New Mexico Books

What was it like for young men, out of work and money, during the Great Depression? Professor Melzer has written a sensitive, very thorough, yet readable, book on the boys who worked the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in New Mexico, 1933-1942. It is obvious that Melzer interviewed many of the CCC boys (many have passed away by 2006), read the New Mexico newspapers, researched in the archives. I especially appreciate his liberal use of quotes from the men themselves, from their letters and the reports they wrote. Highly recommended.

The Compass American Guide series is excellent and I found the guide on New Mexico to be a great resource. New Mexico has a rich history of native peoples and Spanish exploration and colonization. The guide offers a brief but useful history of the area, including the chaotic period of struggle between Mexican and Anglos before statehood.

The book has a separate section on Albuquerque and the surrounding environs; a section on Santa Fe and Taos and then the rest of the book is divided into 5 large geographic areas. This was especially useful on our trip where we spent 3 days in Albuquerque, 3 in Santa Fe/Taos and then spent the rest of the time going to more remote sites to explore this beautiful state.

Albuquerque is a mixture of old and new and the guide helped us navigate in Old Town as well as find our way in the suburbs that move from downtown to the bottom of the Sandia Mountains. Old Town is a shopping delight, especially if you are shopping for Native American jewelry, weavings, masks, and pottery. I found the lay-out of the central square to be very pleasing and central park allowed a place to sit and watch.

We visited the Rio Grande Nature Center which offers shady walks along the river. We also visited the Petroglyph National Monument, which lays on the edge of town, and is a great hike with interesting rock drawings etched into the mountain.

There are two ways to reach the top of the Sandia Crest; either in a gondola lifting you high above the city, or you can drive around the mountain and take the twisty mountain road up through the evergreen forrest to the top. We selected to take our car and the drive around the base of the mountain and through the forrest was wonderful. The views from the top are spectacular, especially at sunset.

We drove the back roads between Albuquerque and Santa Fe which was very interesting. Santa Fe has a tremendous art market and there are 50 or more art galleries that represent nationally known artists. The downtown museum was informative regarding the history of New Mexico. There is a museum complex on the edge of the city however that should not be missed. First there is a museum of colonial Spanish history with beautiful furniture, carvings of saints, weapons, costumes, decorative arts, and paintings. The museum is elegant and serene in design. Second is a museum of folk art collections from around the world. This museum is a must see. There were collections of African American artists, Asian, South American, etc. The collection was extensive with thousands and thousands of items on display (I am not kidding - in one large display room with dolls from every country, there were over 10,000 items all on display). Third is a museum of the Native Americans of New Mexico. The museum was obviously designed and maintained by Native people, the displays were very respectful and educating. The restaurants in Santa Fe are superb.

We moved on to Taos where we visted the homes and studios of many of the artists who moved to New Mexico after World War I. The home of Oscar Blumenschien was built 250 years ago and the home contains many of his works. The Fechen museum was incredible containing many of his paintings and displaying the amazing home he built himself, carving doors throughout the home.

We took a side trip to Abiquiu to go to Ghost Ranch. The terrain gradually becomes more and more red as you drive from Santa Fe to Abiquiu. When we arrived at Ghost Ranch, a very polite lady told us that the vast area had been donated to the Presbyterians. When we asked to see Georgia O'Keefe's home,she told us that someone lived there and they did not give directions so as to preserve this person's privacy. She offered us maps to around 15 hiking trails. We hiked the Chimney Rock trial high above the Ghost Ranch valley. The view from atop the mountains was spectacular and worth the drive from Santa Fe.

We drove to the Jemez Muntains and Bandelier National Monument. This is another highlight of New Mexico. One trail in the park will allow you to see the cave dwellings of the early native people. The climb up the long wooden ladders into the shallow caves was great fun. We then decided to take a second hike after lunch and went down to the Rio Grande river, another enjoyable afternoon!

The Fodor guide was excellent, we did not have to buy other guides or books because so much of New Mexico was detailed in the guide. There are many maps, photographs, essays, and travel ideas.

