Southwest Books

Ms. James's book entitled, "The Mud Family" is a very heartwarming and culturally sound book. I am an elementary school teacher. I read "The Mud Family" to my second graders every year in November when we study Native American traditions. I have several copies of this book so that my students can read it together in small groups or pairs. It's a wonderful read-aloud, too!

My Southwest Studies class required this text, and I have to say that I think it is great. It is a collection of poems, interviews, and essays, written by and about the people who call this wonderful place home. It is easy to read and very infomative- a wonderful journey to the Southwest.

Murder on the Pier is a masterpiece of provocative engaging characters. Tension builds as it breaks through barriers of race and sexual preference, reveals characters engulfed in feelings of apprehension, anxiety and insecurity, brimming with smart dialogue. Smartly paced, departs from conventional thrillers with touches of internal thought, humor, intrigue, plot twists. Characters stay in your mind after closing the book.

Former New Mexico state historian Robert J. Torrez presents Myth of the Hanging Tree: Stories of Crime and Punishment in Territorial New Mexico, a close study of various criminal cases that tell of the often gruesome role that legal hangings and lynching's had in enacting frontier justice. In these violent episodes lie an indelible legacy influencing America's modern perception of the Old West. Myth of the Hanging Tree sorts truth from fiction. Illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, Myth of the Hanging Tree is a singularly fascinating addition to crime history reference shelves and collections.

Barbara Kramer writes a much needed biography of Nampeyo, the Tewa potter. This book is a comprehensive look at Nampeyo's life, as both a member of the Hopi/Tewa nation, and as a seminal artist. Kramer also succesfully challenges much of the conventional wisdom surrounding Nampeyo's life and work, some of which has persisted for almost a century.

While setting the context in which Nampeyo lived and worked, Kramer also draws a vivid picture of life in the Hopi/Tewa villages at the close of the 19th Century. Beset by archeologists, ethnographers, and missionaries, the Hopis attempted to maintain a way of life and culture that had sustained them for generations.

Kramer writes in a clear, accessible style, and makes liberal use of quotes and other references from Nampeyo's extended family. For anyone interested in the history and development of 20th Century Hopi pottery, this book is a must read.

Nashville Tales starts from the town's exciting beginnings from the people Nashville, Davidson County is named for, to the earliest pioneers dramatic stories, on into the 20th C. A natural story teller, Louise Davis wrote the best story on Revolutionary War General, William Lee Davidson, I've ever read! (I'm a fan of this hero). She also brings to life the times and heroics of the well-known and lesser known people that have shaped this town, the state and our country! Couldn't put it down. TN history lovers will find renewed spark as she reveals how a tiny log cabin community grew into the huge city today. Can't ever part from it.

this is a definitive, superb work on native american music.
louis w ballard is the most prominent figure in native american art music of today. composer and educator, pupil of darius milhaud. You will find here 2 cds with a lot of original songs that Ballard, like Bartok did in Europe, have recorded through US reservations. If you want to know more about the true indian music - and not the commercial version of it - you must read this book!!

Toss out all those stuffy academic books. Forget all that statistical stuff. Imagine living the life. This small book contains everything from how to count in Tewa, to recipes for Tewa breakfast, to becoming a storyteller.

We are also treated to may great photos from historical to contemporary life of Native Americans of the southwest.

Geared for the 9 to 12 year old set this has something for everyone.

The author Tito Naranjo is a Pueblo sculptor, teacher, and writer, who spent most of his life on Santa Clara Pueblo.

Toss out all those stuffy academic books. Forget all that statistical stuff. Imagine living the life. This small book contains everything from how to count in Tewa, to recipes for Tewa breakfast, to becoming a storyteller.

We are also treated to may great photos from historical to contemporary life of Native Americans of the southwest.

Geared for the 9 to 12 year old set this has something for everyone.

The author Tito Naranjo is a Pueblo sculptor, teacher, and writer, who spent most of his life on Santa Clara Pueblo.

Being interested in Native American History and Culture, a while ago I had purchased the book "In the Beginning, The Navajo Genesis," which attempted to explain the Navajo Belief System through comparative analysis with regard to Christianity and Judiasm. The book written in academic terms was well written but failed to totally explain (as I said in my review) the entire system in plain English (sans fancy academia terminology). Much of the book I did understand but it made me hunt for a clearer more thorough explanation to make sure I did not misinterpet anything through translation.
"Navaho Symbols of Healing: A Jungian Exploration of Ritual, Image, and Medice" by Donald Sanders, MD does just that. With a BS in Psychology, I now had a book that explored the Culture/Belief System in terminology that made sense. After reading this book, the reader gains a better understanding of the Navaho system, and culture. As a result, the reader cannot help but admire them for their tremendous psychic abilities, strong physical constitution, and tremendous contribution they have given humanity through homeopathic medicine. This book explains why and how they feel so connected to the earth. It reveals some of the ceremonies, songs and prayers said by Natsani Tso, Medicine Man which are truly enlightening. It does also refer back to information given in "In the Beginning, A Navajo Genesis" which was helpful. What surprises me most is how closely connected their belief system is to Plato's philosophies. If anyone reads Plato's Symposium, they will see (by substituting symbols of Navaho for his or your own) how similiar the systems are, and how connected all of us are in our beliefs.
Reading Navaho Symbols of Healing enables the reader to gain a new perspective on and command a tremendous respect for the Native American