New Mexico Books

This is an excellent book. I am an art teacher who uses this book to help children appreciate other cultures and their traditions. I use the book for inspiring children when we do a clay project. I do not have the children copy the clay figures, but come up with ideas of their own. The media specialist at my school also uses it to encourage children to create their own stories.

Anyone looking for information on primative burials in the southwest knows how hard this information is to come by. I was glad to see an actual archaeological dig written up so well. The pictures are equally interesting in showing positions of the bodies and possibly the significance of such. Although the dig site is in New Mexico and occupied in the 1300's it was especially interesting to see that in one burial, there was a "cache" of points that were of Texas origin AND from the Archaic time frame. The book also includes tons of charts and graphs for the very serious archaeologists out there.

An important aspect to this catalog is the excellent photography by Justin Kerr. Many of the sculptures have not been previously published - and for those that have - references are provided. Outstanding descriptions of each work include dimensions, construction techniques, etc. "Heritage of Power" is a welcome addition to the few books that focus on the ceramic art of West Mexico, since the Von Winning publications of the 1970s. The author interprets the ceramic sculptures using the latest archaeological findings on kinship and ancestor worship in ancient West Mexico. The combination of insightful text and the Justin Kerr photography makes this book a worthwhile addition to anyone working in Mexican prehistory.

The author has done a great job of researching the Penitente Brotherhood! This little known and misunderstood group of religious men have been malinged and misrepresented by many previous writers. This book finally brings to light the spirituality and deep religious devotion of these followers of the teachings and Passion of Jesus Christ. It also corrects much of the misinformation that has been published by others and gives us a much better understanding of the lay brotherhood. Hispanic women who were also dedicated to emulating Christ and Mary are finally given the credit that they deserve in promoting the traditions, history, culture and heritage of the centuries old religious teachings of the Catholic Church. Any reader that wishes to have first hand knowledge of Hispanic culture stemming from Spain and which was carried to the Americas by the settlers and which was concentrated in New Mexico should read this book which also includes the beautiful religious hymns or religious poetry of the area.

In the Southwest, water rights are a war zone; the film "Chinatown" (with Jack Nicholson), of course, showed that the fight could even be the background for fictional excitement. This work of legal and social history is hardly a whodunit, yet the real-life battle it surveys possesses a vivid life nevertheless, in the author's highly readable prose. Hall is a law professor, so it's not surprising that he's done plenty of homework, and has mastered the facts of the story he tells. But he also writes with a humorous touch--appropriately dry (what else?)--and knows how to keep things personal too; he weaves his own experiences (as lawyer, writer, and also gardener and weekend farmer) into the story. As I write (spring, 2002), water shortages may be turning from a regional into a national phenomenon. Even if that danger abates soon, though, we can't take any environmental issues for granted any more, so a book like this has cautionary value too. Water: Gotta have it. Maybe optimists can happily relax if a glass is half-full, but we all need to apply higher standards of worry, when it's a matter of reservoirs. And the book's a wonderful read, too.

I originally bought this book as a gift for my mother. She then requested additional copies for her friends. This book was helpful for her and her friends in figuring out what could grow in the high altitude areas of New Mexico.

Being interested in the history of automotive transportation and intrigued by the colorful and well-designed cover of this book, I was not disappointed when I read it. It is a well-thoughtout and fascinating story of one of the most well-known highways in U.S. history. I think that the postcards and author's photographs, illustrating parts of this highway and structures along it, also contribute greatly to an understanding of Route 66, both past and present.

Terrific book with great photography. Really gives a sense of the place. My husband and I grew up in New Mexico and know many of these locations first hand. Seeing the pictures made me feel right at home. New Mexico has a varied past in which these churches have played an integral part. The author has provided an interesting text to give everyone a sense of that history.

I was born in Gallup NM, and am related to many of the people in this book, including the Carolyn Volpe. I found many interesting facts about my family and friends of my family that I have heard about for years. Most of those people are gone now, so I found this book very good in providing information for events that I have no one to ask about. I truley enjoyed this book and think Carolyn did a excellent job.

My relatives are listed in this book. It was interesting seeing what they accomlished after coming to America