Mexico Books

This Josefina story blends the joyous with the bittersweet. Like the other books in the series, the book explores the grief that a family has after the death of the mother. That being said, it is not a 'sad' story -- there are happy portions and the ending is full of Christmas cheer. I heartily recommend it.

This is another book in the American Girls series about Josefina Montoya, a ten-year-old girl living in the New Mexico of 1824. In this book, Josefina and her sisters prepare for Christmas, a grand celebration in New Mexico, made all the more special by the towns use of the Christmas altar cloth made by Josefina's late mother. However, when the altar cloth is brought it, they find out that the flood (Josefina Learns a Lesson) damaged the cloth. The girls rally round to fix the cloth...and perhaps fix themselves at the same time.

The final chapter of this wonderful book is a highly informative look at Christmas in New Mexico in 1824. Jean-Paul Tibbles' excellent illustrations complement the story nicely, and add a great deal to the joy of reading this book.

This is a wonderful story, with some excellent lessons. I liked the way the family pulled together, and worked hard towards something beyond themselves. Also, I like how the family's religion is worked into the book in a warm and inspiring way. This is another excellent American Girls book, one that my daughter and I recommend to you.

In this book Josefina gets to be Maria in the Christmas play. She has a happy Christmas.

Josefina and her sisters, Ana, Francisca and Clara are struggling to keep the Christmas alive after Mamå's death. Every year when a girl would turn eight they would recieve the Nina doll. But when Josefina turned 8 they forgot about the tradition since Mama had just died. But this Christmas Josefina is 9 and she wants the doll. But Clara doesn't want to give the doll up since she wants to remember her mother. Then when the doll is lost Josefina just gives up hope but Christmas Eve is always filled with love and surprises.

Josefina Montoya is a nine-year-old girl growing up on her family's rancho near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1824. Mama died last year, and since then, life for Josefina, her father, and her older sisters, Ana, Clara, and Francisca. Even though things have been better since Mama's sister, Tia Dolores, came to help out, the Montoyas still grieve. Josefina feels that celebrating the Christmas traditions will make her miss Mama more - but they bring her peace and happiness. And one special night gives Josefina courage and hope for the future, and brings Josefina an unexpected gift. This book was very good and I learned a lot about the traditions of Mexican families living on the Southwest frontier in the 1820s.

This is one of the most user friendly information packed guides on the Maya Route I have found! the 3D style maps give a good indication of the kind of territory and the transport networks in the region.

I coupled this with Footprint's Central America and Mexico Handbook and lonely Planet's Guatemala, Belize and Yukatan guide and I reckon I am set! The other 10 or so guides will be relegated to the bookshelf or garbage!!

I love this book. Lots of wonderful pictures, history, and explanations of the Maya, their culture, the ruins, etc. Even if you don't plan a trip to the area, it is a beautiful book to look at.

I used this guide in 1998 while touring the Yucatan and its fantastic pyramids. While preparing for a spring trip to Guatemala, I re-discovered this guide and will use it throughout the Maya Highland areas of Guatemala. In addition, I use portions of this guide to teach my freshman-level anthropology students about Maya Traje. If you are a traveler and not a tourist, this is the guide for you! Of all of the guides I have used for Southern Mexico and Guatemala, this is the best.

This wonderfully illustrated portable guide is a wealth of information not normally seen in the regular travel guides. Such information as the geography, animals, different ethnic groups within the Maya, how the commuinities are structrured, festivals, musical instruments, furniture, food, and alot more. The format for the guide is 2 or more pages on each topic, lots of drawings, or paintings, or photos (new and old). The book uses lots of colour, is fascinating to go through even after you have read it. It has some helpful tourist information as to hotels, shops, restaurants, but is not a primary source for booking reservations information. If you have any interest in this area or these people, this is a great book to have for a really good price. It is a treat to look at.

