Mexico Books

Probobly one of the best books I've ever read in my life!!!!!!!Even though it sounds childish a very great prediction of the downfall of the Mayan civilization!!!

This book is everything I hoped it would be. It is exciting, suspencful, and has a good ending, though rather predictable, and very short. Several new characters were introduced in the final installment of the Vampire Plagues, and the old ones stayed as good as they were before. This book is absolutely delightful, though a little on the babyish side, because it is not terribly sophisticated and like I said before, very predictable.

story line was ok, but all in all it was pretty good

The third of the VAMPIRE PLAGUES triology... It is so adventurous and, I have to admit, suspenseful, with the background located back at the Mayan home, in Mexico. I love how the author relates the experiences to the ancient Mayan ways. I think this is so interesting, also the fact that (although I may sound childish) this theory of his is indeed a possibility of the fall of the Mayan civilization. Well, for all that agree with me, you'll find this book quite intriguing!!!

Just back from two weeks touring the Yucatan and this book made my trip. As always the Blue Moon people give the good info for the indie traveler. The great out of the way places to stay and eat and sleep and visit. All wrapped up in one neat book. If you are headed to the Yucatan TAKE THIS BOOK! you won't be sorry! Oh yeah, also pick up the cult classic "A Tourist In The Yucatan!" great thriller set in the Yucatan.

This is a very good guide, with tons of information on everything in the area. Its very well written also, and with a very good history section (the Maya civilization and their warrior-ways are very interesting and not generally known by most travellers).
We used it on our 1-week trip to the Tulum area with its eco-rustic 1-story oceanfront cabins(which range from $20 to $300 per night).
The only section that I would reccommend including is a CENOTE section (Cenotes are the unique caves and tunnels filled with water, which only exist in the Yucatan peninsula). The way the authors arranged the Cenote information in the book is just by mentioning the Cenotes in each region.
But in my opinion, the spectacular nature of the Cenotes deserve a stand-alone chapter with individual descriptions and pictures.
However, I put up 5 stars because I also think that just driving along the jungle and finding that surprising hidden Cenote that you hadn't heard about, signalled just by a tiny hand-made sign on the road, is one of the greatest adventure-feelings you can still experience in the Yucatan.

this guide was extremely helpful and informative during our trip, it had lots of info not only on cancun and cozumel but also on the mayan ruins and other great places to see like playa del carmen and tulum

I found this book to be very helpful and up to date. The details provided were first rate. It even listed the ferry schedule to Isla Mujeres - something that other guides only glossed over. The maps were useful too. There were a lot of information on cenotes, and where they are located.

I liked it so much that I have just bought the Moon travel guide to the Four Corners.

Although it might seem dated, the information in this book is extraordinarily complete, with detailed descriptions of anatomy, behavior, and chapters devoted to specific species. You might consider a book like "Owls: The Silent Fliers" just for it's excellent photographs, but if you want detailed information, P. Johnsgard's book is unmatched. Note also, although it's fine photographs may be moderate in number, the technical illustrations far exceed all other books I've seen on owls.

This book is a fantastic reference book pertaining to the appearance, mating behaviors, habitat and range, nesting patterns, and favorite foods of North American Owls. The color pictures are so much better than any black and white drawing could hope to achieve. The individual discriptions are well organized under sub-topics for quick reference.

I have many books on owls, and this is one of the most comprehesive books that I have seen on the natural history of owls. There are good drawings and photographs in the first 15 pages of the book. The classification and evolution section was of great interest to me and very useful. The natural histories of each species is very in-depth and thorough. There is also a glossary, which is very helpful in defining words which you may not know. Overall, the book is excellent, and I would highly recommend it to the beginner, novice, or expert birder.

The book is about many different owls and how they live.Some owls live in the forest some in the snow some in the the hot dessert.they eat rodents,lizards,

this book made me cry. The pictures he captures, especially of the textiles are poetic and seriously moving. I am definately buying a copy of this book for my mom.

