Arizona Books

"Four Masterworks of American Indian Literature" has been edited, with commentaries and new translations, by John Bierhorst. The book contains a general foreword and four sections: "Quetzalcoatl: an Aztec Hero Myth"; "The Ritual of Condolence: An Iroquois Ceremonial"; "Cuceb: A Maya Prophecy"; and "The Night Chant: A Navajo Ceremonial." Each of the four sections contains primary texts translated into English, an individual introduction, extensive commentary following the text, a map, and a substantial bibliography.

This book is a superb resource for scholars, students, and people with a general interest in the native cultures of the Americas. The primary texts and supplemental materials offer a rich window into these cultures. These texts are not easy reading; I assigned parts of the Quetzalcoatl narratives to a college literature class I taught, and some of the students had trouble understanding the material. But for the attentive reader, "Four Masterworks" is a very rewarding volume. As a companion text, I recommend "Coming to Light: Contemporary Translations of the Native Literatures of North America," edited by Brian Swann.

An excellent portrait of the great Mexican sculptor Zuniga. The first part of the book is a series of rare interviews published for the first time where he discusses society, culture, his life and art. In the second part the author offers his analysis of the sculptors work. The book is filled with many tresures, such as unfinished pieces, prints of projects that were destroyed and over 100 black and white photographs. His unique style that captures the essence of Mexico's mestizo heritage is portrayed throughout. An essential book for anyone interested in this masters works who has influenced countless artists. An easy read that is visually delightful as well.

All you ever wanted to know about the Catalina Mountains and the people who braved them. Bowden has a way with words to capture your interests--even through the historical factual info. Aldo would be proud of him

This book is fun! And interesting!
Shocking how fast a dance can travel.
If you like music and dance, you'll love this book.

In November 1864 in Colorado Territory a village of Cheyenne and Arapaho was savagely assaulted by the Colorado Volunteers under the leadership of the Reverend Colonel Chivington. Ortiz calls to mind this event in prose, and then offers on the facing page poetry of hope and renewal. That is how this remarkable book begins. Throughout the book, the author (one of the best American poets writing today) pairs poems on one page with historical vignettes, personal notes, and political comments on the facing page. The book moves through alcohol treatment in VA hospitals, American mythology that undergirds a sense of mission, episodes in Indian-white relations, and many other such topics. In this work Ortiz builds toward a vision of America that is political committed, spiritually centered, and humanizing. He expresses this vision in full knowledge and acceptance of the awful truths of patterns of mistreatment and oppression. Unlike so much of the patriotism that is rooted in a "my country right or wrong" attitude, Ortiz writes as an Acoma Pueblo Indian and US citizen who loves this country deeply for what it can be.

I came to this book a number of years ago full of anger and cynicism developing as a result of learning the history that had been suppressed from the school curriculum. I had always been deeply patriotic, but was finding the truth might shatter that. Ortiz offered more evidence of the lies, but placed these facts in a framework of a dream "of love and compassion and knowledge" (96). No book has done more for the development of my sense of myself as a white American. From my point of view this book is simply the best book in print (and it was out of print for several years).

I totally feel engaged by Alarcon's poems. I thank him for including poems about social issues and for including some many poems in nahuatl, a language I love although I do not speak it. All the poems are bilingual and were translated into English by the author.

This is a beautiful book portraying the lives of people, places, and situations. The poems written by Francisco Alarcon are exquisite, evocative and full of passion. I loved the poems in nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. My favorite poem is called: "Mexican is not a noun" which is a poem dedicated to "students and faculty professors who were arrested for showing solidarity with two thousand cannery workers who were mostly women ". "Mexican is not a noun or an adjective, Mexican is a life long low-paying job, a check mark on a welfare police form, more than a word a nail in the soul but it hurts, it points, it dreams, it offends, it cries, it moves, it strikes, it burns, just like a verb".


This is a phenomenal book for class discussion, for working in small groups and as a piece of literature that should be present in very house.

This was an excellent guide for people who have never been to Arizona. You can't get lost with it. The way it's organized makes it easy to read. You can go directly to the section you need without wasting time flipping the pages.

K.C. Kartchner was my grandfather, and I barely knew him when he passed away in 1970, when I was eleven years old. However, this book, K.C.'s unfinished memoir, paints a vivid picture of his youth, as well as the historical, religious, and geographical context whence he sprung. His early career as an intinerant fiddler, which began around the time his father was serving a Mormon mission (during a crucial period in K.C.'s life when he sorely needed fatherly guidance), made him a sort of "rock musician" of his day. In that framework, it is much easier to understand some of the later events of his life. In any case, he had some interesting adventures.

A collection of articles about early Pima County citizens of Mexican or Latino descent. Subjects and authors include:

Teodoro Ramirez, Early Citizen of Tucson
By James E. Officer and Henry F. Dobyns

Peacock in the Parlor: Tucson's Mexican Elite
by Thomas E. Sheridan

Carlos I. Velasco
by Manuel G. Gonzales

From Luisa Espinel to Lalo Guerrero:
Tucson's Mexican Musicians Before World War II
by Thomas E. Sheridan and Joseph Noriega

A wonderful tome by Janice Emily Bowers. These essays combine gardening, ecology and self reflection with a wonderful use of vocabulary. Thoroughly enjoyable; definitely not a one-read book!