubborn Daughtry Lucas trying to escape the smothering she perceives she is getting from her father, Garrett. As a remedy, she secretly answers a mail order bride ad. She decides to suddenly run away to accomplish her "freedom" all the while having no idea that even as she is using Nicholas Dawson, he is using her as well! He is her ticket to freedom from her home and father, and he, himself has a less than open and fair agenda.

In number three, Angeline is chasing the cause of womens' right
to vote. She meets and follows a strong but deceptive Willa and an even more dastardly Douglas on the circuit for suffrage. She is very young, headstrong and stubborn but finds herself in grave danger and finally realizes the value of an old childhood friendship. But does she realize this just a bit too late?

The last story takes place a little later still - Come Away My Love. Joelle Dawson plans to marry the handsome pilot son of the local town doctor, Daniel Monroe. Howver, while they are engaged, John's horrible accident threatens their relationshop and redirects their lives. When John finds himself paralyzed, Joelle has some serious decisions to make. John tries to make her hate him for the less than whole man he has become. She, on the other hand makes his recovery her purpose in life. In the small Texas town of his rehab, a horrible, violent accident takes its toll on Joelle. This time, it's not only physical, it is mentally, emotionally and sexually destructive. How do these two young Christians in love survive the incredible odds of ever finding happiness? This last story was my favorite of them all. You will be surprised with the ending of this wonderful Tracie Peterson duo set in the young New Mexico wilderness.

If I could have given this book a thousand stars, I would have. I would like to see more like this from Tracie.

In "The Heart's Calling" Pamela thinks she is in love with a man back in Kansas City whom her parents disapprove of and believe is only after her money. When Pamela learns of the Dawson's plans on going to Colorado she invites herself along. Going for a midnight walk she finds herself kidnapped, believing it is her love come to rescue her she offers no resistance. Much to her shock, she finds out that it isn't her love, but a complete stranger named Jim. Jim has a surprise in store to, he thought he was kidnapping Zandy.
On his way back to bring her home, they are set upon by another set of kidnappers. They leave Jim for dead and take Pamela for ransom. In all this turmoil both Jim and Pamela grow up enough to realize who they really love.

In "Forever Yours" Daughtry Lucas runs away from home when her father and brothers become to overbearing. She sees an advertisement for a bride in the paper and she writes to him. When he writes back she is quite taken by the way he signs his letter. Forever Yours. In one last attempt to reason with her father, he refuses to back off, so she leaves that night to become Mrs. Nicholas Dawson. They are married by proxy and she arrives at her new home, but Nicholas is nowhere to be seen. She spends days cleaning the house and falling more and more in love with her husband, who she has yet to meet. When Nicholas finally arrives he realizes how much God has blessed him with this little wife of his. Both hide a secret from each other, one is hiding from her father, the other from a group of outlaws. As they face each of there pasts their relationship grows, as does their love.

"Angel's Cause" is all about a strong minded girl who always has a certain cause. This time she's taken up the women's suffrage movement. She runs from home to join her new political friends and her parents send Gavin Lucas out to fetch her home. Gavin becomes more and more worried about her as he overhears conversations of her so-called friends. He then comes to her rescue when she needs him the most.

and finally in "Come Away My Love" Joelle and John plan to be married until John is in a plane crash and is in danger of never walking again. Joelle tells him that it doesn't matter and that she can support them both. But he thinks if he can't support her like a proper husband then she must find someone else. Joelle is determined and she slowly brings him around, until tragedy strikes again. When renegades attack to kill all soldiers, Joelle and John's mother try to hide him and Joelle goes out to try and hold them off. When all is clear, and John's mother goes out to find Joelle, she meets with a horrible sight. Feeling used and unclean, Joelle refuses to see John, thinking she is no longer worthy of him. He begs her not to do this to herself but when she finds she is with child she runs away. John begins to learn to walk again with one thought on his mind, to go and bring Joelle, his only love, home . . .

New Mexico Sunset is a wonderful set of stories. I've read them all a countless amount of times. Tracie Peterson is a marvel in the way she intertwines faith and life so there is no longer a difference, but they become one and the same.

We all experience those dark nights of the soul. A sure cure is to follow author and photographer Christina Nealson on her pilgrimages to out of the way places in the state Georgia O'Keeffe called "the near faraway." As I accompanied Nealson on her spiritual journeys, I felt the strong, luminous presence of artists and writers like O'Keeffe and D.H. Lawrence. Nealson makes New Mexico seem "near" enough, but she never treats a sacred site in a way that robs it of its "faraway" feeling. She also shows a sure touch in her moving and respectful renderings of Hispanic religious and cultural practices. Well worth the trip!