Jonathon B. Wittenberg's book does a wonderful job of capturing life as it is in Navajo culture through a Navajo-centered lens as opposed to a Western-lens. I think Tony Hillerman's quote on the back of the book does a wonderful job of capturing my feeling for the Navajo people after reading this book: " What I saw there [the Big Rez] sparked my love affair with The Navajos, their enduring culture of love, good humor and harmony, and the high, dry, dramatic landscape in which they endure. This is a beautiful and valuable book." I certainly fell in love with the Navajos after reading this remarkable book, and I encourage others to read this book to gain further understanding and appreciation for the incredible Navajos.

This is a beautiful, heart warming collection of images, outstanding for the quality of the photographs and above all for the choice of subjects, made with great sensitivity and an obvious love and admiration for the culture it portrays. Viewing Jonathan Wittenberg's photographs will be a memorable experience, especially for Tony Hillerman fans.

Navajo Nation 1950: Traditional Life In Photographs is a compilation of 100 black-and-white duotone-printed photographs taken by Jonathan B. Wittenberg to record and illustrate life on the Navajo reservation in 1950. Truly capturing with an artist's eye the dignity and beauty of an ancient Native American culture surviving in the midst of the broader mid-20th century American nation, Navajo Nation 1950 is a showcase of photographic excellence taken with a bulky, twin-lens reflex camera enabling the preservation through a photographic record of the Navajo people and culture that includes images from the Monument Valley, Black Mesa, Navajo Mountain, Lukachukai (a high bench between the Chuska mountains to the east and the desert plain to the west), Teas Toh (close to the old Highway 66), the Window Rock Navajo Tribal Fair, and the Canyon de Chelley. Enhanced for scholars as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in Navajo culture with an index to the photographs, and appendix (Progress of a Shootings Chant), and a Navajo reservation map, Navajo Nation 1950 is a welcome addition to personal and academic Photography and Native American Studies collections.

All successful gardening is a local phenomenon, and those who attempt to replicate what they learned "back East" will enrich the local nursery with endless re-plantings. Ms. Phillips guide is a vital one for anyone wanting to enhance their local environment. The book is a detailed and well organized compilation of her long experience. She writes with a certain élan, quoting one time NM resident, D. H. Lawrence on page one, and characterizing the difficulties of growing a "back East" lawn in the desert by saying: "Let Sisyphus continue to push his mower uphill."

In her introduction she discusses the best way of dealing with New Mexico's tough soils. There are also tables on precipitation and temperature statistics, by city, along with a useful graphic on the cold-hardiness zones. The overall book is divided into chapters on the principal plant categories: annuals & biennials; bulbs, corms, rhizomes, & tubers; cacti & succulents; groundcovers; lawns; ornamental grasses; perennials; roses; shrubs; trees; and finally, vines. In general, a page is devoted to a particular plant in which she discusses when, where and how to plant, along with growing tips, on-going care, companion planting and design, and a personal recommendation. There is a section which indicates bloom period and seasonal color, mature height and spread, and the appropriate growth zones. She has devised useful symbols which convey information on water requirements, fragrance, attraction of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other useful information.

The book is attractively organized by a color-code system, and virtually every page has a picture of the plant being described. It also has a glossary, bibliography and index.

Hopefully she will do yet another revised edition which would expand the plants covered, including the Japanese maple I am trying to grow, or perhaps she has already told me the answer on page 190, when she said it is most difficult.

A marvelous guide and an essential companion for those in tune with their natural surroundings.

Such a great resource for plants and how to take care of them. This is my second copy, since my first has gotten a little ragged around the edges.
Also, eazy to use....

I have scads of gardening books. When I moved South from Albuquerque and changed zones, I bought a half-dozen more.

As I slowly decorate my new desert I find myself constantly going to this one...rather than the giant tomes that I purchased.

Why? Because Ms. Phillips tells you how to grow the stuff. And, she's culled the zillions of plants down to the best...the easiest...the most forgiving. She tells you why, gives you the best cultivars, suggests companion plants. And, again, tells you why.

Every time I ignore her advice, I'm sorry that I did.

Great pictures and great format. There is a picture of the plant along with all information about the plant on the same page, no need to search to match the plant with its picture.