Lots of informative text and splendid pictures make this portable guide well worth its relatively modest price. The book deals with almost every aspect of both ancient and modern-day Maya life, as well as with practical travel information. I have been through La Ruta Maya on five different trips and am a fan of travel literature on Central America, but I still learned many new things from this book, especially about present-day Maya practices. There are a few typos, but still, it's perfect for actual or armchair travel to La Ruta Maya.

este libro lo recomiendo muchísimo, me encanto la forma en que el autor te lleva conociendo las calles de polanco, todo lo que aprendes.
yo tengo 16 años y en la escuela me lo hicieron leer y la verdad no se me antojaba porque no sabía de que se iba a tratar, pero cuando lo leí desde las primeras páginas me quedé clavado en el libro deseando que no se acabara.
léanlo, lo recomiendo para toda la familia.
Doy gracias al autor por todo lo que me enseñó.

CUANTAS VECES PASE POR LAS CALLES DE POLANCO, CAMINANDO, CUANTAS VECES VISITE AMIGOS, MEDICOS, RESTAURANTES, CINES Y TIENDAS SIN SABER QUINES ERAN LOS PERSONAJES CUYO NOMBRE LLEVAN LAS CALLES DE POLANCO? NO FUE SINO HASTA QUE MI PADRE ESCRIBIO ESTE LIBRO, QUE JUNTO CON EL RECORRI LAS CALLES DE POLANCO, PASEAMOS Y CHARLAMOS ACERCA DE LA VIDA DE CADA UNO HOMBRES QUE DIERON VIDA A ESTA COLONIA.

El título y la portada del libro me invitaron a leerlo. Que podría esperar de el? Que me hablara acerca de la arquitectura? Que me llevara por estas calles hablándome de la diversidad de sus culturas? Que me hablara de la historia de esta hermosa colonia de la Ciudad de México dandome santo y seña de sus inicios en el siglo pasado? Para mi sorpresa, el autor me fue llevando de la mano, por una colonia por la que he transitado desde niña; poco a poco, he recordado algunas veces y aprendido las mas, quienes son estos personajes con los que he convivido por más de 40 años, sin haberles prestado mayor atención que la que nos requirió la secundaria o preparatoria. El autor que comenta la trayectoria de hombres de la cultura occidental, provocó mi APETITO CEREBRAL desmesurado, engolosinándomé al abrir cualquiera de las páginas de este libro. Las Calles de Polanco, una caminata intelctual como la llama Anaya Sánchez, que bien podría ser interminable.

Dirigido a: Federico Anaya Sánchez

Acabo de leer su libro sobre las calles de Polanco y la verdad me gustó. Lo leí en una sola tarde, ya que la letra es grande y la lectura es fácil. Encuentro que el libro es muy interesante ya que da la historia de los hombres cuyos nombres se encuentran en las calles de esta tan hermosa colonia. El libro como fue concebido es bueno, repito, pero me hubiera gustado que se dieran más datos sobre el origen de la colonia. Estos datos adicionales pudieron haber sido:

1)Fecha en que se decide fraccionar la colonia 2)Los primeros habitantes 3)Estilo arquitectónico utilizado en la primeras casas 4)Personalidades que han habitado la colonia en el pasado y en la actualidad 5)Fotos existentes del pasado y del presente y hacer una comparación sobre cómo han cambiado las cosas y las casas en cada calle

Por lo demás, el libro es bueno. Sin más, me despido. Atte:

Aarón Hevia Miranda (Arquitecto) y Elda Perla Miranda 20 años 44 años Vázquez de Mella 429-11 Col Los Morales Chap. CP 11510

El libro simplemente me encantó, me recordó parte de mi infancia entre los libros y la escuela, los trabajos e investigaciones y mi adolecencia, ya que recordé cuando mi abuelo me preguntaba quienes eran los personajes a los que inquietabamos con nuestros pasos. No es facil la responsabilidad que tienen estos personajes, ya que estos visten, dan forma y fortalecen los recuerdos que podríamos ir adquiriendo en el trascurso del paso de nuestras vidas por estas calles. Independientemente ¿A quien no le gustaría tener a PRESIDENTE MASARIK o a HORACIO junto a la cama?

