Mexico Books

I started reading and became completely engrossed. Nine Lords of the Night has a plot that thickens and twists with every turn of the page, an array of intriguing characters, and an unexpected finale. This is easily one of the best mystery novels today, kudos to E.C. Gibson.

I sat down with this book and got all caught up in the intrigue. Couldn't put it down....great for a long plane ride!

I have actually had the pleasure of working with Eric on this by reading it SEVERAL times to proof and get it ready for publishing. It is one of the few books that I have read through more than once in a short period of time, and not been bored by about the third one. It is a great read - one of those that you don't want to put down until you have gotten to the end. I know that he is working on the sequel, and I personally can't wait.

This oversized table top book is simply amazing. The photographs are otherworldly yet these are the visions of Baja Califonia where desert stone meets the sand and shore. Photographer Miguel Angel de La Cueva presents pictures of Baja California that are mind blowing land and sea visons that look unreal. The photogrpahs reveal glimpses of habitats and micro-habitats that look as though they are from some alien planet. The views from above ,revealing the terrain as it meets the sea looks like molecular observations, it is as though you were looking at blood running through veins in a body;in many ways it is one and the same. The photographs of the various cacti are magnificent, the sun illuminating the spines, making the cacti look like angels with halos or at times their thorny presentation looking like a medussa of devil horns highlighted by the sun. The shots taken at night are superb revealing the austerity and serenity of the desert. The colorful flowering plants of the desert are a sight to behold whether you are a Baja traveler or an arm chair adventurer. The Sierra de La Laguna exhibits some of the most colorful depictions of the desert that defy our sterotypical thoughts regading what a desert looks like. Nature is presented in all it's beauty. Seeing a tree growing like the wild fig, on the side of a cliff, with it's roots extending the length of city blocks is a sight that goes against our normal perceptions of tree growth; the natural beauty of the landscape is impressive. The section on the creatures of the desert is interesting but the photographs of the land and sea far exceeeds those about the animals that hunt and survive. The text is lyrical and expressive of the beauty of the desert that is Baja California. This book is recommended for all Baja enthusiasts, community libraries or high schools. Unfortunately there were only 5,000 copies printed in the first printing so get yours now while you still can.

For those who doubt it--check out "Oasis of Stone"...Every glossy page fairly bursts with color and the photos have that amazing depth that only very talented photographers can capture; where it looks as if you could step right inside and walk across a sun-washed valley or into the warm turquoise waters of the Sea. The text as well is both beautiful and deep--one of my favorite non-fiction writers, Bruce Berger, who dazzled all Baja book lovers with "Almost An Island" does it again, taking us deeper into the natural world of this unique peninsula and its inhabitants.

Enhanced with 160 superbly presented full color photographs by acclaimed photographer Miguel Angel de la Cueva which accompany an informative, almost lyrical text by Bruce Berger, "Oasis Of Stone: Visions Of Baja California Sur" presents a beautifully showcased survey of southern Baja California complete with its unique geology, as well as its coastal, desert and mountain ecosystems. Of special note is the succinct photo-essay on 'The Newcomers" providing a perspective on the contributions and impacts of humans that range on the positive side from cave painters to rancheros, the negative as illustrated by rivers poisoned by pollution and junked car heaps. An essential acquisition by California libraries, "Oasis Of Stone" will also have dramatic appeal for non-specialist general readers with an interest in nature and the environment, as well as armchair travelers seeking to explore the wonders and beauty of the relatively unknown and heretofore underappreciated Baja peninsula

Of course I haven't been able to look at all that this CDrom contains, but I have enjoyed part of the music, part of the gallery of portraits, part of the maps from the Archives of India and almost part of everything.
It is technically excellent and full of information for everyone who wants to travel to Oaxaca or wants information about this wonderful part of Mexico.
Oliver Sacks with his Oaxaca Journal will enjoy going back through this CD.
Congratulations

Martin Ruiz Camino

This is probably the most brilliant CD-ROM I've ever seen for a travel destination. The Spanish to English translation is incredibly good (the translation team must have been geniuses), and what a well designed product.

Highly recommend this one.