Mr. Stone spent two years traveling around New Mexico searching out and rephotographing scenes first done by others over a period of about 1855-1945. The book is divided into sections (of the state) and each photograph, past and present, has details about it included.
Mr. Stone writes about how some of the locations have changed a great deal, some not so much, many he could get to (or at least close enough) to duplicate exactly but others he had to do what he could to approximate the original shot. He doesn't say much about what he used for equipment other than some very tall ladders or tripods, no film details, not much camera information either.
I found that some things have changed a great deal while it appears some would look almost the same today to the original photographer as the original shot did.
I wish the author had included a town by town index as well as the regional listing, if you know the name of a town but are unsure of it's location you wll have to search each section for it- assuming it is there.
This is a very fascinating book, I'd like to go see many of these locations myself.

Although this book is certainly lovely enough to be a ''coffee-table book'', it is much more. The photographer found interesting historical photographs of New Mexico urban and rural scenes and then went to the exact same sites and photographed what the scenes look like today. Some of theses sites are extremely remote, and also must have been very difficult to find. The comparison of photographs of New Mexico scenes from the modern times with historical photographs is fascinating,and the quality of the new photographs is outstanding. What surprised me about the book was how intriguing the narrative was. The author did an excellent job of describing both the backgrounds of the historical photographs and also the nature or reasons for the changes in the new images. In addition, he included very readable anecdotes about what efforts he went through to gain access to the sites and how he approached each ''shoot.'' This is a book that would be enjoyed by people who enjoy beautiful photographs and who love to read about New Mexico and the history of the American West.

This book was extremely interesting and informative. I have lived in Albuquerque my whole life and found it to be accurate. I ordered it for my boyfriend, Thomas, but we both have enjoyed. I will be getting the Albuquerque, Then and Now next.

Sheryl nanco

If you like history and art, you'll love WILLIAM STONE'S NEW MEXICO THEN AND NOW. Using the principal of repeat photography--finding an old picture of a location and rephotographing the same spot--he created a photographic, geographic, and to a degree social history of the state called The Land of Enchantment. You'll have a good time looking through this beautiful coffee table volume. Like every region of the world, New Mexico has had its share of quirky places, where outrageous people did off the wall stuff. And--places where events were dead serious, and which still influence our lives, though they happened long ago. With his large-format camera and tall tripod, STONE has captured the best of The Land of Enchantment's spots for the now images. Even better, his then shots were taken by some of America's finest early photographers. William Henry Jackson, Edward Weston, and many others bring the pages of the book to life. STONE's captions add to the pictures, documenting his feelings and thoughts as he worked on each location. His writing partner, JEROLD WIDDSON's articulare essays tie the pictures together in a lively fashion. No dull paragraphs full of facts here. In fact, if you have sonmeone at home think's history class is boring, leave NEW MEXICO THEN AND NOW around to be discovered. If you have someone who finds history exciting, NEW MEXICO THEN AND NOW is the perfect coffee table book because it's designed to be opened and examined slowly--savored, in other words, like a nice, hot cuppa your favorite brew. In case you haven't figured it out, I enjoyed NEW MEXICO THEN AND NOW. I did it on many levels. Though it focuses on one region of the country, it carries a universal message about change and stability that's fun to discover and think about. It gives us a sense of the American contribution to photography as an art form--and that contribution was no small one. It offers a glimpse of what the west was like to settle and live in--and what it's like today, as a result. NEW MEXICO THEN AND NOW will make a great addition to anyone's living room.

The written word with photos gives us some historic background of jews who came from Spain, because of being persecuted. While they gave up their jewish religion, we find out that many rituals were kept and practiced. Fasinating book.

This is a well written and very informative book about the survival of a tenacious people and about a part of the hidden history of the state of New Mexico. I would recommend it to any one interested in Jewish history, Sephardic Judaism, Crypto-Jews, Spanish culture and New Mexico history.

The culmination of years of heartfelt, dedicated work by a fine artist, the photographs reveal the depth and complexity of this story with beauty and true humanity.