We have visited the Santa Fe area several times over the past 30 years and have recently decided to buy a second home there for my wife's health. We have really enjoyed using Top 10 Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos (Eyewitness) on our trips.

We found the 5th edition of the Compass American Guides: Santa Fe during our last trip, and it added an entirely new dimension to our guide book experience. Written originally by Lawrence W. Cheek and seamlessly updated by Andrew Collins, this volume provides all the normal guidebook information, but also achieves Fordor's objective for the Compass Series: "Evocative text that captures the character of a place."

Cheek/Collins write: "This is not a conventional guidebook to Santa Fe. This is the work of a visiting journalist whose decades-long relationship with the city has flitted among love, fascination, amazement, aggravation, and exasperation. This is a guidebook in which no subject is out of bounds, one in which Santa Feans tell their amazing and preposterous stories about work and art and love and trying to build fences."

Excellent photographs, an excellent bibliography of books, publications, websites and other sources of information, and much, much more. We gained a real depth of understanding from this book, and we are sure we will continue to do so.

Robert C. Ross 2008

the book was in the shape described, and the transaction was very smooth and fast delivery.

Connecting Lines: New Poetry from Mexico is an anthology of contemporary poetry by a variety of Mexican authors. Each poem is presented in its original Spanish and in English translation, and cover a broad variety of themes in this compilation ideal for classroom study or private reading. Authors represented include Elsa Cross, Francisco Hernandez, Jose Luis Rivas, Alberto Blanco, and many more. Approximately four to six of each author's brief poems are showcased in this eclectic anthology that reflects the energetic spirit of Mexican poetry. "Dispersion": I rip off this Persian robe / and lots petals fly / around the room. // Nevertheless, the fallen colors, / my naked body, / shivering, / reminds me of dispersion. // The stars / pierce with anise the dark sky. / I see myself melt away in God's abyss / and not in your arms.

I have read this book and it is a diary of a woman who discovers herself while also becoming the first woman to complete this trek. She is an amazing spirit and everyone who meets her falls completely in love with that spirit. She is an inspiration to all who ever doubt themselves, to let go of the bad thoughts and go with the good in you and you shall succeed. Long story short ----- Worth the read.

Leo Mendes is a peddler who decides to come to the sleepy New Mexican village of Don Pedro and open a store. Patient, kind, trusting, and fair, he's slowly accepted by the community, especially by Padre Orlando, the local priest, and Don Augustin Vierra, the area's richest land owner. He falls in love with Vierra's impetuous and vibrant daughter, Magdalena, 24 years his junior. Mendes is not Catholic, and against everyone's wishes, they marry outside the Church. Everything is great until the young and ambitious Robert Coppinger shows up and steals the heart of Magdalena. The introspective and retiring Mendes is at a crossroads: should he fight for Magdalena or let her go? Struck by a quote from a Talmud his father had given him ("He who destroys one person has dealt a blow at the universe and he who makes life livable for one person has sustained the whole world"), and to Magdalena's disbelief and disappointment, he lets her go.

Fergusson relates his story with a strength of writing often found only in the best myths or folktales. Although the characters are not merely types (they are too infused with passions and emotions for that), they do take on universal forms that define their personalities. Fergusson's writing sweeps the reader along, and I found it difficult to put the book down until I finished reading the whole thing. One might feel cheated at the end by Mendes's decision, but it suits his personality and isn't totally far-fetched. It's Fergusson's tender rendering of it, and the whole book, that makes reading the story such a pleasure.

Very explanitory. Highly recomended for Mexican cooking.

Johnson has obviously used solid research in his narrative. In fact he recommends several other sources, a couple of which are out of print. The book is clearly not revisionist. Rather it seems to provide a balanced perspective on both the Spanish and Aztec beliefs, personalities and cultures. The attention to detail is exceptional, while providing a narrative which flows well and is very interesting.

I especially loved this book because two of the cowboys featured are my cousin, Randy Biebelle and his son, Brandon.