Mexico Books

I found this guide to be very impactful for vacation planning. This directory lists most frequently visited state attractions and many other very useful facts abour each state. The maps are very accurate as well. I am now purchasing a more up to date version.

If you travel by road a lot for leisure purposes, this atlas is a must-have. Every state has its own page of top cities and attractions, along with other useful information such as highway info, scenic drives, and campground info. I bought one in 1996 and have been using it ever since; it has been all over the nation with me, from DC to Dallas to Denver. It's survived the test of time, and now I must break down and buy a new one.

Written By David M. Johnson (professor emeritus of English and creative writing, University of New Mexico) Rebirth of Wonder: Poems of Wonder is an anthology of prose and poetry drawn from Johnson's life experiences in adventures across the world, from Minnesota to Mexico, Spain, and Greece. Each prose segment or free-verse poem is brief, yet at times wryly contemplative of the characteristics of diverse locales, as well as the foibles of human nature. "Epiphany": There's not a day / I'm not amazed / by God's excess. // Yesterday / birds filled every branch / of our apple tree. / Today / a young friend / had her womb removed." From the well-meaning hubris of family members to the gentle wonder of nature to the miracle of human birth itself, Rebirth of Wonder strikes a balance between dry humor, contemplative insight, and breathtaking amazement.

In reading this wonderful collection I was reminded of the title of a books of poems by James Kavanaugh, "There Are Men Too Gentle To Live Among Wolves." I suspect David Johnson may be such a man. In a gentle, tolerant, graceful manner he writes of "...our journey on this earth, following dreams, meeting other travelers who have taken to the road in search of themselves." He chronicles his journeys from his Norwegian family home in Minnesota to his life in New Mexico and onward to Mexico, Spain, and Greece. He celebrates his "common life" by writing of his family and friends which he see as guideposts"...where the commonplace...is celebrated." His poem Roadkill will give the reader an idea of his humanity and grace and is worth the price of the book. The book chronicles the life experiences of an extraordinary poet-teacher, father, husband, grandfather, and man of tolerance that will resonate with readers long after they put it down...if they can. Destined to be an award winner.

Anyone who has spent time in these mountain communities and has seen his work, knows that Alex Harris has developed the ability to capture it's soul. Unhappily, his photos also represent a way of life that is dying. These villages represent the oldest non-Native communities in the US. For those who may never have the privilege of entering these spare homes, Alex has brought us inside and provided us both soulful and intimate portraits. Thank you Alex.

As a native of Northern New Mexico, I often see all sorts of photo books documenting the touristic attractions to the area. However, Alex Harris' book acurately documents the real life of rural northern New Mexico. The best you could buy!!

Despite statements to the contrary, this book is not out of print. It is still available. Publisher ships within 24 hours.

The majority of this collection is from the Southwest or Mexico but interestingly there are similar pieces from less expected places e.g. Eastern US, central Europe, the Philippines. A significant number of the pieces are pictured. The text mixes technical information about the art pieces with information about how they came into the collection. The art itself ranges from primitive to superb folk art - executed in a variety of media. Among the pieces that catch my attention is a crucifix with an angel at Jesus' side and the retablo of Our Lady of Refuge.

This is an excellent volume for those interested in folk devotional art or Mexican / Southwestern art.

Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (1/07)

"Ribbons of the Sun" is the story of [..]Rosa who lives with her family near Santa Maria del Sol. Her father earns a living by working the fields and selling flowers in the village. Even though her abuelita, or grandmother, tells her the village is not the place for a young girl, Rosa always dreams of going to the village with her father to sell flowers. One day Papa tells Rosa it is now time for her to go to the city with him.

Rosa is so excited and can hardly contain herself, for a trip to the village has been her lifelong dream. Excitement turns to sheer terror when Rosa finally realizes why Papa has brought Rosa along. Money is tight for the family, and Papa sells [..] Rosa to a cruel patron who mentally and physically abuses the innocent child. She is assaulted and humiliated time and again and then blamed for her actions, and her spiritual strength abandons her. Sadly enough, Rosa has no idea what is actually happening to her, as she is just beginning to grow into womanhood and has never had anything explained to her. Now with child, Rosa is thrown out of the house and must find a way to stay alive, living on the unsafe streets. No one needs or wants a worker with a baby in tow.