I'll admit I am biased but this book finally puts a real human face on this southwest phenomena. Haunting images of a living glimmer of an almost forgotten people. Cary Herz performs a mitzvah by remembering us and in a small way provides help along the road to redemption of this small remnant.

Replete with illustrations that bloom with an understated yet bold use of color, this story shows how Christmas is made personal to a young girl in a beautiful Mexican town, via a very special pinata.

This children's book is about a five-year-old Mexican girl and her first posada (a Christmas festival in Mexico) and her first Christmas piñata. Children have always loved the story and also have used the book to learn more about the culture and life of another country. "Nine Days to Christmas" is highly recommended. Aurora Labastida was the librarian for children's books in Mexico City and she cowrote this story with Marie Ets who was the illustrator. The book won the 1960 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a children's book.

As a child, this book open the world to me. Nine Days to Christmas lets children learn about and explore the traditions of Christmas in Mexico while capturing the thrill and confusion of early childhood. Thirty years after reading this book, I look forward to sharing the magic of Nine Days to Christmas with my own children.

I've never seen a book quite like it. Originally published in 1959, and winner of the 1960 Caldecott medal, "Nine Days to Christmas" is the tale of Ceci and her piñata. Ceci is five years old, and at long last her mother has consented to hold a posada (Christmas party) that Ceci may attend. Ceci is delighted, and when choosing a piñata for the posada she grows horribly attached to one in the shape of a beautiful star. When the time comes to break the piñata into pieces, however, Ceci is understandably distraught. Fortunately, the very nature of piñatas rectifies the situation and Ceci finds comfort in the season.

Both visually and textually this book is an original. Ets's Ceci is definitely five years of age. Her every move and thought confirms her youth and excitement at finally getting to participate in the first of nine Christmas parties. What's nice about the story is the amount of time and attention the author pays to the day-to-day living of a wealthy Mexican family like Ceci's. She displays the world around Ceci without ever ignoring the poor or impoverished. Though Ceci is too young to make any judgments about the way the world is, she knows enough to observe a man too poor to own shoes or village women selling flowers. The book never trivializes the situation of the people, and it grants servants the same respect as their employers. I was especially taken with the section in which the servant girls mix and mingle while waiting for the garbage truck to arrive. It's nice to see someone besides the rich having lives of their own in a picture book. My only objection is the author's dedication at the front. She writes, "To all the little Mexican friends and relatives who helped us make this book". I'm going to assume that by "little" she is referring to the children.

The story is rather original for its publication date. I can't imagine that too many kids books with South American plots were making their way into mainstream America in the late 1950s. Above and beyond the storyline, however, are Aurora Labastida's amazing illustrations. Here is an illustrator that matches Ets's well-paced story and dialogue with a true knowledge of Mexican culture. It's such a relief to see Ceci staring transfixed at a Christmastime market that looks so doggone realistic. And when Ceci and her mother stand on the street, the stores and marquees they pass are all written in Spanish (with the possible exception of the transposed Dairy Queen).

Labastida's style is particularly original as well. Most faces of characters are realistic to the point where I began to wonder if Labastida was drawing from photographs. These characters are drawn with pencil, as are the backgrounds and settings. Yet minute carefully selected portions of each picture are colored in beautifully. Ceci's clothing is always colorful and easy to spot. Using this technique, the artist is able to draw the viewer's eye to the parts of the illustration she wants you to pay the most attention to. The effect is both appropriate and beautifully done. If I've any real criticism of the pictures presented in this book it might be directed towards the piñatas. For some reason, Labasta has drawn incredibly cartoony piñatas, floating in an otherwise realistic setting. The effect is jarring, without necessarily ruining the experience of reading the book. I was also a little taken aback at how rarely we ever see Ceci's face, front and center. In most of this book we get a very nice view of the back of her head. Why this is, I'm uncertain. But again, it's a stylistic choice that fits the book itself without drawing any particular attention to itself.