I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I have ever had. It certainly changed me forever...something stood still in my soul, and I started to attend. ~D.H. Lawrence

Of all the places I've visited in America, New Mexico is where I felt closest to the earth. The heat radiating from the earth as you walk free and barefoot contrasts with a sudden hailstorm where you have to find shelter.

Christina Nealson delves into this land of mystery and intrigues with her stories of places with great cultural significance. If you are a fan of D.H. Lawrence's writing, then you may want to visit the D.H. Lawrence Memorial in San Cristobal. Apparently Lawrence's ashes are in the walls of the shrine because his wife Frieda threw them into the concrete mix.

Each listing has detailed information:

Location
Description
Spiritual Significance
Solitude Rating
How to get there
Accessibility from highway
Facilities
Fee Area

There are 111 full-color photographs, 6 maps of New Mexico regions and color-coded tabs on the pages for easy reference. There is a list of Native American Feast Days and a Historical Time Line of New Mexico.

Picturesque churches, mineral spring resorts, tree shrines, white deserts, petroglyph sites, snowy mountains and Navajo hogans make this land a choice location for spiritual renewal. If you are planning a trip to New Mexico, then this guide will give you ideas for day trips and places to stay. The solitude ratings are helpful if you are looking for quiet locations.

Places I thought looked fascinating and a few quotes from this book:

Monastery of Christ in the Desert: "How long has it been since you've heard live Gregorian Chant?

White Sands National Monument, Alkali Flat Trail: "My brain said snow, snow, until I stepped from my air-conditioned car into the piercing heat and the immensity of a million great dunes."

Casitas de Gila: "A short walk down the bluff puts you next to the stream, where a hammock invites you to dawdle."

Of all the books I've read about traveling, this one makes me wish I was a travel writer, wandering through untamed lands. Christina Nealson's writing style is comforting and her knowledge of this area shows her love of travel and her deep appreciation for the need to find a sacred sanctuary where you can relax and heal.

~The Rebecca Review

This book made me want to get in my car and drive straight to New Mexico! Every page inspired me to visit yet another awesome, beautiful site. Not just the petroglyphs, but White Sands, and the Miraculous Tortilla Shrine! The descriptions of the sites and the fascinating historical tidbits kindled my desire to go New Mexico and see it all for myself. Not only am I motivated to travel to all these locations, I feel I'll approach them and even my home, with a renewed sense of reverence for the beauty all around me, after reading Nealson's inspired prose.

Stephen Mertz has written a great story and I could not put it down until I finished it! The story is suspenseful, fast moving, main characters likable, and he used a theme of romance, suspense, and the mystical, which really works. I do hope we have another book soon from Mertz. An enjoyable read!

Stephen Mertz has written a fast-paced, exciting novel. Robin Curtis and her son Paul move from Chicago to the small town of Devil Creek, New Mexico, so that Robin can escape from a bad marriage. Naturally, Devil Creek harbors all sorts of dark secrets despite its idyllic appearance. The plot edges over into Dean Koontz territory at times, and Mertz's sure-handed writing keeps things popping. This is a very entertaining book. Highly recommended.

This excellent book is both a mystery and a good character study of the two principal figures in the story. Set in the beautiful Southwestern desert, Mertz writes with both economy and a depth of description that leaves the reader fully immersed in the story. It literally was a book that was hard to put down and kept me up late a few nights, unable to stop at the end of the chapter. With diabolical skill gleaned from years of polishing his craft, Mertz leaves each chapter with a hold-your-breath cliffhanger scene that caused me to actually want to skip chapters to see what happened, and then backtrack. But of course, as readers, we can't do that! I particularly enjoyed the angle of the main female lead having recently moved to the new town with her 12 year old son. This is a book that has many moving parts and much for readers of all kinds to relate to.

I hope that Dr. Faris will not be put off by me considering this book a masterpiece. It is one of my favorites, the details I'll omit. Very few scholars have grasped the complexity and beauty of Navajo ceremonialism and creation stories as well as the author has in The Nightway (Haile, Matthews, Zolbrod, McNeley). There are small portions of the book which I think some Nightway singers (medicine men) could disagree with but overall it is an excellent resource of information on the most familiar of Navajo ceremonials among non-Navajos. Reading Dr. Faris's text reinforces my convention that good anthropolgoy still exists. His basic postulate that the "knowledges of living authorities of local history concerning the healing arts, that is, Navajo Medicine Men and Women, have knowledge which can be accepted as truths, and are as valid as material remains of the deceased, as interpreted by foreign histories," is refreshing, honest, respectful, and badly needed in so many areas of anthropology.