"Ribbons of the Sun" is a story meant to open our eyes to the problem of child exploitation that exists throughout the world. Author Harriet Hamilton spent fifteen years in Mexico and considered herself as a messenger to bring this problem to the attention of as many people as possible. "Ribbons of the Sun" delivers her message.

"Ribbons of the Sun" is an eye opener. It is about a problem I do not enjoy talking about or thinking about. It is sad and cruel. However, Harriet Hamilton has done a good job of getting her message across so others might be able to help the innocent children. This book is for older teens and adults only. "Ribbons of the Sun" was published posthumously.

Child trafficking is a brutal fact of life in some parts of the world, and Rosa is a victim of this practice. She and her parents live in a small Indian village in Mexico where their life is one of grinding poverty. The crops fail yet again. Rosa hopes against hope that her father will take her to the city with him when he goes there to sell flowers to the tourists. Her dreams are answered, and with great excitement; Rosa and her father travel to Santa Maria, but instead of selling flowers, Rosa is sold to a household where she will be employed as a servant. Rosa can't understand this betrayal, and waits impatiently for the weekend when she is sure that her father will come back for her--but she waits in vain.

Her life of servitude is punctuated by the brutal rape by the man of the house on a weekly basis. When Rosa's pregnancy is discovered by the lady of the house, she is turned out into the street to survive by her wits. Alone and friendless, Rose believes that she has dishonored her family, and after the baby is born, she decides to end her life as soon as she finds a home for her child.

Based on fact, this heartbreaking story brings attention to issues we only hear about; child abuse and exploitation. Hamilton clearly describes the harsh realities of being a child slave in an impoverished country. Rosa is a fully realized character who experiences despair over the conflict between her people's traditional ways and city life. Details of rural historical Mexico's culture and religions are integrated into the story smoothly.

However, life takes a turn for the better when Rosa's suicide is prevented, and she finds sanctuary in a mission that helps young girls in her predicament. Will she ever see her family again? This book is impossible to put down, and one that you will never forget.

Reviewed by: Grandma Bev

Nash ranks in there with characters like Monte Walsh and Gus MacCrae. The book had a profound effect on me, causing me to review my own past. I'd love to have a hardcover copy of the sequel, "Passage to Quivira." Tks.

A wonderful character study. Beautifully evocative of the southwest at the crossroads of this century. Ignacio Ortiz is a man to be admired. Thank-you, Mr. Zollinger, for bringing him to us

With his beautiful and recently unfaithful wife and their children, the protagonist Daniel makes a new start teaching English on a ranch in Mexico. When the industrialist-rancher has him beaten and steals wife and children, I am reminded of McCormack's ALL THE PRETTY HORSES. Both have Texas authors writing about disenchanted Texans going to Mexico, being brutalized, facing loss of a lover and death by the hand of a powerful patron. However, Rio Ganges is a horse of a different and fascinating color -- not a Faulknerian prose poem but a unique, clear, lyrical voice -- not about self-reliant survival, but self-surrendering winning. This helps to provide, unlike PRETTY HORSES, one of Aristotle's ingredients for a good story -- an end, a telos.

Daniel's wife leaves him to live with the patron on the ranch. Daniel, devastated, follows a rational course. He catches a bus back north toward the modern side of the Rio. There, I suppose, he would follow up with antidepressants and counseling to learn how his own father's abandonment of him contributes to his marital failure, and individuate with photography, his real calling. After all, the children living in luxury with their mother in Mexico are still young enough to forget. However, Daniel knows the importance of fathers to children.

At a stop on the roadside, he buys a hawk with a beak like his father's nose. He switches to a bus headed south to Mexico City and rents a room there on the street Rio Ganges. A submissive homosexual fellow tenant passionately purses him. Daniel becomes intimate with Laura, a spiritually and badly burn-scarred woman. She insists he accompany her to the basilica marking the spot where a canonized Indian saw the Virgin.

As a young soldier, Daniel had visited the Seville Cathedral. His conclusion that it was built to allay Conquistador guilt over pillaging the Indians had clinched his religious apostasy since that time. He goes with Laura anyway.