It is important to note that rarely is the enthusiasm and devotion that goes into a work/project so clearly translated into a vibrant and engaging experience for the novice. A common pitfall is that the end product tends to struggle under its own weight and over-arching ambitions, whether the intentions are honest or not. This is not the case with "Oaxaca in the Heart of Mexico". Its author and those who contributed to its articulation at every stage of the creative and productive process have managed to not only show the multi-faceted aspect of Oaxaca, but also enliven the whole interactive experience using a whole array of devices which do not hinder but accentuate the affection and fondness with which the whole project has been encapsulated. It is this contagious tendency which leaves some traces of sub-conscious emotive residual on those who explore this CD-rom, and which will remain until evoked once again in the pysical context of Oaxaca itself. For that is where this touristic opus leads one in the end, and the location the author himself would like others to see for themselves. One could not ask for a better introduction than the one that Antonio Ruiz Zwollo and his team have presented here.

Diagnosed with brain cancer. What are you gonna do? Cry? Hide? Rend your clothes and take to your bed? Not Patch Rose. He chose to meet his experience head on, with honesty and humor, and to share it with the rest of us. I chuckled, sighed, shed a tear, and laughed out loud. He says he's an ordinary guy, and I believe him because he shares what are very common experiences. But his talent to bring us in close to share it all with him is extra-ordinary. This is a wonderful read. I'm a physician and have recommended it to my physician friends, patients, and patients' families.

A wonderful recounting of the ups and downs of living with cancer. Amusing and inspiring at the same time. It is neither pollyannish nor fatalistic, showing perhaps a middle way during what many would see as a hopeless time. I would recommend this book to anyone who has trouble in their lives (all of us), not just those with cancer.

UP-FRONT DISCLOSURE: Patch Rose is my brother... but I read him anyway... he's good, so give him a try!


Of the eighteen columns included, I smiled and laughed, nodded knowingly, and experienced blessings sent and received when reading A Woman Like Velma (you'll begin to think that an IMRT radiation machine is a real and powerful person... shades of 2001: A Space Odyssey), Little Missy (on the allure of comforting, but junk, food), Miracles (how Patrick's circle of support worked some), Cookie Crumbling (how Sylvia, Patrick's wife "Cookie," experienced care-taking and giving), 3rd & 10 (a creative account of cancer and recovery narrated by famed sportscasters), and, Two Phone Calls (writing about recovery helps someone clear across the country).

As I finished my brother's humorous and hopeful book I realized he has succeeded in doing what any of us may choose to do in the face of suffering, if we dare.... To make Light of it.

There's an implicit question raised by The Other Game, which is relevant to all of us. Which is the game we want to play? Dahl-Bredine and Hicken depict lives that are productive and rich in meaning, wisdom, and sharing. They demonstrate how the unwritten protocols of this Oaxacan village keep the society tending towards a more inclusive distribution of wealth. This is accomplished through festivals of generosity, self-funded and rotating leadership roles, and work projects in which everyone contributes to the community's well-being.

In an interlude at the center of the book, the authors detail the unwritten assumptions by which we operate. I found this a good common ground for discussion.

This book is particularly useful for those of us trying to figure out how we can be *individually* such good people and *collectively* doing such terrible things. We're focused on winning a game whose rules benefit the casino owners. It's time to walk outside and see how the other 80% lives. It will prepare us to walk back inside and change the game.

There is much to learn from other cultures. We can look at them and then examine ourselves to see what's really important. "The Other Game: Lessons from How Life Is Played In Mexican Villages" is an historical survey focusing upon villages that have existed for thousands of years, and a look at their inhabitants and their way of life. Alternatives to our culture are presented to make a better future for ourselves, and while it is far from being a romantic view of the past and in the Mexican villages, it is simply meant to offer another option for life. Recommended for religion and social issue community library collection shelves, and those who seek to learn about how others live day to day.

Authors Dahl-Bredine and Hicken have given us a very clear description and analysis of the situation in the Mixteca Alta Region of Oaxaca, Mexico. They show in a detailed and documented fashion the damage done by agricultural policies and trade practices coming from the North. Then based on the life experiences and stories of the local people, they show us another way to live and produce food. Reaching back to the wisdom of the Mixtec ancestors they offer a vision of hope for the future.