In the end, I'm happy to report that "Nine Days to Christmas" is fully deserving of its Caldecott medal. This was hardly a forgone conclusion. I've read plenty of award winners that could have stood a little less attention. In this book, however, you have a wonderful introduction for children into customs and celebrations sometimes found in Mexico. Such a story rarely goes out of date. In this case, I don't think it ever will.

This book has the goods - it is very serious, not a typical sports book, but it teaches at every level. Civil Rights. Science. Women. Black Power. It is tough to think of what it leaves out. Starts slow, but really picks up and by the time it is done, it's like you've been watching PBS for two hours and didn't feel it. Learn.

This book really helped to open my eyes about the events surrounding the 1968 Olympics. More than that, it also talks about many other significant issues such as women's roles during that time, the way certain people saw various events before, during, and after the times. Be prepared to be patient when you read this. Dr. Bass takes her time and goes way back with her research leading up to the games in the late 60's. There were some areas I was not too interested in, such as some scientists' claims that black superiority in the athletic arena is due to biological and genetic advantages. Yet there were other times in the book like when Tommie Smith explained the MEANING, the TRUE MEANING, behind he and Carlos' actions that really made me take it in and appreciate the courage they had to take a stand at that time on that particular stage. From the black socks to the scarf Smith wore on his neck to both of them not wearing shoes on the victory stand while the national anthem played. More than just discussing the Olympics, she digs deep into the perception of the black athlete, from the 1930's when Jesse Owens was the man to the 60's, and to the 90's with Michael Jordan. Like I said earlier though, be prepared to be patient when you are reading this. There were some parts that I had to bear with to get to what I wanted to read, but all in all, it's a read that can definitely challenge your views not only about the black athlete, but sports and life in general.

A work that provides insight into how race is understood and projected in U.S. society -- and the world -- and where its ties to nation, class, gender, etc. come into play most dramatically. This exploration of the black power movement at the Mexico City olympics is a critical examination of a multitude of topics: television, sports, civil rights, humanity, globality -- the list is varied and important. Complex, complicated, interesting, imperative. A learning experience for all who turn its pages.

I learned so much from this book. I thought that it might be too hard to read, but it was worth it: I will never watch sports -- especially the Olympics -- the same way again. There's too much to list contained here: the Olympics, the media, race, sexuality, women -- it goes on and on. I think everyone should read it.

This book really gets into the hearts and minds of the people during WW II.
I had no idea the South-Western Hispanics were chosen specifically for the Philippines, or what it was like for soldiers when Macarthur bailed to Australia.
And the lives when they return home... very intense.
And it is written so well, not like a dry history book.
I definitely recommend it.

"I loved this novel. The author's sense of history (WW II in the Pacific) and place (particularly Santa Fe) is stunning. The book portrays a fascinating mix of empathetic characters, especially the Hispanic ones such as Senio, Melo, LaBelle and Nicasia, with the more farcical Anglos like Anissa and Phyllis. Just as I've always been struck by D.H. Lawrence's believable portraits of female characters, so I'm impressed by the author's realistic sense of her male characters' inner life and dialogue. The structure of the novel, with its alternating chapters set in Florida, the Philippines and Santa Fe, economically telegraphs place and time to the reader. I won't give away the very moving ending. If you're looking for a compelling story that never flags, and/or are interested in WW II, the Philippines, Japanese and American history, Santa Fe--and a multicultural mix of characters--this book is for you. Do not buy it if you're not interested in sex, war, death, family and love."
Kaaren Kitchell, Venice, Ca.

With a deep cast of characters spread across a canvas from Bataan to New Mexico, this well researched, multi-ethnic story digs into the tensions on the home front as families are torn by their own questions of survival while waiting to see if the world will survive. The author's insights are clear and strong, having been raised in post-war Japan and the Philippines.

A lively and poignant account of World War II and the lives it affected from Santa Fe, NM. Set in the 1940's, this historical novel focuses on some interesting and tragic aspects of the war not known to us before the Freedom of Information Act. Ms. Shepard's deft development of her characters gets you involved from the beginning to the end, and leaves you more curious than ever about the prime time of our "greatest generation," just when we thought we knew most all of it.