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to enjoy this cookbook because I am not at all familiar with Latin dishes or ingredients. The recipes in "Latin American Cooking Across the USA" are very accessible, as I've read many of them I've thought to myself "that sounds really good", even ones with ingredient combinations and preparations completely unfamiliar. I am happy that this book dispels the notion that all Latin food is super-spicy, there are subtle and flavorful recipes in this book not just heat ( I think Americans have gone way overboard with hot spices and garlic as if that is a guarantee of good flavor, which it is not). It is also interesting to see how recipes have changed because of availability of ingredients in the US or because of change in tastes by later generations. I can't wait to try so many of these recipes!

This is a great cookbook. If you have any interest in cookbooks that are worth reading, as well as using to cook from, just buy it already. You will learn a lot about Latin American family traditions, too.

More than 10 years ago, while browsing cookbooks at the Strand bookstore in New York, I came across this book, and discovered Puerto Rican holiday recipes. "Why not try them this year?", I thought. So, I made Puerto Rican christmas that year, and ever since. A testament to how good/authentic these recipes are is that in that first year, the guests included my (Puerto Rican) mother-in-law and a family friend in from La Isla. The results we warmly greeted. "Eddie's Puerto Rican Roast Pork" is one of those recipes that is super easy, but will result in an indescribably good dish, and a beautiful centerpiece to your dinner. I have made many of the other dishes, too -- all to great acclaim.

Favorites inclue the "Arroz con Gandules", "Panama Canal Seviche", "Shrimp Seviche", both Flan recipes, and, of course, "Coquito", the yummy Puerto Rican version of eggnog, with rum and coconut.

The stories are as good as the recipes, so even if you don't cook, the book is a terrific read. But, be warned, it _will_ make you hungry.

THIS BOOK IS A KEEPER, FOREVER AND EVER. I FELT I WAS TRAVELING THE WHOLE HEMISPHERE WITHOUT LEAVING MY BED! NOT ONLY ARE THE RECIPES DIFFERENT, IMPRESSIVE AND EASY TO PREPARE, THIS BOOK IS A TREASURE OF CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY ABOUT THE MANY LATINO GROUPS WITHIN OUR OWN USA BORDERS. I LEARNED CULTURE AND GOT A FEW LAUGHS AND IMMEDIATELY TRIED SOME RECIPES THAT REALLY IMPRESSED MY FAMILY. IT'S THE BEST COOKBOOK I'VE EVER HAD. IF THE AUTHORS READ THIS, I'D LIKE TO REALLY CONGRATULATE THEM FROM MY HEART!

I tried the Jerk marinade recipe for chicken and curry goat (lamb) and both came out delicious. Even though the jerk recipe I have been following for a while now calls for green onions and brown sugar, both of which are omitted in the recipe from this book, the result (it uses ginger and garlic that I havent seen in other jerk rubs before) was delectable. Following the recommendation of the author, we recently visited Vernon's Jerk place in the Bronx and were very pleased with the food!! I have been dabbling in caribbean/cuban/spanish cuisine for a little while now and this book is a must have if you wanna prepare authentic latin american dishes! This book also has a huge dessert section. Colombian American Guava Bread, Pumpkin Flan and Coconut Bread Pudding all came out excellent! Happy cooking! I am sure this will be a book you'll keep coming back to every time you feel like whipping together something spicy and exotic!

This book features a wide variety of recipes from across the spectrum of Latin American cookery, including contributions by notables Celia Cruz, Cristina Saralegui and others.

Our favorites have been the "Latin from Manhattan" chicken soup, pork and rice, black bean soup, chicken fricasee *and* the Guatamelan coffee. And this Thanksgiving I will be making the wine-infused turkey! Other recipes include pasteles, chicken and beef dishes, milk shakes and desserts.

There are also interesting side articles such as "How Jamaican beef patties came to be sold in New York pizzerias" (I had always wondered about that!)

A great resource for the novice or experienced cook!

SCARY STORIES almost as much as I love Mitch ( My cat )
Well.. maybe I love this book and Mitch about the same
Read them if tou love really SCARY STORIES... And these really happened in Mexico !