I like how this couple presents their information. The book is full of useful data. I have purchased this in preparation for our journey to Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories. It does a superb job of helping you understand what to look for, where to look for it, how much things cost relative to other areas. Excellent job.

Having lived in the Pacific NW for many years I know lots of places for camping and RVing. I found this book accurate and very resourcefull. With rising fuel prices, we are all looking for closer to home places to "get away" and this book is a required resource to help find them, and determine their suitability. The only criticism I have is the way its organized. A little hard to find individual places since it is organized based on tour routes.

I bough thtis with the MOON bok, and am using both of them , this one is helpful with trip ideas, and the best of the large campgrounds, a very usefull book.

As anyone who owns books on the ancient Maya will probably attest, they have a habit of becoming out of date rather rapidly; yesterday's Copan is today's Xukpi and yesterday's King 18-Rabbit is today's Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil. Don't get me wrong, I think this is a good thing. Unlike the vast body of scholarship that Egyptologists can only hope to add a sentence to here or a footnote to there, Mayanists are faced with a field where every turn of the spade yields material that is likely to keep them busy for decades. That is the exciting thing about Mayan studies; every year sees yet more exciting discoveries by both "dirt" archeologists and by "armchair" or more correctly "keyboard" scholars. Every new book on the Maya is welcome and if they are as well written and lavishly illustrated as this one, they are doubly welcome.

I've read much of what has been written about Mayan ceramics and can say with confidence that this is the best book on the subject ever written. The essays in it, by top professionals, discuss the forms and functions of the ceramics, the meaning of their calligraphy, their basic themes and the places particular styles of ceramics come from. Indeed, if you read it carefully and more than once, you too will be able to decipher the principal inscriptions even on pots that are not in the book. There are hundreds of full-color photographs of Mayan ceramic vases and plates in this book. These vases are decorated with pictures of formed the greatest Pre-Columbian civilization. These ceramics depict Mayan textile design, Mayan hair-dressing, Mayan head-dresses, Mayan ceramics (within the ceramic paintings), Mayan concepts of design and of the other worlds below this one. From them we learn of Mayan myth,Mayan ritual, Mayan daily life, and Mayan art. Leaving aside the great monumental art of sculpture and stucco that adorned major structures, leaving aside the structures themselves, and giving credit for a host of varieties of artistic representations ranging from the Tsimshian to the Moche... I think it is an absolute fact that the art that appears on Mayan ceramics is the best that America ever created prior to Columbus and arguably the best... period. This book discusses, describes, depicts and defends that incredible artistic legacy better than any other ever did.

This handsome book covers a wide range of Maya ceramic imagery, and is filled with stunning photographs. The imagery is also broken down by catagory, and is supplimented with explations of glyphs. The accessible text that explores the mythology, culture, iconography, and hieroglyphics on and related to the ceramics. The information is thorough without being overly specialized.

I am a repeat customer of Peoples Choice Guide Cancun and the new 2008 edition is fantastic. There are many helpful improvments, such as you can now search by Food Category and the Proximity Guide where you can quickly locate Restaurants and Clubs close to your Hotel. The locations for the hotels, restaurants and clubs are pinpointed to 1/10 of a km, which makes it far easier than saying "between km 9 and km 10. When you are driving, riding or whatever in a foreign land you don't want to be in busy traffic looking for a km to find a place.

I live in Cancun and even as a resident this book is most helpful. Locals have to eat out too. When I travel I always try to find a Travel Guide before I plan my trip. It would be great if this guide was available for other travel hotspots.

I imagine it is hard to keep any travel guide current, with name changes, business closings, new places, etc. but the author states that he makes frequent trips to Cancun to allow for the most up to date information at the time the guide goes to print. This travel guide is a good as it gets for Cancun.

Well, I've just read the new and improved People's Choice Guide and I have to say that it is a must have for travelers or tourists to Cancun. The guide covers almost everything Cancun from hidden gems to the glitz of the club set.

Unlike other prominent guides, the PCG covers almost every hotel, most restaurants and other points of interests. When I first started going to Cancun some twenty plus years ago, nothing would tick me off more than buying one of the so called major guides and not seeing a resort I was thinking about booking, in it. With the PCG that's not likely to happen and best of all many of the reviews are based on people whom have actually stayed at the Hotels or eaten at the Restaurants, and of course, the author who has managed to track down and keep regular tabs on the Cancun scene. The book is loaded with travel tips, recommendations, and up to date, concise addresses and phone numbers of everything the typical visitor to Cancun may need.