Laura decides to walk on her knees up the steps into the shrine like the penitents. Daniel, embarrassed by it all, refuses to follow her. "Then a black-dressed woman stopped beside us as she walked out of the basilica's sanctuary... The nearly toothless woman lay her fingertips against Laura's [scarred] cheek... The woman was muttering something I couldn't make out -- it wasn't Spanish -- and Laura rested her hand on top the woman's. I couldn't tell who was praying for whom."

Daniel rides the conveyor belt around and around beneath the image of the Virgin. Until "I passed beneath the angels at Guadalupe's feet I dropped to my knees and threw up my hands... Then I dropped on the rubber belt ... but howl was the best I could do... Gasping I looked up at [Laura] from her torn knee to her face...

'Stay with me,' Laura said..."

Daniel does not stay. Despite the patron's private police, who shoot poachers on sight, he takes Laura's pistol and departs to try to retrieve his children.

Rio Ganges is an original novel by David Theis about an abandoned son who must endure trial and depredation. He seeks a new life in Mexico, yet when his wife leaves him for a wealthy patron, he must learn to confront and deal with his anger and guilt. His quest to regain his family is a stirring, emotional, gripping, highly recommended odyssey.

This is a really amazing book. What a wonderful synthesis of knowledge on ancient and modern Maya! Highly reccommended!

Stanzione presents an insightful, respectful, dynamic account of his experiences among these Maya people by combining approaches from religious studies and anthropology. The book is also graced with beautiful and revealing black and white photographs and drawings of the everyday ritual practices in and around Santiago Atitlan. Especially important is Stanzione's reporting of contemporary versions of Maya mythology about the creation of the world, the lives of plants, the sexual relations of deities-all in relation to Christian practices and sacred stories that are important to the Maya. Readers interested in religious change, syncretism and transculturation as well as the ways the Maya suffer and resist state violence and the attacks of missionaries will find this book a very valuable resource.

First check out the editorial reviews here to understand what this book is about. This is a fascinating and beautiful collection of material reflective of Mexican art through the ages. There are ancient manuscripts, drawings rendered from old books, photgraphs of pre-Columbian pottery and art, ancient petroglyphs from the southwest, maps and recent art pieces by Chicano/a artists all recreated tastefully and rendered in an eye appealing manner. The concept of the exhibition and art book created from the exhibition is spectacular and unique. The idea is to tie the evolutionary art process from pre-Columbian times to the contemporary art produced in the southwest. The concept suggests that art is migratory, influenced by culture both past and present, linked to both but unique in it's modern evolutionary vision by contemporary artists. The lands from which this art has evolved is based in Aztlan, a mythical land dating back to pre-Columbian cultures by remains in the hearts and minds of people on both sides of the border. The link between Mexico and the United States and it's people is explored and highlighted by the art of the southwest. This migration, in search of a new land, that continues today, began with the Mexica(Aztecs)pilgrimage and establshment of Tenochitlan in what is now modern Mexico City; this is where the Mexica were said to seen the eagle on the nopal cactus and then build their city of Tenochitlan. The mythical land of Aztlan lives on and is reflective in the art of the southwest. This book explores the relationship, in both essay and photograph, between the citizens of Mexico and the United States and even those who live in the neither land in the fields and dark shadows of Aztlan. This is an oversized book with a wealth of information to help you develop your own understanding of the relationships between past and present in the art of the southwest. Recommended for high schools , community libraries and the southwest art book lovers homes.

After seeing the exhibit at LACMA, this book was a great compliment to the art that was shown. It ranged from pre columbian to modern and was very intersting and informative. The photgraphs in the book are complimented by the narration and anaylsis by the author.

This book was recommended by a friend who reads mysteries and knew of my "literary habit". I picked it up early one recent weekend and could not put it down. Excellent character development, fine descriptions of Western New Mexico and a very engaging story. I cared about the characters and how the story would end. IF you like regional mysteries from authors like Hillerman and Burke, you have to give Nettleton a try.

Craig Nettleton combines his knowledge of New Mexico, with his background as a clinical psychologist, and his familiarity of with Lebanese/Arabic culture to make this a great weekend read. I would highly recommend this book!