ICECREAM...
But these horror stories last more !
I read one each night...

LOVE THEM ALL !

have read...
They are the true legends of old Mexico's streets, and you shiver in pleasure and fear while reading them...

I LOVE THIS BOOK !

HORROR BOOK I HAVE EVER READ !!!

The stories set your hair on edge !!!

I loved it...

HORROR STORIES !
They are THE CREAM, THE BEST !
So scary that sometimes I feel like going to Mom's bed... But too old for that...
They are worthy !

I read Fig Trees this morning...in one soaking. All of my senses are dangerously alive. I tasted it, smelled it, felt it, heard it, saw it...am consumed by it. It will be with me all the day and much longer I am sure. I've been craving sweet, sticky passionate fruits...of all sorts.. ever since. I need to sate this craving...with my own writing (along with a trip to the store for a bagful of oranges and bananas).

I read Fig Trees this morning...in one soaking. All of my senses are dangerously alive. I tasted it, smelled it, felt it, heard it, saw it...am consumed by it. It will be with me all the day and much longer I am sure. I've been craving sweet, sticky passionate fruits...of all sorts.. ever since. I need to sate this craving...with my own writing (along with a trip to the store for a bagful of oranges and bananas).

LIE UNDER THE FIG TREES is not a gentle book. The experience the protagonist encounters is harsh and painful and the author has recorded it honestly. Can a reviewer be less honest? Polish expatriate Dr. Teddy, lonely and suffering the cold of a New York winter ("too much like Poland," he realizes), dreams of tropical climes, love, lust, and Rosie, whom he knew in Warsaw. He plans, he dreams, he works. And finally, full of high expectations and glorying in his freedom, he meets his Rosie in Mexico. In their lusty celebration, Teddy finds reality. Life is often painful and crude, and cruel to our expectations...and FIG TREE is a faithful reproduction of the way love can disappoint and how life has to be lived -- by picking up the pieces and doing our best with what's left. The honesty of the book is a great part of its charm, and that honesty is bittersweet. Be prepared for a lusty read, but look beyond the carnal pleasures to the celebration of life and love and freedom that is lying under the fig trees

Tadeusz Wojnicki's "Lie Under the Fig Trees" is a lusty, honest, delicious love story. Wojnicki's prose is pregnant with full-bodied descriptions of one man's quest to be with the woman he loves/lusts after. This slim novel bursts with the sounds, landscapes, smells and tastes of places like Poland, New York and Mexico and puts one in the mind of Hemingway and Steinbeck. This is a beautiful, sensual book that will make you smile and grimace all within a few moments. Love can make us act like fools, but how many of us would give up such a wild ride?

I love every word, every page, every chapter of this book, but my favorite is chapter 24. Here's where Wojnicki so wonderfully shows his character realizing and confirming growth. Quoting from this chapter: "Her thighs, though bulky, earlier today seemed weightless. Now I get cramps. Her arms, though coiled around my neck tightly, felt yummy. Now, I get breathless."

"Besides, as she holds me, her body seems to me to be a body of some other woman. It feels different somehow. I noticed it earlier tonight. Her arms don't feel like her arms. They embraced Polo, maybe that's why."

"The heaviest object in the world is the body of the woman you have ceased to love, the Marquis de Vauvenargues said. I wonder if I have stopped loving her. I feel forced to suppress my doubt. Basic decency requires that I don't accept the obvious."

"By dawn I think I know why her body seems to me to be the body of some other woman--it's because I'm not the same man."

Such powerful lines of growth as it really does happen - through the subconcious! Wojnicki magnificently shows this growth and confirms it with words in the end. I remember the Polo incident, a previous chapter. I felt the hurt. I wondered how Teddy could be so cool about the whole situation. Wojnicki brilliantly only hinted at Teddy's feelings; he was letting them slip into his subconscious ... digesting them so to speak ... later they would surface; the force behind the growth. What more can I say ... I love the book! You will too!

My three kids want to have me read the story every night. They are also learning to read in Spanish. I recommend it highly.