In my opinion, this is the most worthwhile guide to Cancun published and is more extensive than any other guide on the market.

This is definitely the most accurate book out there, as the others don't like Frommers and Fodors don't list every restaurant or hotel. This fantastic book doesn't only list restaurants and hotels, but also clubs, bars, great information about transportation, and many other great things. It is definitely worth a lot more than the price you're getting it for. It's a must have book! I highly recommend this book for both any first timers and even the experienced Cancun traveler.

Great book, I read it for a Chicano Studies class but I enjoyed every moment of it. A good memoir for anyone interested in the daily life experiences of Chicanas in the U.S.

Beautifully told story of a young Mexican-American girl growing up in El Paso in the 1940s. Ms. Lopez-Stafford shares her recollections of her barrio and all it's colorful characters.

The author titles her story "A Place in El Paso." Nevertheless, any of the following titles, "A Place in My Heart," "A Place in the Sun," "A Place in my Life," would had been appropriate as well. To the careful reader the story will bloom like a flower in his or her heart and soul.

Even though the characters, the places, and the events are necessary to complete the gestalt of the story, the characters, and the events are not restricted to any particular place or to anyone in particular. It can happen anywhere to anyone.

The careful reader will examine the story "A Place in El Paso" by looking below the surface, below the gestalt of the story in order to reach the nuances of Gloria's coming of age and survival. Moreover, the grammatical structure of the story is, symbolically speaking, a ticket for the reader to shadow, follow, and observe her life, and in doing so experience her innocence and get involved in the vicissitudes in Gloria's existence. The reader will witness and feel not only the tragic sad and heartbreaking moments in her existence, but the events that made her strong to endure the various disappointments and disillusionments while trying to find the right place in her life.

I highly recommend this book whether you are Anglo, Black, Hispanic, and so forth; this story can very well be your story as well.

McMenamin's lavishly illustrated tome covers many areas of Mexican folk art, including certain forms specifically created for the American tourist market in the 1920's, 30's and 40's. Folk ceramics, talavera, textiles, furniture, wood carvings, popote or straw mosaics, lacquerware, loteria drawings and carved coconut banks are among the folk art genres included in this well-researched book. As a collector of Mexican folk art, I know only too well how difficult it is to find books in English on this subject; McMenamin offers both the serious scholar and the casual collector precious insight into many folk art forms that have almost completely disappeared or are languishing because of the acculturation that inevitably occurs with foreign contact. Popular Arts of Mexico (1850-1950) is a good, basic overview of areas other than traditional dance masks and Los Dias de Los Muertos-related folk art.

Beautiful pictures, informed text! Collectors use this "Bible" as a reference to describe their Mexican folk art.

Most of the information is unavailable in other books.

Plus, the book is gorgeous.

I was first told about Donna McMenamin's book "Popular Arts of Mexico" by a fellow collector of Mexicana who thought I might like it. I remember telling him I had too many other interest to get involved in such a broad field of collecting. At that time I was collecting the most basic of Mexican chotzkie, anything with a "Sleeping Mexican" on it seemed appropriate. Then I saw Donna's book. One word...Wow. I was first just blown away with the pictures, such clear and concise images. And the detail! Sadly, I was hooked. I started taking her book with me on jaunts to the antique mall where I would pick up anything that looked remotely similar. Can you say expensive? Eventually, because of the book, I was able to spot things on my own, which was great, and much cheaper. :-) Donna's book has opened up a whole new world of collecting for me. I had never seen a carved wood panel, known as "bas relief." When I saw the chapter in her book I just knew I had to own one. They are incredible and have now become a focal point in our collection of TRUE Mexican Popular Arts. OK, I still like sleeping Mexican things, but I'm crazy! :-) It would be difficult for me to say a collectibles book changed my life, I guess it seems so shallow, however, Donna's book gave me a new awareness of things that are amazingly beautiful. I'd say that's a positive life change. Can you say sappy book review? :-)