I hope that Dr. Faris will not be put off by me considering this book a masterpiece. It is one of my favorites, the details I'll omit. Very few scholars have grasped the complexity and beauty of Navajo ceremonialism and creation stories as well as the author has in The Nightway (Haile, Matthews, Zolbrod, McNeley). There are small portions of the book which I think some Nightway singers (medicine men) could disagree with but overall it is an excellent resource of information on the most familiar of Navajo ceremonials among non-Navajos. Reading Dr. Faris's text reinforces my convention that good anthropolgoy still exists. His basic postulate that the "knowledges of living authorities of local history concerning the healing arts, that is, Navajo Medicine Men and Women, have knowledge which can be accepted as truths, and are as valid as material remains of the deceased, as interpreted by foreign histories," is refreshing, honest, respectful, and badly needed in so many areas of anthropology.

I hope that Dr. Faris will not be put off by me considering this book a masterpiece. It is one of my favorites, the details I'll omit. Very few scholars have grasped the complexity and beauty of Navajo ceremonialism and creation stories as well as the author has in The Nightway (Haile, Matthews, Zolbrod, McNeley). There are small portions of the book which I think some Nightway singers (medicine men) could disagree with but overall it is an excellent resource of information on the most familiar of Navajo ceremonials among non-Navajos. Reading Dr. Faris's text reinforces my convention that good anthropolgoy still exists. His basic postulate that the knowledges of living authorities of local history concerning the healing arts, that is, Navajo Medicine Men and Women, have knowledge which can be accepted as truths, and are as valid as material remains of the deceased, as interpreted by foreign histories, is refreshing, honest, respectful, and badly needed in so many areas of anthropology.

Diagnosed with brain cancer. What are you gonna do? Cry? Hide? Rend your clothes and take to your bed? Not Patch Rose. He chose to meet his experience head on, with honesty and humor, and to share it with the rest of us. I chuckled, sighed, shed a tear, and laughed out loud. He says he's an ordinary guy, and I believe him because he shares what are very common experiences. But his talent to bring us in close to share it all with him is extra-ordinary. This is a wonderful read. I'm a physician and have recommended it to my physician friends, patients, and patients' families.

A wonderful recounting of the ups and downs of living with cancer. Amusing and inspiring at the same time. It is neither pollyannish nor fatalistic, showing perhaps a middle way during what many would see as a hopeless time. I would recommend this book to anyone who has trouble in their lives (all of us), not just those with cancer.

UP-FRONT DISCLOSURE: Patch Rose is my brother... but I read him anyway... he's good, so give him a try!


Of the eighteen columns included, I smiled and laughed, nodded knowingly, and experienced blessings sent and received when reading A Woman Like Velma (you'll begin to think that an IMRT radiation machine is a real and powerful person... shades of 2001: A Space Odyssey), Little Missy (on the allure of comforting, but junk, food), Miracles (how Patrick's circle of support worked some), Cookie Crumbling (how Sylvia, Patrick's wife "Cookie," experienced care-taking and giving), 3rd & 10 (a creative account of cancer and recovery narrated by famed sportscasters), and, Two Phone Calls (writing about recovery helps someone clear across the country).

As I finished my brother's humorous and hopeful book I realized he has succeeded in doing what any of us may choose to do in the face of suffering, if we dare.... To make Light of it.

Great book, I read it for a Chicano Studies class but I enjoyed every moment of it. A good memoir for anyone interested in the daily life experiences of Chicanas in the U.S.

Beautifully told story of a young Mexican-American girl growing up in El Paso in the 1940s. Ms. Lopez-Stafford shares her recollections of her barrio and all it's colorful characters.

The author titles her story "A Place in El Paso." Nevertheless, any of the following titles, "A Place in My Heart," "A Place in the Sun," "A Place in my Life," would had been appropriate as well. To the careful reader the story will bloom like a flower in his or her heart and soul.

Even though the characters, the places, and the events are necessary to complete the gestalt of the story, the characters, and the events are not restricted to any particular place or to anyone in particular. It can happen anywhere to anyone.

The careful reader will examine the story "A Place in El Paso" by looking below the surface, below the gestalt of the story in order to reach the nuances of Gloria's coming of age and survival. Moreover, the grammatical structure of the story is, symbolically speaking, a ticket for the reader to shadow, follow, and observe her life, and in doing so experience her innocence and get involved in the vicissitudes in Gloria's existence. The reader will witness and feel not only the tragic sad and heartbreaking moments in her existence, but the events that made her strong to endure the various disappointments and disillusionments while trying to find the right place in her life.

I highly recommend this book whether you are Anglo, Black, Hispanic, and so forth; this story can very well be your story as well.