Having been raised in northern New Mexico, I could associate with the entire story and culture. We need more children's books like this.

My kids loved it. Teaches valuable lessons and a good way for my kids to learn spanish.

The story as told gives the child a series of valuable lessons.

Interesting way the story was told in such a way to include the Hispanic culture of northern New Mexico.

Locoland was the best book I have ever read. Any producer out there take time to read this book it would make an unbelievable movie!

Morris writes from south of southern Hades where the land is buckled with sin and the only way out is straight down through the rough belly of the beast.

Within the first few pages, Morris lets you know the ride's gonna be rough...but you're still surprised at the bumps and grinds in the rutted road to Locoland. Then you wonder if you'll ever be the same when, and if, you make it back across the border. Morris has a sense of Mexico...and gets you there in a haze of drugs, sex, and murder. Some of the scenes might stay with you awhile...so don't read too fast as you reach the climax. You might wake up thinking it was all a bad dream...or a helluva bad trip.

A quick read that has an accelerating pace through Mexico when times were more hazy under a cloud of mystery. The characters are rich and ripe for confrontation, with some zany twists and turns that kept me rivited to the pages unlike anything since the Exorcist. Chris has a unique writing style and wit with colorful depictions on surf & sin city and the tropics of Mexico's Pacific jungle coast line so vivid that damness drips from every page. Viva la Locoland !

Chris Morris keeps you turning pages. He packs a lot of cool characters and suspense in 176 pages. Locoland is a thumping good read. Try it.

These are comments from my students...

"Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask is a book about fighting or wrestling. 'Lucha Libre...'is a good book for Spanish people that don't know how to read or speak in English. It's also good for people who don't know how to speak or read in Spanish because on each page it has an English part and a Spanish part, too. My opinion about the book is that it is a good book and it has good pictures. Also, on each page there are pictures that are colorful." --Duaa



"I like this book because it's a good book and it's interesting, especially the part about El Vampiro. I like when he stretches and his stomach pops out and his muscles get stronger. You should read this book because is has Spanish and English. It's fun. You should read it!" --Feras



"My opinion about 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that it is good because it's bilingual and people who speak Spanish can understand the two different languages, Spanish and English, and learn them a little better. The good thing about this book is that it has two boxes, one in English and one in Spanish. It is a good book, and you should read it. The books was interesting through the whole thing. As I read it, it was getting more and more interesting. You should read this book because it will be a nice book for you!" --Kiara



"I like this book, 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask', because it has English and Spanish. However, it has too many pictures. My favorite part is when the Man in the Silver Mask jumps on El Vampiro, and he lands on the ground. That's when the Tecnicos won. " --Daniel

"My opinion of the book 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is tha this book is a good book to read because this book helps people that speak no Spanish learn to speak some Spanish. Also for people that speak no English, they can learn to speak some English. This is also a good book for little kids because it has a lot of pictures. Another thing I liked about this book is that most of it is understandable, but it does have some hard words to read. This is why I think this is a good book to read." --Victor

"My opinion of the book 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that it is a great book to read. I liked reading this book because it is interesting. You read one page, and you want to keep on going. One thing that I don't like about this book is it looks hard to read. I love the pictures because they have action, and they are so creative, the colors and all. One thing I really like is that it is in Spanish and English. I liked the end of the book; it is wonderfully interesting. This book is awesome, very great. You need to read this book. " --Diana

"My opinion about 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that it was a really good book. I liked this book because it was really interesting. I was interested to know what would happen at the end of the book. I liked this book because in the beginning it started in an exciting way and ended in an exciting way, too. So, I would like to tell youi to check out this book; it is really interesting. It really has great illustrations and a great story." --Gisela

My opinion of 'Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask' is that I like it because it has pictures and it has Spanish and English words. It is about a man in a silver mask (that's the book title), and they have fun. They have other luchadores, like El Cucuy, El Vampiro, El Carvenicola and more, but the best one is the Man in the Silver Mask. He's the best luchadore, and that's what the boy (Carlitos) said, but he doesn't know if the Man in the Silver Mask is his uncle." --Alondra

The young narrator has the opportunity of a lifetime; not only does attend the Lucha Libre matches with his grandfather, but a chance to purchase a mask of his favorite luchadore, the Man in the Silver Mask, and the opportunity to meet the legend before he does battle inside the squard-circle.

Though the book is written for ages 9-12, the wonderful artwork - in a classic, graphic-novel style - and endnote on the history of Lucha Libre makes this a collectible for any fan of professional wrestling.

The mask may be silver, but this luchadore is pure gold to the young fan; with the story evoking memories - for those sharing it with children - on real past heroes in the ring.

"The Man in the Silver Mask" is an overt tribute to "El Santo, El Enmascarada de Plata" but its also a beautiful story of familial love...

The story reminded me of the fascination lucha libre and pro-wrestling held for me in my youth. The story can be compared to the youthful feelings a child experiences during Christmas and the stories of "Santa Claus".

I took great pleasure and pride reading this story to my two year old daughter, who I believe really experienced the feelings of joy the artist provided within the pages. The pictures were bold, the emotions were strong.

A beautiful story for all ages.

This is a charming story, beautifully illustrated (for the record, I am a collector of Xavier's artworks, including some wonderful "portraits" of Lucha Libre masked men and women). The historical background at the back of the book is like dessert....Xavier's telling of the real story of Lucha Libre makes this book a real treasure. We have a copy in our library, and have bought copies for the "older" grandsons (10 & 12) and the younger grandson (6). We are all going to enjoy the book for a very long time.

Just like the little boy in the book I now too love Lucha Libre and its masked heroes and villains! This book was great, kids will just love it.

This is another of Daniel Peters engrossing tombs where the reader is taken back in history (in this case the 1400s) and totally immersed in another culture. This is the period often called the Aztec period of Mexican history but it involves many diverse groups of people and many different subcultures. I found it totally fascinating.

I have read all of Mr. Peters books and I have not been disapointed. You don't have to be a scholar in order to enjoy "The Luck of Huemac". The fall of the Aztec Empire is a topic that has inspired many authors, including Peter Daniels. Huemac, an "unlucky" Mexica marked from birth, ironically evades death and misfortune only to witness the end of his world and the death of their gods. If you liked this book, you should read also Gary Jennings' "Aztec" (an equally impresive book)or "The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico" by Bernal Diaz del Castillo( this is a historical chronicle by one of Hernan Cortez's captains who participated in the Conquest). "The Luck of Huemac" is quality reading and fiction literature at its best!

This was a good book. I've read all three Aztec books by Gary Jennings and was left wanting more. This book delivered. It's an easy way to get a lot history inside a great story.

I am an avid reader of biography, history and historical fiction, and "Luck of Huemac" by Daniel Peters is one of my dozen favorite books in this class. The characters, both real and invented, are extremely well drawn with great depth, all totally alive and believable. Likewise, the gods and places. And, thank goodness for the glossary, which helps those of us with poor memories keep track of all those characters, gods and places. I was particularly impressed with the author's treatment of the Aztec spiritual world, which was made believable even to skeptics. The story ends just after the arrival of Cortez (nothing given away here), and a brief history of this great catastrophy is presented with appropriate sadness and finality. A really terrific book.

The book "The Luck of Huemac" by Daniel Peters is one of the most extraordinary
Books I have ever had the privilege to read. The story records the struggle by his family to control the city of Tenocticlan and in the shadows Huemac Born under the Sign of the Rabbit and destined to by unlucky grows to be a legendary man. Huemac combats fierce opponents on the ball court and battlefield, learns the ancient lore of the priests and confronts the mysterious white gods. This story is not only a adventure story but also a heart touching story about Huemac's family over one century. Daniel peters flings you in to a exotic world totally alien to your mind the final century of the Aztec empire's supremacy in Mexico. I say as J.R.R. Toielkien is to Fantasy and Frank Herbert is to Sci-Fi Daniel Peters is the master of Historical Fiction by Mike